tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post8983409808812931522..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: How to Kill a CharacterStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-7186921149956513682015-10-02T14:19:37.103-05:002015-10-02T14:19:37.103-05:00Also, Gaveroche did die rather honorably. He died ...Also, Gaveroche did die rather honorably. He died trying to help his fellow soldiers. I admit, though, that his death was most-likely put in to shock readers, or whatever; but if you think about it, he died more honorably than dishonorably, in my opinion.Isabella Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01249851419121682179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-5332926436169976212015-02-22T18:08:28.405-06:002015-02-22T18:08:28.405-06:00I remember reading a book called The Lost Childre...I remember reading a book called The Lost Children. It was about homeless children gangs in russia. Anyways, one of the younger boys died when the gang was thrown into an orphanage by some other orphans. I thought the death was dumb. I mean, they live in moscow, there are better ways to kill a homeless child than that. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07647271462184667768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-20867927395304730702014-12-27T19:53:39.570-06:002014-12-27T19:53:39.570-06:00In one of the books of the secret series this crea...In one of the books of the secret series this creature, called Mr.cabbageface (weird name, I know) survived hundreds of years just to be killed by an avalanche! It angered my so much!Samanthanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-40960311586647582302014-06-30T16:33:29.036-05:002014-06-30T16:33:29.036-05:00I cried with Darth Vader's death.I cried with Darth Vader's death.Kelly L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09531974948735363420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-51584793540073846412014-06-20T11:25:00.120-05:002014-06-20T11:25:00.120-05:00And here I pitch in with a question that the post ...And here I pitch in with a question that the post is not really giving ideas for. I came across this site through google search on how to kill characters. What I was meaning was i need ways. I need to kill a 6-year old girl for my next project and the only way I've made up so far is falling in a waterfall which gives my main character a lifetime waterfall-phobia and the feeling of guilt she can't ever deal with. I do realize though that is a stupid way. I need some ideas for how to kill that kid so that the bigger sister can get scars on the stomach and face trying to save her. Can anyone give me tips or redirect me to article that'd help? Please? And thanks in advance.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537143184477936072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-65815072806730001422014-03-30T10:29:54.598-05:002014-03-30T10:29:54.598-05:00I am.....kinda... sorta.... be killing my FMC. she...I am.....kinda... sorta.... be killing my FMC. she is my POV character, so after she dies at the end of the book, I am going to transition into 3rd person. Emilynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-65239192853919913132013-12-09T17:40:10.743-06:002013-12-09T17:40:10.743-06:00I personally say go for it. Think of Gladiator, fo...I personally say go for it. Think of Gladiator, for example; the MC's wife and son being killed is what ultimately propels him to fight to restore the Republic. Also, in the first Spiderman movie, its the MC's uncle's death that propels him to start fighting crime; similarly, its Clark's parent's deaths in Batman Begins that propels him to start his journey towards becoming Batman (Done extremely well in that movie, I might add). It can be done, and done well. <br /><br />But it can also be done terribly, and I think that is what Jill was talking about. The thing to avoid is making the family one-denominational caricatures that are obviously there just to die so the MC can continue his story. Like in Star Wars. Luke's aunt and uncle are never really developed, and when they die, its obviously just so that Luke can leave with Obi Won; Luke never mourns for them and they are never mentioned again. Another example would be when Alderaan, Princess Leia's home planet, is blown up by the Empire. Leia never mourns that she just lost her entire family, planet, and home. This loss "propels" her (a better word would be "allows", since her planet's destruction is never explored as the reason that she joins the rebels, nor is any kind of a personal revenge or desire for justice) to go join the rebels, but it feels like, once again, her family and home were a plot point, nothing more. (I'm not trying to hate on Star Wars, here; its actually one of my favorite movies. It does many things very well; but sometimes it doesn't delve as deep as it could have)<br /><br />I personally think it's about how you go about it (like many things in writing); if the family feel real, and their deaths really affect the MC, and it propels the plot forward, I say go for it. