What the Hell is Michael Jamin Talking About?

What the Hell is Michael Jamin Talking About?

Professional Tips

How do I know when a story is finished?

Advice from a TV writer/author

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Michael Jamin
Jan 09, 2025
∙ Paid

I hear from so many emerging writers that they can’t stop tinkering with their story. Every few months they’ll put it out of a drawer, dust it off, and work on it some more. It’s an eternal “Work in Progress.”

I think constantly tinkering on a script or manuscript is an ineffective approach to writing. The way we grow as writers is to finish one project then start another. Then another and another.

a group of toy people riding bikes down a road
This poor guy thinks he won. It’s just a banner for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

After you have 5 or 10 stories under your belt, go back and read the first one with fresh eyes. I guarantee you’ll be in a much better place to improve it than you would’ve been if you had never moved on.

That said, how do I know when a story is finished?

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