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Warning: that advice about 'killing your darlings' nearly ruined my fantasy novel
A writing group leader in Columbus told me last month to cut every scene I was attached to. I deleted 3 chapters that set up my main character's family history. Now beta readers say the story feels hollow and they don't care about the stakes. I spent 15 hours rewriting those scenes back in. Has anyone else had advice from a so-called expert that totally backfired on a project?
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johnson.daniel2d ago
That "kill your darlings" advice works better for people who overwrite on the first draft, not for cutting foundational story stuff. Family history is backstory, not a darling someone attached to for no reason.
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danielw881d ago
Yeah, that's a good point.
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