Setup Breakdown: Kill Your Darlings by L. E. Harper

Cover for the fantasy novel Kill Your Darlings by L. E. Harper.

Exercise

To strengthen your storytelling and plot analysis muscles, do the following:

1. Read the entire book.
2. Write down what YOU think the Five Ps are for the book.
3. Leave a review for the book (that’s just the right thing!).
4. THEN read the setup breakdown below and see if your perception of the book matches mine, how they’re different, and why you think that might be.

PERSON

The Author is a young woman suffering from depression centered around her “failed” writing career.

PAIN

The Author has felt inadequate and unwanted throughout her life. Because of this, she has grown into a cynical, sarcastic, nihilistic adult who pushes people away who want to be close to her. She sees this tactic as a way to keep herself from being hurt by others because she can never get close enough to them, or give enough of herself to them, for them to hurt her.

PRIZE

• Enjoy her time in the fantasy world that she built.
• Figure out a way to use the powers she’s missing.
• Figure out why she can’t seem to wake up and go back to the real world.