To Kill, or Not to Kill My Darlings, That Was the Question.

My growth as a writer is largely owed to the invaluable guidance of author Jerry B. Jenkins. Those are just the cold hard facts.

But let's back up, shall we?

It all started while having lunch one afternoon in the cab of my work truck. An epiphany, if you will. I thought: Maybe it's time to use what I'd learned during my college studies and develop a story idea.

I'm particularly passionate about character development. Andrew Lincoln's portrayal of the character Rick Grimes on The Walking Dead TV series was phenomenal. His exit from the show left a void that could never be filled. So my goal was to create a character that would resonate with readers the same way his performance did for me.

Initially, my protagonist was going to be a larger-than-life individual who kicked a$$ while taking names. But as I applied myself to the craft, I became aware of the intricacies of character arc and development and how crucial it was for the protagonist to be identifiable and believable to the reader.

A few years back, I began reading books on the craft of writing, brushing up on what I had learned during my college course in creative fiction. I sought out every resource I could find, and while many offered useful insight, Mr. Jenkins' approach resonated with me most. A 21-time best-selling author and the mind behind the Left Behind series, his generosity simply spoke volumes.

Joining the writers' guild has been a turning point. My prose is stronger and I now possess the tools to write with purpose.

Once I felt confident enough to endure the marathon of the middle and began drafting, it became clear there wasn't room for every idea I'd stored away over the years. I realized I'd have to kill some of my darlings for the sake of the tale. Anything that didn't serve the narrative had to go, no matter how enamored I was with it. A story has to ring true for the reader. It must resonate.

So I began a rough outline of my tale and realized the ideas I'd planned for the first manuscript would be better served in a second and third. Before long, the arc I'd envisioned for the protagonist became more vivid and believable than I had ever imagined, and a theme surfaced on its own as I worked.

I was taught by Jerry B. Jenkins to write about what you love, and you can't go wrong.' And isn't that the truth of it.

As it turns out, my darlings are safe for now. What didn't fit in the first manuscript has become essential to the second and third. And I owe it all to the knowledge gained through Jerry B. Jenkins' Writers Guild.

If I had any advice to pass along as a student of the craft, it would be this: Stick with it. Immerse yourself in the genre you're writing. Take notes. Pay attention to what works and what does not. Study the many facets of the craft that hide inside the prose of the greats. And above all, swallow your pride and stay open to constructive criticism. Trust me. It's the only way you'll grow.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts."

-Winston Churchill

PS - Thank you for showing me the way, Mr. Jenkins.

J.W.