Killing Off Characters: The Shoulds And Shouldn’ts

Killing off characters: the shoulds and shouldn’ts

1. Why you should

The death is a major plot point

It reveals some shocking plot twist

It supports your themes/what you’re trying to say with your book

Your novel explores the afterlife

You are George R.R Martin and the selling point of your work is that everybody dies

It suits the genre/mood of your novel

2. Why you shouldn’t

The character isn’t serving any purpose (this isn’t the Sims)

You want your readers to be shocked for the sake of being shocked

You want to be edgy

You think your MG story needs more gore

You want to romanticise grieving/loss

3. How you should

This really depends on your genre and target audience

If you’re writing something that isn’t intended to be graphic/traumatic, you can stick to the impact the death has on the other characters. If your novel explores illness, focus on that rather than on the disturbing death scene itself. Perhaps you’re writing a drama/tragic romance - you might want to ease up on the gore here. For these genres, I would suggest focusing on the emotional aspect of the death - the sobbing, the last words, the bright white lights (whatever floats your boat). Think of Mufasa in The Lion King - the actions are suspenseful, but we don’t see him being trampled with his guts spilling everywhere. But it’s still one of the most impactful deaths in fictional history.

If you’re writing in a more mature and gritty genre (like thriller, dark fantasy or crime), you can go all out. If there’s blood and guts, you readers probably want to see it in vivid detail to get their violence fix for the day.

Whichever genre your novel falls into, you should also go with what feels comfortable to you. Even if you’re writing adult dark fantasy, you don’t have to write graphic violence to make a character death impactful.

4. How you shouldn’t

Please don’t let your character have a three-pages-long monologue after they’ve been stabbed in the throat. It’s not realistic and it’s often very boring. Yes, a few well-written last words can have a great impact. Just make sure that your character would realistically be able to speak at that point and that it doesn’t become a cheese fest.

Unless you’re aiming for very dark/nihilistic humour, afford your characters some dignity in the way they kick the bucket. (e.g. don’t use the phrase “kick the bucket”). Having someone slip on a banana peel and then choke on a pretzel is a little ridiculous and will make the entire story seem silly. Once again, this really depends on what you’re going for. If your genre is serious and your character is important and beloved, try for emotion rather than whimsy.

Don’t let your characters die only to be resurrected again and again and again. Look, I love Supernatural (long may they reign), but even I have to admit that the Winchester brothers’ luck with death has become a bit ridiculous. Doing this takes away from the impact of the death - it removes the fear and suspense, and will leave your readers emotionally stunted.

5. Who you shouldn’t

Your only female character in a bid to make the male hero feel something and become a better person

Your only LGBTQIA+ character, who is just too pure to live in this terrible world

Your only character of colour, who dies to save the white hero

Your only disabled character, who can now finally find release from life with disability

The one character who has never experienced a sliver of joy and bears the brunt of the tragedy, right when happiness is finally within their reach

The main character in the middle of the story - unless you have a REALLY good plan for what happens next

Reblog if you found these tips useful. Comment with your own thoughts on killing off characters. Follow me for similar content.

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1 year ago

Siblings: I'll give you my kidney but you can't have a bite from my pudding

I stumbled upon a video on tiktok about how one would do anything for their siblings apart from something really simple. And you know it's true. All of those who have siblings know it's true. Of course, I am going to cover you to our parents when you are out getting tattoos, but no I am not taking the trash out for you.

My little brother had an "adventure" of sorts this summer and ended up in the hospital. He is completely fine, there is nothing to worry about now. But back then the doctors said that if he hadn't come to the hospital when he had, he would be in desperate need of a kidney transplant and probably a liver one as well. It goes without saying how worried my parents were. My older brother and I were too, but had there been the need, we would be racing towards the hospital to give him one of our kidneys. No questions asked, we would be there. And we know he would do the same too.

It's those things but also the most trivial that show how much you care about one another. It is how my little brother always picks up his phone when I call him, even when he is out clubbing. It's how whenever I call any of my brothers to keep me company while I walk home at night, they are always there with no complaints.

It's how they always check whether I am wearing my seatbelt before they start the car. They may not bring me my charger when I ask them to or tell me to go get a glass of water myself. But it's how they will pay for my coffee when we are out together and even remember my order. It's how I know they can tell when I am struggling.

So yeah, siblings. They get on your nerves. Most of the time you don't want to do what they tell you to, or don't want to give them your things. You always fight and snitch on each other over the stupidest things. BUT, they are a friend for life. You know that no matter what, they are there. Sometimes, I don't know what to do with this information. How lucky one can be, to have siblings right? No matter the scraped knees and the bruises from all the fights.


