Darling Quote by William Faulkner
“In writing, you must kill all your darlings.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: As I Lay Dying, 1930
Writers should remove any part of their work they love too much if it hinders the story's clarity.
In simple terms: Cut beloved bits that hurt the story.
Key Takeaway
Edit ruthlessly for coherence.
Themes
writing
editing
creativity
Mood
determined
critical
Type
advice
instructional
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- short story revision
- script polishing
Key Concepts
self‑criticism
narrative focus
Questions to Reflect On
- What part of your work feels essential but unnecessary?
- How can you test if a passage truly serves the narrative?
A Different Perspective
Removing cherished sections may strip unique voice.
![“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)
