There’s an old saying in the writing business: “Kill your darlings.” Some famous writer said it.
I thought it was a charming insight into the importance of revising, rewriting and revising again, and cutting. Cuts are required, of course. Sacrifices must be made in the interest of the literary masterpiece flying across the screen on my laptop. I’m tough minded. I could make them.
I could do it years ago because at the time I didn’t realize I had no real “darlings.” You know, that snarky piece of story line that doesn’t quite move the plot along but is oh so satisfying — the one the muse whispered into your ear. The one that makes you smile inside with satisfaction.
Then I ran into several special, brilliant, so-close-to-my-soul darlings. Couldn’t hurt them, much less kill them. They needed to go. But, how to do the deed?
I didn’t slay them. I put them in foster homes.
I have progressed in my writing to the point where I have two or more manuscripts going on at any one time. I moved the darlings temporarily into group homes that were still in formation.
I also have a special orphanage known as a DRAFT file. I started parking stuff there until future visiting days by prospective manuscripts.
So, don’t kill your darlings. Just find a better home for them.