Should I keep editing or start over?

Situation

• You have a draft that is partially usable
• Some sections seem fine, others clearly do not
• You are unsure whether editing can still save it
• Starting over feels costly, but continuing feels uncertain
• You are stuck between fixing and abandoning the draft

This situation appears when effort has been invested, but direction is no longer clear.

Verdict

VERDICT: SWITCH

Do not continue editing the draft as a whole. Do not discard everything either.

A partial reset is required.

Why this verdict

• The draft contains mixed signals: some clarity alongside structural flaws
• Editing assumes the overall direction is correct, which is uncertain here
• Starting over completely would waste usable insight

The problem is not effort, but scope.

What happens if you continue

• Editing will alternate between productive and pointless
• Decisions will be made inconsistently across sections
• You will hesitate more as sunk cost increases

This often leads to prolonged indecision rather than resolution.

A safer next step

Stop editing the full draft.

Switch to selective rebuilding: - Identify which parts still match the intended purpose - Remove everything else without trying to fix it - Rebuild only what is missing, not what is broken

This preserves value while restoring direction.