“In writing, you must kill all your darlings.”
~William Faulkner
Author William Faulkner’s popular quote translates to “delete (or paste into an edited-out folder) cherished lines representing joy, tears, and hours of your life.” One could argue each sentence, paragraph, and scene qualifies as a “darling.” Therefore, with all due respect to Faulkner, don’t slaughter them all. Do avoid first-draft content destined for deletion.
Writers face a harsh reality: you may love your lengthy descriptions and preachy rants, but if they’re not vital to the story, you must nix this “telling.” Focus on “showing,” action that moves the plot forward. High-speed Internet created a generation of readers who don’t have the patience for long-winded, self-indulgent prose. However, Faulkner’s quote shows that even pre-Internet readers preferred story-centric concision.
Other nixworthy darlings include overused beginnings and tropes. Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins finagles an original twist on the “waking up in bed” beginning. But çliché openings increase the risk for rejection. Avoid having to “kill” your start. Create an original opening first time around. Faulkner would approve, and so will your future agent.✦
✐ Stephen King’s On Writing advice: Take a six-week break from your first draft before editing it. Other advice: read!