The Courage to Cut

Every writers knows the feeling of a scene that matters ...

FROM MY DESK 📖

Maybe it was the first moment you imagined when the story came to you. 

Or perhaps it was the scene that helped you understand your characer.

It could have even been the one you kept returning to because something about it felt special. 

Then, editing asks the question you don't want to answer: does this still belong here?

Editing has a way of challenging the attachment we build with our words. After spending hours, days, or even years creating something, cutting it can feel like admitting we got it wrong. 

But that isn't what editing is.

A strong edit isn't about deciding what was good or bad. It's about understanding what the story needs now. 

Sometimes a scene can be beautifully written and still not serve the bigger picture. 

Occasionally, a chapter can hold meaning for you as a writer, while slowing the story for the reader.

This is something I've had to remind myself while editing my own novel. I recently made the difficult decison to remove a scene I cared about. Not because it failed, but because the story had grown beyond it. 

That distinction changed everything.

The scene wasn't wasted. It taught me abou the characters and helped me explore the story. It brought me closer to understanding what the manuscript needed.

Its job was never only to appear in the final draft; its job was to help me create the final draft.

This is one of the hardest mindset shifts in editing: the words we remove at not proof of failure. They are evidence of the journey.

Every cut, rewrite, and discarded idea leaves something behind. Not always on the page, but in the story itself. 

When you're faced with a scene you love that may need to go, remember: You aren't losing the work you've done. You're using it to make room for the story you're trying to tell.

 

EDITING TIP OF THE DAY ✍️

Yesterday, someone asked me: how do you know if a scene belongs? 

You just need to ask these simple editing questions: what changes because this scene exists? Does knowledge shift? Does a belief change? Does a relationship evolve?

Strong scenes cause change, and change drives story momentum. So, if nothing shifts, then you need to either revise or cut the scene. 

POSITIVE MINDSET PICK UP ✨

Reading is not passive - it's participation. 

When you read, your brain simulates that character's experiences. You're actively co-creating something.

Shift your mindset to: 'what part of myself did this story wake up?' 

If you remember just one thing from today's post, let it be this: sometimes cutting scenes, a character, or worldbuilding elements is an act of care for your story. 

Have you experienced something similar, or do you have a different approach? Share your thoughts in the comments - I'd love to hear from you!

Every story starts with a single spark, and every writer gets stuck from time to time. Keep showing up. Keep experimenting. Keep telling the stories only you can tell.

Until next time, may your stories grow wild, your edits be kind, and your brambles always lead to somewhere worth exploring 🌿