What I didn't realise was that Mr King was paraphrasing a much earlier writer, Arthur Quiller-Couch.
Mr Quiller-Couch said in his 1916 collection of speeches and essays, where he speaks about knowing whether writing contains 'style' or not.
He says "if you here require a practical rule of me, I will present you with this: '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.'" (pp. 234-235)
OK, so this says 'murder' not 'kill'. But the sentiment is the same.
And now we know where Mr King's inspiration came from.
Sam
References:
- King, Stephen (2000). On Writing: A memoir of the craft. USA: Scribner.
- Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas (1916). On the Art of Writing. UK: Cambridge University Press.
- Spangenberg, Lisa L. (2010). Murder Your Darlings. Retrieved 6 February 2017 from https://www.lisaspangenberg.com/writing/murder-your-darlings/
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