Introducing: The Darling Files

 I don’t remember who coined the phrase, “kill your darlings,” regarding a revision tactic where you get rid of writing that you might like, but that doesn’t do much for the overall piece (or it doesn’t fit into it), but it’s always made me flinch. Of course, this comes from someone who has a horrible time letting go of just about anything. Everything is significant.

I prefer to let my darlings take a nap, and when they have woken up refreshed, when we’ve had some space from each other and can see each other anew, we’ll figure out a way to move forward. This is how I’ve worked, but it comes from the premise that when the time is right, when what I write is presentable, when it is complete, then that is the time to step out. 

I think this is a fine way for a writer to go about her process, but last year I was having a conversation with writer Rachel Nevergall, a writer I admire for her pizazz and effervescence, and she referred to those snippets of writing we love at first blush but are unsure what to do with as “the darling files.” That is, they’re not waiting to be killed, they do not need a timeout, they are ready and waiting to be used.

I love this phrase for its invitation to not only use but celebrate what we writers already have. Sharing something from our darling files is a way to say, ‘I’m not sure what this is, or what it might become, but right now, it needs to be out in the world.” Perhaps being out in the world is how the writing emerges and grows. 

And so, The Darling Files Project was born. Rachel and I declare that one week out of every month will be “The Darling Files” week when writers can share their fragments, their paragraphs and sentences, their poetry, their sketches – whatever you love and are unsure of but that brought you some joy as you created it, and as it settled on the page. 

You can spruce up that piece of writing if you wish to, but it’s not necessary. If what you made delighted you, then it’s special. Think of this as a show and tell.

Rachel and I would love for any artists and writers to join us. If you’re interested, use the hashtag #thedarlingfiles, tag Rachel and I (@calliefeyen, @rachelnevergall) on Instagram, and/or drop your link in the comments on one of our blogs. 

To have flair, means to “have a skill or instinctive ability to appreciate or make good use of something.”

Here’s to having flair. 

Darling Files Weeks:

October 10-14

November 14-18

December 12-16

January 16-20

February 13-17