Comments on: Writing rules, misapplied: kill your darlings

By: Presenting Predictive Analytics - Contemporary Analysis - Contemporary Analysis

Presenting Predictive Analytics - Contemporary Analysis - Contemporary Analysis — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:44:11 +0000

[...] conclusion when presenting predictive analytics don’t be afraid to kill your darlings. If you can not justify an element of your presentation get rid of it. This will help you focus [...]

By: Presenting Predictive Analytics - Contemporary Analysis - Contemporary Analysis

Presenting Predictive Analytics - Contemporary Analysis - Contemporary Analysis — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:41:20 +0000

[...] conclusion, don’t be afraid to kill your darlings. If you can not justify an element of your presentation get rid of it. This will help you focus [...]

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By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:49:35 +0000

I just discovered your blog while searching for the “Kill your darlings”-quote. I’ve been quickly looking through your other posts and am quite impressed. I translate (and of course edit) for a living, love to write and also took the WordPress 2012 challenge to write a post a day (musicproject 365). Whew, fitting that in with work etc! Trying to write and edit one good post a day. Seeing how I can’t always live up to my own high standards under those conditions but still having a ball trying!

By: Liam Johnson (@LiamJohnsonType)

Liam Johnson (@LiamJohnsonType) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:36:52 +0000

Its great advice, when applied correctly. I’m currently working on a short piece that focuses on 2 main characters, with 2 side characters setting the scene for where we (the audience) find ourselves. They are great side characters, that are full formed with contradictions that create drama not only in themselves but with each other… but they distracted from the story. Their place in this world is so interesting to me that it was hard not to have them take over the story completely. So they’ve been cut (and pasted elsewhere) where they can be better served in a different story and let this piece tell its own story.

By: The Temptation of a Really Great Line | soul of a word

The Temptation of a Really Great Line | soul of a word — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:42:29 +0000

[...] wait you must, because there’s another great line attributed to William Faulkner that every writer should take to heart: kill your darlings. When you fall in love with a phrase, a [...]

By: Presenting Predictive Analytics - Contemporary Analysis

Presenting Predictive Analytics - Contemporary Analysis — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:04:44 +0000

[...] conclusion, don’t be afraid to kill your darlings. If you can not justify an element of your presentation get rid of it. This will help you focus [...]

By: When You Kill Your Darlings, Save Them | Kate Arms-Roberts

When You Kill Your Darlings, Save Them | Kate Arms-Roberts — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:51:28 +0000

[...] advice from Kurt Vonnegut in How To Write With Style because it is more explicit and less open for argument about what it means. Have guts to [...]

By: An exercise in darling killing | Autumn Macarthur- Love grows in unexpected places

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:24:53 +0000

[...] realise now what I need to chop is going to really truly involve some darling killing. My whole thousand words from the Memorial Day Challenge, the thousand words that got me started on [...]

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 05:16:23 +0000

It’s good that you recognise when lack of description is an actual error rather than just not to your taste. Not everyone has the same ability to separate out a real issue from a personal peeve. I listen to people I know have that ability. That doesn’t mean I don’t listen to strangers, it just means I don’t accept their critiques blindly; I consider it in context with what else they’re saying and what style of writing they’re looking for.

Writing is not done by committee, you can’t please everyone, and you can’t change your story to fit in every suggestion that people make. What some people will consider an error, others will love. So yes, I choose who I trust to listen to.

BTW, when I talk about people wanting more description from my writing, I don’t mean they’re saying they don’t understand what’s happening and need more detail – I wouldn’t ignore that. I mean they are wanting paragraphs and paragraphs describing the furniture in the room or what people are wearing or whatever, the kind of scene-setting which many people love but which I actively dislike.