Thanks to everyone who commented on my 200 words. Your feedback was very helpful.
Killing your darlings, trimming the fat, if you will, you know what I'm talking about. Those scenes your characters told you to write, but they don't fit the story. The ones you read and then a pit forms in the upper part of your stomach because you know you must get rid of it. A CP might of mention it with a red comment box or they may simply put a black line through it. So, your finger trembles as it hovers over the delete button. Your instinct says do it and your heart says no. Yeah, those. This is my next round of revisions. It sometimes makes me sad because some of those scenes I really love, but they must be gone.
So what do you look for? Scenes that do not move the story forward, and really (to me), just seem like filler. They are not easy to spot. They will be in disguise and may require someone else to force them out. Trust me, they give me the puppy dog eyes all the time, making me love them.
Why do we write them? Sometimes to get the know the character, story, or setting better. It's not bad to write them, you have to understand that they are helping you, just not helping the overall delivery of the story, and so, sadly, they must be chopped, killed if you will.
How do you find them? Remember they will be in disguise, making you love them, playing all innocent. So, you will most likely not be the first person to see them. Most of the time (95% of the time), for me, a CP will say, "It slows here for me." Or "This doesn't need to be here." Other times (5% of the time), I'm the one who sees that the scene isn't working. Ask yourself, "Does this have anything to do with the final outcome of the story?" "Is it forwarding my character along, helping them get to the goal I've given them?" If the answer is no, then chop it. Don't worry, the police won't come for you, in fact, your CPs and future readers will love you for it.
Tell me, what questions do you ask yourself to help you see what you must chop?
A couple of interesting posts on the subject
:
Writing rules misapplied
How to kill your darlings without remorse
The meaning of the literary expression "Kill your Darlings"
K is for Kill your Darlings
Have a great day!