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09967068138640784755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-7783988591450967342013-09-22T18:37:16.001-05:002013-09-22T18:37:16.001-05:00Yes, that makes sense, especially as the book itse...Yes, that makes sense, especially as the book itself is a slight 1900 pages in the original, slimmed down to (I think) about 1500 in the translation. (48 books and 365 chapters). I would think it would have time in there somewhere to go at a slower pace.M. D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08051382396377691213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-7892818164256922302013-09-22T18:29:40.423-05:002013-09-22T18:29:40.423-05:00Thanks for posting this! I found it helpful in a ...Thanks for posting this! I found it helpful in a number of ways, and I completely agree with the doing our research part. Often it can be the simplest part, and there's generally not much excuse for the manner of death to turn out bad. I would appreciate some advice on the placement of a death. It's an MC, and his story is a romance (well, their story). At what feels like the natural end, they finally get reunited, and while they're too exhausted to "ride off into the sunset", they watch the sunrise together. But the sun had to set, and I had already figured out his death before creating the happy ending that seemed imminent. Yes, its quick, and... tragic, so it won't serve as a nice epilogue or postlude to the happy ending. At least one of his friends gets his own story, and there's the possibility of developing his children's stories... Neither "They lived happily... for a few years, then he died" nor killing him in someone else's story sounds quite right. Advice greatly appreciated! M. D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08051382396377691213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-27540722921881732852013-09-17T21:51:12.675-05:002013-09-17T21:51:12.675-05:00While I agree that not all story lines need a deat...While I agree that not all story lines need a death, and many would be better without one, I think that Wimpy Kid could have one. Not like a random guy walking down the street and stabbing Mom, Dad or Roddrick, but Grandma or an old neighbor. A death like that could create some emotional stuff that a character like Greg would then have to work through.<br /><br />In my wip, the plague will take out some people, but not any MCs. And, like many fantasies, there's a war at the end. People will have to die, and while none of the MAIN characters will be victims, at least one close secondary will. Along with the more relate-able of the two villains.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-5407846960195059402013-09-13T03:11:35.151-05:002013-09-13T03:11:35.151-05:00The "worst death" I ever read was... not...The "worst death" I ever read was... not written. In a series of fantasy books (sorry I lost the name, but it doesn't really matter, the example is still striking I hope !), there were a fellowship accompanying the main hero, as in many books since Tolkien. One of those secondary characters I liked very much, because he was a tough and silent barbarian and was quite interesting. <br />So, they go through a forest to do whatnots, ok. Next chapter : they are getting out of the forest, everything's right but... hmm... someone's missing !? A few lines later it is "explained" briefly that they had an encounter with some bad elves and that my favourite character died there. Wait... what ? I felt someone had stolen me something. I was sad he died, but ok, it happens... but to learn it with a "oh, him ? Oh you know, he died 3 days ago... sorry 'bout that", I found it quite awkward and was disappointed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72301421960867581892013-09-12T20:36:55.737-05:002013-09-12T20:36:55.737-05:00Ooooh, I hope people are still following/commentin...Ooooh, I hope people are still following/commenting on this article (it showed up in my Pinterest feed tonight, so I think there's hope).<br /><br />In my WIP, I kill my main character very early in the story. Like, probably 1/4 of the way through the book. And then, after she's dead, the story technically belongs to her daughter, but in reality, the story belongs to all of the remaining characters equally. But the only reason that any of these characters know each other / are connected, is because of this one female character who dies.<br /><br />So I have two questions: 1. Can any of you think of a story (movie, book, etc), where the main character dies early? I'd really like to read/see a few so that I can feel better about what I'm doing with my own work.<br /><br />2. When I write the book description for the back jacket/Amazon, etc, do I state up front that the main character dies, or should my reader be surprised by it? Because I can arrange a few of the scenes so that Amy dies somewhat later in the book, but it would still have to be in the first half of the story.<br /><br />Thanks everybody!Shelly Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-36610765998788970492013-09-12T20:24:39.201-05:002013-09-12T20:24:39.201-05:00I love this! I have always been annoyed by meaning...I love this! I have always been annoyed by meaningless character deaths!<br /><br />*Spoilers*<br />I am also on the "I don't think Finnick's death was not necessary" side as well. I had to set the book down after I read that part in the story. I get that yes, it furthered the theme, but I was upset when it happened.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-48695175048987842662013-09-12T16:34:59.948-05:002013-09-12T16:34:59.948-05:00When in war, people die, for untold reasons, for n...When in war, people die, for untold reasons, for nothing, and not only the ones you loved less. It is not fair, it is not justice, it is just death and it is so very sad and hard to understand, because there is nothing to understand.<br />I too cried a lot over the HP books, I too wondered why this one died, and this one too I loved so much. And it's exactly how it happens in real life when you are in grief. You are shocked, you hurt, you wonder why and you have no answer.<br />Do you see how powerful it is ? How JK Rowling managed to give us a glimpse of what a wizzard war would have been ? I think she is quite amazing in succeding in making us feel that.<br />I spent the whole last book holding to the hope that none of the three main characters would die (and Snape, I've always loved him, but...one cannot live long with this burden...). I was so relieved when I understood they would not, but I also thought "well with all what they've been through, it's quite odd they made it alive at the end..."