avatarJohn B. Dutton

Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of discerningly eliminating self-indulgent writing, often misattributed and misinterpreted as simply cutting out one's favorite sentences.

Abstract

The phrase "Kill your darlings" is a well-known adage among writers, commonly misunderstood as the need to remove sentences one is most fond of. However, the original intent behind Arthur Quiller-Couch's advice was to caution against including writing that serves only to display one's own skill rather than serving the story. The article clarifies that the true essence of the advice is to be mindful of the impulse to write for self-gratification rather than the integrity of the work. It suggests that darlings should only be murdered if they do not align with the authenticity of the project, and it humorously plays on Quiller-Couch's name to reinforce the metaphor of writing with purpose over flair.

Opinions

  • The author believes that the advice "Kill your darlings" is often misquoted, misattributed, and misunderstood by writers.
  • The original advice from Arthur Quiller-Couch was not about the love of certain sentences but about the intention behind writing them, specifically warning against writing that is self-indulgent.
  • The article argues that writers should not remove their favorite parts of their work simply because they love them, but only if those parts do not contribute to the truth of the project.
  • The author makes a playful suggestion to replace the traditional advice with "May your quill be more ink than feather," though they immediately retract it, illustrating the very point of being critical of one's own writing, even in the process of giving advice.

Make Sure The Right Darlings Die!

Reinterpreting the often misquoted, sometimes misattributed, and always misunderstood advice that writers live by

Photo by John Jennings on Unsplash

Serious writers know the phrase, “Kill your darlings”. It means that not only should you refrain from being too precious about your wordsmithery; you must ruthlessly eliminate sentences you love best.

Well, here’s the interesting thing about killing your darlings: it’s consistently misinterpreted. (It’s also misquoted and misattributed!)

Arthur Quiller-Couch originally wrote:

“Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it — whole-heartedly — and delete it before sending your manuscripts to press. Murder your darlings.”

His advice wasn’t to excise words because you love them but because you only wrote them to show off. It was about the impulse. The intention, not the outcome.

Please keep your darlings if they fit the truth of your project.

Funnily enough, the word “quill” is in Quiller-Couch’s name. A better alternative: “May your quill be more ink than feather.”

Second thoughts, I’m murdering that one.

Writing
Creativity
Creative Writing
Quotes
Literature
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