Let's start with what should be obvious but needs saying anyway, for the sake of all the puppies around the world (and so no one tries to sue my ass). "Kill the puppy" is JUST WRITING ADVICE. No puppies should be harmed in the reading of this post. It’s writing advice that willl make sure all your writing means something. Killing puppies will give your writing focus, impact, and purpose. Here’s how…

What's the deal with this wacko writing advice?

It comes from Shonda Rhimes.

If you don't know her, Shonda Rhimes is the writer and producer behind TV mega-shows Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder, amongst others. Time magazine once named her "one of the 100 most influential people in the world."

 

My Christmas present to myself was Shonda Rhimes' Masterclass teaching Writing for Television. I love learning about writing in different formats, and this class was a corker!

In it, Shonda talks about the cute little puppy she wrote into Grey's Anatomy with the sole purpose of killing it later.

Savage, yes?!

No. Not in writing.

Writing with purpose

If you write something into your story—whether that's fiction, memoir, or an anecdote within a self-help book—it must have a purpose.

Don't include a puppy if the puppy doesn't do something for the story at some point.

When Sondra eventually killed that puppy, she made the characters—and the viewer—feel something important.

 

Whatever elements, stage props, people, or puppies you write about, they must serve a purpose for your plot or emotional storyline.

Writing about real life

This is even true when you're talking about real-life events.

Maybe there was a Civil War rifle hanging on the mantle in the living room when you had that big argument with your dad. But if no one fired the damn gun, the reader doesn't need to know it was there.

Only include items and people that affect the story so your writing stays focused and impactful.

Including a gun that never goes off or a puppy that just hangs around being cute, living its long life, creates distractions for the reader. They're sitting around waiting for someone to pull the trigger, or for the puppy to at least poop on the carpet.

So, as wise ol' Shonda says, kill the puppy. Or don't write it in.

There's your dose of writing advice. Next time, we'll talk about how to attract and stand out in business, and I promise to be less morbid.