Kill Quote by Andre Dubus III
““You've got to kill your darlings.””
About This Quote
Source Writing Workshop, 2015
Writers must eliminate beloved but unnecessary parts to strengthen their work.
In simple terms: Cut beloved excess for stronger writing.
Key Takeaway
Edit ruthlessly for clarity.
Themes
writing
editing
craft
self‑critique
Mood
direct
practical
Type
creative
instructional
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- short story revision
- script polishing
Key Concepts
literary technique
creative process
Questions to Reflect On
- What “darlings” are you reluctant to cut?
- How does removal improve your work?
A Different Perspective
Attachment hinders objectivity.
![“Let someone else take a crack at [your story]. Sometimes, even after time has passed, we're just too close to the thing. You don't want to kill your darlings or, maybe it's the opposite: you just want to kill all of it with cleansing fire. Let someone else confirm or veto your feelings. They'll…” quote by Chuck Wendig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/626/chuck-wendig-5165_cleansing_let-someone-else-take-a-crack-at-your-st_2228234.jpg)
