The phrase “murder your darlings” comes from Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, a writer from over a hundred years ago. It means to sharpen the axe by shaving off unneeded words—even those that are darling to us.
For months, I’ve been struggling with a villain in the novel I’m writing. Some days when I write, inspiration hits me like a freight train. Other days, it’s grueling work for every syllable.
When I started Until They Kill Me, I had no idea what the process would be like. I never anticipated the ways it would change me. There have been disappointments, obstacles, and ridiculous problems at every turn.