Comments on: Writers, Grab a Knife: How To Kill Your Darlings

By: Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta Eaton Cheadle — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 14:52:05 +0000

Thanks for this great post, Sue. I’m always have to check my work for filter words. I am getting better but they still slip in now and again.

By: Vivienne

Vivienne — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 11:59:50 +0000

This is timely for me, Sue. I am currently wrestling with a couple of scenes in my rewrite of my WIP. I love the emotions in there, and the tension, but it is actually a sub-plot and I now think the scenes must go. Thank you for making up my mind.
I agree wholeheartedly with you on the words. I’m fed up with reading books where ‘just ‘ is peppered throughout. Often in otherwise excellent books, and even in traditionally published books. Also, ‘so’ and ‘that’. (Although Word often says ‘ missing ‘that’ when one leaves it out.)
Finally, we are told to limit the use of adverbs and adjectives. To that, I would add prepositions. In many cases they are superfluous. You mention ‘up’ and ‘down’, but there are many others.

By: Vivienne

Vivienne — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 11:51:11 +0000

In reply to Jemima Pett. You've made the point I was going to make, Jemima. The US use , 'bolt out the door' does make me cringe a bit, but I know it's US usage, and take a deep breath and read on.

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 02:21:33 +0000

In reply to Gifford MacShane. You are not alone, Gifford. Darlings sneak into all first drafts. It’s how we edit that matters.

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 19:44:15 +0000

In reply to Candace Johnson.

Absolutely, Candace! Same with “tried to” or “attempted” (with a few exceptions). Thanks for adding those two filler words. I find “started” and “began” all the time in first pages submitted for critique.

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 19:39:08 +0000

In reply to Ellen cassidy.

Excellent question, Ellen. These apply to the narrative. Dialogue is different. Though we don’t want too much filler in dialogue, if the word fits the character, keep it. If it doesn’t, kill it. The worst thing we can do is edit out all traces of personality and motive behind a character’s words.

A prime example is a criminal being interviewed by a detective. A guilty person might say, “Believe me, I wasn’t there.” In that case “Believe me” cues the detective that he’s lying.

By: Gifford MacShane

Gifford MacShane — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 19:33:27 +0000

This is a great list! I can’t begin to count the times I’ve removed “up” or “down” from my manuscripts. I’ve also found it helpful to use a word cloud to identify my own “darling” words. It’s pretty amazing to see that, even after 4 books, I’m still using some of them!

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 16:18:23 +0000

In reply to ANGELA ACKERMAN. My pleasure, Angela! It IS amazing how much killing our darlings improves the story. :-)

By: Ellen cassidy

Ellen cassidy — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 15:43:08 +0000

yes, yes, I know all this. There are still a horrible amount of ALL these filler words as I comb through my finished MS. I agree most need to go. BUT…I have a question. People do use many of these words in real-life dialogue. Do they have to get pitched there, too?

By: Candace Johnson

Candace Johnson — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 15:32:01 +0000

Two related darlings I see often when I’m editing are started and began. If a character starts to move toward the door or begins to get ready, aren’t they actually moving toward the door or getting ready?

By: ANGELA ACKERMAN

ANGELA ACKERMAN — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:25:30 +0000

It’s amazing how much a story improves when we think about all these filler words and areas of overuse! So great to have everything together like this. Thanks, Sue!

By: Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:18:25 +0000

In reply to Mindy Alyse Weiss. Haha! Perhaps we should arrange a play date for them, Mindy. ;-)