Revisiting Old Ideas: A well of creativity for writers
GUEST BLOG WRITTEN BY Michael Solis
As writers, we often hit creative roadblocks. Sometimes, the ideas don’t come, or they come in fragments that never fully materialize into something tangible. Other times, we’re so consumed with the stories we’re currently telling that we forget the wealth of creativity we’ve left behind—stories, ideas, and even full manuscripts we abandoned in the past. I’m a firm believer in revisiting these old ideas and seeing what can be done with them, even if they never went anywhere originally.
Before I published Deficient, I wrote seven other manuscripts that never saw the light of day. The pathway to publication for Deficient was long enough—I had an agent for several years, and we pursued the traditional publishing route. When that didn’t work out, I parted ways with my agent and shelved the book, assuming it wasn’t meant to be. Then COVID happened. Life slowed down. And when I moved to Nairobi, I found myself with a little more mental space to revisit my old work. That’s when I took Deficient out again and realized—I still loved the premise.
What it needed wasn’t a completely new concept. It needed stronger execution.
At that point, I had grown as a writer, but I recognized I had more growing to do. I immersed myself in craft books like Story Genius and GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict. I gathered feedback from early readers and even from some small- and medium-sized publishers as I started to query again.
The response was encouraging, and the book began to take shape in a way it hadn’t before. One indie press I was particularly excited about gave me invaluable editorial feedback. I revised accordingly, feeling like I had finally cracked the story. And then, after all that, they rejected it—not because of the writing, but because they were uncomfortable with the nature of one character’s death.
It felt like a setback, but in hindsight, it wasn’t. I still wanted to go through an indie press and hoped to find one that aligned with the kind of story I was telling.
Through the publishing process, I had the chance to meet incredible editors who refined the manuscript further. One of those editors, Stephanie Bennett, has been magical to work with. Specializing in sci-fi/fantasy and young adult, she brought an insightfulness to the story that made it stronger. Over time, I’ve come to recommend her to other writers I’ve met through the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association and Latinx Storytellers Conference because I’ve seen how she can truly elevate a manuscript.
The editing process also reinforced the idea that our growth never truly ends. Craft is something that evolves, that we shape and reshape through experience, feedback, and time. And sometimes, old ideas that once felt incomplete can become the foundation for something better—if we’re willing to take another look.
That’s why I’m now revisiting some of my old ideas. When I look at my past manuscripts, I see some very compelling sparks—ideas that still have life in them. At the same time, I recognize the areas where my writing wasn’t as strong, where my craft was still developing. And that’s the beauty of picking up old manuscripts: We see them with more mature eyes, enriched by the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
One of my older manuscripts had four POVs because I was so excited about experimenting with different perspectives. At the time, I thought it was brilliant. An editor later told me I should cut it down to two POVs, which would mean a complete rewrite. I was baffled. How could she suggest that? But now, years later, I see exactly what she meant. Not only was she onto something, but I no longer feel like the right person to tell the story from some of those perspectives. Instead, one particular character’s voice is calling to me. What if I told the story solely through his eyes? What would that look like?
I’m starting that journey now, seeing where the story takes me. Of course, much of the original manuscript will have to change, but that’s part of the fun. Can I tap into the heart of that old idea and use the craft I’ve developed over the years to create something even better?
For those of us who write, our old ideas don’t have to stay locked away. They can evolve, transform, and serve as inspiration in ways we never anticipated. Maybe we don’t rewrite them word for word, but elements of them find their way into our newer stories. Maybe we rework them entirely, using them as a foundation to build something fresh.
I’m really curious to hear from other writers—how do you engage with your old ideas? Do you abandon them entirely? Do you revisit them years later and find new inspiration? Or do they reappear in your published work in unexpected ways? Feel free to leave a comment and let me know!
Michael Solis is the award-winning author of the young adult book Deficient. He is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association and lives in New York City. Check out his website for more information.
