Definition
Kill your darlings is craft advice to cut favorite lines, scenes, or characters when they do not serve the story, even if you love them.
Example
A writer deletes a witty monologue because it stops the chase scene and reveals nothing new about the character.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Cutting every line you like on principle instead of judging function in context.
- Keeping a darling scene because it took weeks to draft, not because readers need it.