If you are a writer and have worked with a professional editor, I am sure you have heard the phrase, "kill your darlings." This is one of the hardest things for beginning writers to do, yet, it is such an important exercise because as writers, many of us have blind spots when it comes to objectivity around our work. So, what are these ever-so-clingy darlings? It’s a storyline, character, or sentence the authors love and believe is the best thing they have ever written. So clever and cute! The problem is these darlings are unnecessary…they neither help the story or the plot. For the sake of the story, and the reader, they must die. Killing your darlings is an essential part of the editorial process, especially, as I said, writers have blind spots around their writing. These may even be big gaping holes you cannot see. To lessen your chances of hearing this phrase from your editor, here are some things you can do before sending in your work for review.   1. Have you belabored a point?  Whether you believe it or not, this can insult your audience. You must trust your audience’s ability to grasp complexities and other such…without going on ad nauseam about a point you might find interesting but they might find offensive, or worst boring. 2. Cliches that exactly sum up your thought.  Avoid them like the plague. Whether they are metaphors, similes, idioms, or just plain cute, cut it out.  It will make your reader groan…heard any of these? Blood is thicker than water; starting with a blank slate; calm before the storm. Why not try coming up with something fresh…tabula rasa for instance for starting with a blank slate…your reader might even have to look it up and now your writing is educational as well.  Yippee! 3. Plot: This is a biggie.  I have had manuscripts in the 400–500-page range and I am still trying to figure out the plot on page 100. If you can get me to read that far…good for you but I doubt it. Filled with cutesy writing and author waxing, a story can go nowhere. I strongly suggest, if this is the case, for both character and plot development, take a course in writing pedagogy, or maybe read some of the previous articles we’ve written at Wordeee University. If you find that you have subplots within subplots within subplots…review this carefully. If you have extraneous characters that do nothing but hang around…bid them goodbye. 4. Listen to your professional editor. Work with your editor and start maturing as a writer…they have you and your reader's best interest at heart.                                                                                                             *** Do you enjoy our feature articles? We'd like to hear from you. Send your comments to contact@wordeee.com