“Your darlings aren’t dying. They’re being relocated to a ‘greatest hits that didn’t make the album’ folder. They might get a solo career later. For now, the story needs them to step aside.”
— L.A. Walton, The Book Maven
We already talked about killing your darlings. But now let’s talk about doing it WITHOUT the emotional spiral that makes you question every creative decision you’ve ever made.
The Guilt-Free Darling Removal System
| Step | Action | Emotional Support |
| 1 | Identify the darling. | It’s usually the passage you’d read at a dinner party. |
| 2 | Copy it to a ‘darlings’ file. | It’s not gone. It’s in witness protection. |
| 3 | Remove it from the manuscript. | Like removing a bandage. Quick. |
| 4 | Reread the section without it. | Notice how the story breathes. |
| 5 | Move on. | Grieve for 5 minutes max. Then keep editing. |
Darling Identification Shortcuts
- If you’d be devastated to lose it, it’s probably a darling.
- If it stops the plot for beauty, it’s a darling.
- If you wrote it to impress, not to serve, it’s a darling.
- If beta readers skip over it, it’s a darling.
- If you’ve justified its existence more than once, it’s a darling.
Your Move, Creative
Open your darlings file (or create one). Move one beloved-but-unnecessary passage there today. Your story will be stronger and your darling will be safe. Everybody wins.
Stop letting your stories stay stuck.
