Trusting the Writing Process When You Must Kill Your Darlings

Right now, I am in the process of killing my darlings. A common phrase used in the writing world, and yet many writers have different definitions for it. Recently, it seems many writers take “kill your darlings” literally and they kill characters. While that technically counts, “kill your darlings” is a reference to eliminating any part of your writing that you previously loved but is no longer serving a purpose in the story.

But how does this happen?

From what I’ve seen, many aspiring writers revise and revise and revise, and by the time they get to their “final” draft, they believe everything that’s in their book is necessary. And you know what? That might be true…for this draft.

You could absolutely have a very tight narrative with well-developed characters and a thought-out world. But if you’re pursuing traditional publishing, agents and editors will have their own take on what elements need to be enhanced and cut back in order to achieve a more commercial story.

Hence why you may need to tear up that “final” draft and kill your darlings in order to get a new version.

I won’t lie though. It’s tough.

For me, taking an edit letter and applying it to my own work is both exhilarating and frustrating. Mostly frustrating at the beginning – when uncertainty is clouding my ability to sever my expectations of my old draft so that I can focus on what the new one will look like. It’s hard to let go of those one-liners you were so in love with, those characters you spent all that time with, those scenes that made your heart flutter.

It’s why I don’t kill my darlings permanently.

While I may cut something from my novel, I always drop it into a folder for another day. Who knows? I may find the opportune moment to bring it back – or I can use it as “fan extras” in my quarterly newsletter.

Right now, my “kill your darlings” folder is full. And you know what I see in those words? My patience and perseverance. My passion.

I am using the scenes that I once loved as fuel to discover the new scenes I will fall in love with.

I am growing – and so is my work.

~SAT