Killing My Darlings

I can write fast. On a few of my best days, I’ve written almost 10k ( 20 single-spaced pages). But my story ideas usually have to simmer for a LONG TIME.

The problem with that is the longer I let them sit, the more the anticipation builds up in my mind and I start to doubt the idea. I worry I won’t be able to make the finished project live up to the initial idea I had in my head. It’s probably not a coincidence that every time I try to type “writing” on my phone, it is auto-corrected to “worrying”!

Well, NO MORE OF THAT.

In the spirit of my goal to let go of those things that are holding me back (even harmful mindsets), I’m trying to doubt myself less. Stop working on things that aren’t flowing at the moment. Cutting what doesn’t serve the story at hand.

Case in point: I’ve been trying to rework an old story. Trying to look at it from a different perspective. But it’s still missing that something. And I’m not enjoying the process one bit. So, instead of struggling with it, I’m letting it go. Filing it away for later, in case the right puzzle piece comes to me. I have a million other seeds I can sow for ideas.

For now, I’m killing my darlings. Or at least…putting them on ice. Because if you’re not having fun writing, what’s the point?