Tags
6 years ago

Things bookworms are upset about

- sequels coming out in a different size than the first book

- damaged book mail

- that we can’t read through our tbr pile before we die

- that time the Library of Alexandria got burned down

- the book waiting list in our local library

6 years ago

poetic beauty

the poetic beauty  i believe in  is a  writer’s naked voice describing the world in the only possible way, originality,  emptying  the one  brain like popcorn on the stove,  bubbling up,  rising  into the clouds through a skylight,  into the stars like the  eyes of a child,  into the unending night  and back again to a toaster,  to a  lightswitch,  to a  fan you  keep on for more than air, 

it’s the  greatest thing  we ever made,   and someday we’ll unmake  it,  with a look,  we’ll say:  jesus,  do you  remember  when language made us mad, crazy, gone like a bat in the daytime?

yes yes yes we remember, 

they were  disastrous,   letters, words, lines were a plague disguised,  they were poison in  the cake,  tsk tsk tsk no, 

it’ll be a great act,  we’ll shame ourselves,  the old us,  

but when  nobody’s watching, in bed when the outlights are on and  the inlights are off, 

we’ll  pull a book of poetry  from under the  pillow, 

we’ll finger the soft pages and  our eyes will glow  like burning diamonds,   the words the words the words will dance like peacocks,  irresisitble in the  hopeless expanse,  the hopeful warmth of a blanket,  tomorrow,  there’s that, and  yesterday  too,  but the  words have both  by the legs, 

the words in your head are killers,  are lovers,  are  the flight of a  flightless creature tasting the sky. 

when faced with the decision to write a poem or not write a poem,  i’m not sure how to  justify the  latter. 

6 years ago
In Our Bones Is The First Studio Album By The Band Against The Current And Was Released On 20th May 2016.
In Our Bones Is The First Studio Album By The Band Against The Current And Was Released On 20th May 2016.
In Our Bones Is The First Studio Album By The Band Against The Current And Was Released On 20th May 2016.
In Our Bones Is The First Studio Album By The Band Against The Current And Was Released On 20th May 2016.
In Our Bones Is The First Studio Album By The Band Against The Current And Was Released On 20th May 2016.
In Our Bones Is The First Studio Album By The Band Against The Current And Was Released On 20th May 2016.
In Our Bones Is The First Studio Album By The Band Against The Current And Was Released On 20th May 2016.
In Our Bones Is The First Studio Album By The Band Against The Current And Was Released On 20th May 2016.
In Our Bones Is The First Studio Album By The Band Against The Current And Was Released On 20th May 2016.
In Our Bones Is The First Studio Album By The Band Against The Current And Was Released On 20th May 2016.

In Our Bones is the first studio album by the band Against The Current and was released on 20th May 2016. The 12 track album was produced by Andrew Goldstein and Tommy English. A special version for Japan includes 2 bonus tracks, ‘Zombie’ and “Steal The Night” 

Happy 1 year anniversary of the release of “In Our Bones”

6 years ago
Michael And Alan Play A Practical Joke On Daniel During One Of Their Takes. (x)
Michael And Alan Play A Practical Joke On Daniel During One Of Their Takes. (x)
Michael And Alan Play A Practical Joke On Daniel During One Of Their Takes. (x)
Michael And Alan Play A Practical Joke On Daniel During One Of Their Takes. (x)

Michael and Alan play a practical joke on Daniel during one of their takes. (x)

6 years ago

REBLOG IF ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING HAS HELPED YOU THROUGH BAD TIMES IN YOUR LIFE

- Supernatural - Sherlock - Doctor Who - Torchwood - The Mighty Boosh - Dan and Phil - The IT Crowd - My Chemical Romance - Fall Out Boy - Panic! At The Disco - Twenty Øne Piløts - All Time Low - 5 Seconds of Summer - Against the Current - As It Is - Pierce the Veil - Mallory Knox - Sleeping With Sirens - Misha Collins [as a person tbh because he’s amazing as fuck] - Ghostbusters (2016 and/or Original) [YOU DO YOU OKAY I LOVE BOTH] - Disney Movies - Tim Burton movies (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie, etc.) - Harry Potter - Fictional characters/actors/actresses from something I haven’t mentioned here on this list

{I need to find more fandom blogs so hit me up, I promise I don’t bite - that’s not one of my kinks.}

1 year ago
WHAT IN THE ROM COM FANFIC DAYDREAMING ALTERNATE REALITY COMPLETELY PERFECT SCENARIO THAT WE ONLY DREAMED
WHAT IN THE ROM COM FANFIC DAYDREAMING ALTERNATE REALITY COMPLETELY PERFECT SCENARIO THAT WE ONLY DREAMED

WHAT IN THE ROM COM FANFIC DAYDREAMING ALTERNATE REALITY COMPLETELY PERFECT SCENARIO THAT WE ONLY DREAMED UP IN OUR HEADS AND NEVER THOUGHT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN IN A MILLION YEARS IS GOING ON HERE?!?!

6 years ago
“If You Remain Idle, You Will Lose That Brilliant Light. 
“If You Remain Idle, You Will Lose That Brilliant Light. 
“If You Remain Idle, You Will Lose That Brilliant Light. 
“If You Remain Idle, You Will Lose That Brilliant Light. 

“If you remain idle, you will lose that brilliant light. 

That aforementioned darkness is stalking your light.”

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helenoverthinks28 - ✨Helen✨
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