Murder Your Darlings

Steve O'Keefe and I were preparing some handouts for our panel discussion on blog PR tomorrow at PMA University.

One of my blog posts got left out. One of my favorites. Then I thought about it and remembered the old advice to writers: "Murder your darlings."

Being a research junkie, I quickly turned up the source: Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch wrote it in 1916:

Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it—whole-heartedly—and delete it before sending your manuscript to press. Murder your darlings.

Do yourself a favor. Read the entire essay: On Style. Quiller-Couch, Sir Arthur. 1916. On the Art of Writing

Great advice for copywriters, bloggers... or whoever wants their writing to be read.... and acted upon!