Write What You Know, Kill your Darlings, are oft-quoted
sayings about writing. But where did these quotes originate and should
they actually be applied? We've gathered up some information about them
below.
Write What You Know
These might be the most quoted, misquoted and misunderstood
words ever uttered about writing. Still, Write what you know may
well be the first words aspiring authors hear from teachers, friends and other
writers.
Who said them first? Who knows? Though there are
similar quotes, the origin of the quote, write what you know in
its purest form has been lost. And it may be a good thing. In the words
of P. J. O’Rourke, Creative writing teachers should be purged until
every last instructor who has uttered the words "Write what you know"
is confined to a labor camp. Please, talented scribblers, write what you don't.
The blind guy with the funny little harp who composed The Iliad , how much
combat do you think he saw?
In any event, write what you know has
become a cliché. It is open to many interpretations. Some take
literally-- to mean that you should not write about things you have not
personally experienced. Others interpret it to mean you should write
about what you love, what you care about. In the words of Valerie
Sherwood, Don’t write what you know—what you know may bore you, and
thus bore your readers. Write about what interests you—and interests you
deeply—and your readers will catch fire at your words."
Kill your Darlings
This quote is most often attributed to William Faulkner
(1897-1962), though it has also been attributed to Mark Twain
(1835-1919). Probably both of them said and practiced it. So what does it
mean? Many misinterpret kill your darlings to mean one should
strike out any fine passage. Kill your darling” doesn’t mean
a writer should murder the muse or throw out fine writing. However, every
writer has “darlings”, little anecdotes or bits of wisdom they would like to
stuff into their current work even though they know the passage doesn’t quite
fit. If a witty phrase or observation fits, use it, if it doesn’t add to
the overall purpose of the novel you are writing, then it should cast
aside. What it means in a nutshell: cut the bull.
The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the
pants to the seat of the chair.
This quote is attributed to Mary Heaton Vorse (1874-1966),
though there are many variations. Author Kingsley Amis (1922-1995) said, The
art of writing is the art of applying the seat of one’s trousers to the seat of
one’s chair. Same difference. The meaning is perfectly
clear. If a person does not go about the task of writing and do it often,
the book will never get written. (I once heard a variation of this
quotation as apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair and
when you get up twenty years later you’ll be a writer) As Thomas
Edison said, Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine percent
perspiration.
Other Quotes that Commonly Appear in How to Write Books
Writing is like prostitution. First you do it
for love, and then for a few close friends and then for money.
Moliere
One must not put a loaded rifle on the stage if no one is
thinking of firing it. Anton Chekov
There are three rules for writing a novel.
Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
William Somerset Maugham
Writing is easy. You only need to stare at a piece of
blank paper until a drop of blood forms on your forehead.
Douglas Adams
Everything stinks till it's finished.
Dr. Seuss
For more writing tips, check out our book on writing:
Fiction: From Writing to Publication.
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