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How to Finish the Story You Started

June 7, 2026

a friendly finish-line plan

You started a great story three weeks ago and you stopped at the part where it got hard.

That happens to every writer. Even grownup ones. The fix is little: a finish-line plan that breaks the rest into small pieces, with a fun reward when you get to the end. We make one together right here. Finishing isn't a personality. It's a skill. You can practice it today.

The finish-line plan

Step What to do
1 Decide what 'done' looks like (3 sentences max)
2 Break the rest into 4-6 small pieces
3 Pick the first small piece
4 Set a timer. Write that piece.
5 Mark it done. Pick the next piece.
6 When it's all done, celebrate

Pick your finish-line reward

  • A pizza night.
  • A movie of your choice.
  • An afternoon doing whatever you want.
  • Telling one person you finished a whole story.
  • Starting a brand new one with the confidence of a finisher.

Finishing isn't a personality. It's a skill. You can practice it today, with a small piece. Then tomorrow, with the next small piece. By Friday you've finished the story.

— L.A. Walton, The Book Maven

From the Maven Catalog

  • Kid Free eCourse — Finish the Story
  • Kid Master Course — Story Finisher
  • Kid eBook — Finish-Line Helpers
  • Kid Planner — My Finish-Line Planner

Make the finish-line plan tonight. Pick your reward. Start the first small piece. By the end of the week you've finished the story. That's a writer.