Killing the Darlings

Is there a word for reaching a point in writing a poem where you know that it will be getting much, much worse before it gets any better?

Is there a way to avoid this stage entirely? Is there a different term for this realization when it happens on the same day you receive a rejection from a journal THAT ASKED TO SEE MORE OF YOUR WORK?

My students laught at "kill your darlings." Then they fall asleep. I vote for "spanking the monkey" but of course that phrase is aleready taken.

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