Marie Kondo has inspired millions of people to simplify and streamline their lives by assessing their belongings and keeping only what sparks joy in their life’s story. Are you ready to do the same for the stories you write?

by Cara J. Stevens

I’m in the process of packing up our house for a move. We’re downsizing from a large cozy, suburban house to a sparkling new, small apartment in the city. We’re also becoming empty-nesters as our son is moving into his first apartment and our daughter is happily settled across the country. To prepare for this new chapter, I’ve been systematically going from room to room, sorting our belongings into piles: keep, donate, sell, send off with the kids, and throw out. What has helped me through this potentially overwhelming task is Marie Kondo’s transformational book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.

At the same time, I’ve been working with clients struggling to edit their picture book manuscripts. They’re having trouble “killing their darlings.” It hit me, as I was elbow-deep in memorabilia, that downsizing a home and downsizing a manuscript share striking similarities. Both require looking objectively and lovingly at what has brought you to this moment and assessing its usefulness for the journey ahead.