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-83634304453376389232013-09-12T16:25:44.382-05:002013-09-12T16:25:44.382-05:00I've found your post really interesting and qu...I've found your post really interesting and quite inspiring, but I couldn't disagree more on some points. Especially concerning the necessity of a specific and useful reason for any death. I suppose most of you have encountered death in some way and... really, did you find it meaningful ?<br />" It wasn't heroic or sacrificial. And it came from out of nowhere." = a basic and perfectly accurate definition of death in real life. Which makes the thing more realistic than some outrageously heroic death. When death strikes from nowhere and for no apparent reason, someone has to pounder the value and briefness of life itself, which is one of the most powerful message a book can carry. <br />I agree that your book should use this death in the sense of showing its impact on the remaining characters, but death itself doesn't need to be epic, or else you take the risk to make it sound too unreal. Death is a natural thing that happens nearly always by surprise, don't forget it.<br />I don't deny that reading about some epic deaths can be really amazing, and that the reader "feels better" if justice has been established, if everything is useful and explained, but don't forget that your work as authors is also to shake you reader up a bit ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-72388560273486922322013-09-12T16:15:18.789-05:002013-09-12T16:15:18.789-05:00You know Victor Hugo wrote Les Misérables, don'...You know Victor Hugo wrote Les Misérables, don't you ? I don't think he was lazy or that his books aren't bestsellers. They're classics, which is even better ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-70741215893216515712013-08-21T11:35:46.474-05:002013-08-21T11:35:46.474-05:00I plan to write a series of four. In the second bo...I plan to write a series of four. In the second book, I plan to kill off one of the more insignificant characters to serve a plot, to create suspense and to ultimately blame two of my characters (one of which is the narrator)<br />At the end the murderer will be found, but I don't know if it's too soon. I believe it to be a good idea, and I want to use it to help the narrator with some of her self discovery.<br />Other than that, I don't intend anyone to die, but the original murderer.<br /><br />Also, I thought some of the Harry Potter deaths became ridiculous towards the end; yes, Sirius, Dumbledore and Snape are all perfectly justified, but people like Fred, Tonks and Remus. If she'd expanded on the impact it had upon the remaining characters, I would have found it alright, but I found it excessive to be honest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-50830456914489035722013-08-19T08:10:57.858-05:002013-08-19T08:10:57.858-05:00LOL Mrs. Williamson! xD
I...thought Gale would di...LOL Mrs. Williamson! xD<br /><br />I...thought Gale would die...and actually, I think Rue's death made sense. And was powerful. Seriously, that was the scene that stayed with me after reading that first book. But Prim's? I barely made sense out of what was happening. And when I did, I was maaaaad. Amanda Fischernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-91926254557319593082013-08-16T11:44:50.910-05:002013-08-16T11:44:50.910-05:00Actually, I went back and edited the scene, and ma...Actually, I went back and edited the scene, and made him pull through it, and edited him back in. That was the biggest "renovation" I've done in this story, and it was because a character made me do it. :)Connie Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00929239591451167169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-52720530058911599612013-08-15T14:42:58.421-05:002013-08-15T14:42:58.421-05:00Spoilers: I think Finnick's death was unjust. ...Spoilers: I think Finnick's death was unjust. Prim's had more towards the plot. I like Resurrection if their done right. In Smallville, it just got weird. Lol. I'm going to kill of a main character in one of my books. It's going to be hard. :PVictoria Grace Howellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01849013182543674707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-76632960023354123202013-08-13T15:57:26.728-05:002013-08-13T15:57:26.728-05:00Oh yes, they killed off a lot of people in Lost. I...Oh yes, they killed off a lot of people in Lost. It was quite sad, but the writers were good enough that I think they pulled it off okay...Selahhttp://selah.homedisciples.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-66754702604241451372013-08-12T20:57:33.499-05:002013-08-12T20:57:33.499-05:00I totally agree! But um... how exactly do you look...I totally agree! But um... how exactly do you look up something like that?? "If someone gets stabbed in the gut how long will it take them to die?" you know what I mean..? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03051094922565669850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-84320972317808352752013-08-11T11:26:49.199-05:002013-08-11T11:26:49.199-05:00Younger kid's book series, I believe it's ...Younger kid's book series, I believe it's in the bracket of 10-12(though they changed it to like 13-15 or something like that) got hooked on the series when I was younger and was curious where it would end up, so I continued reading it, haha. The point is, I have no clue what the author(s)(Goes by the alias Erin Hunter) was trying to make the readers feel, but I know how I felt. Disappointed because the death didn't even make sense! But this was a really interesting post in which I will have to check back on when ever I plan on killing off a character.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00939705797390386025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-63673703609899142662013-08-11T09:43:51.367-05:002013-08-11T09:43:51.367-05:00I actually think some of the most pointless deaths...I actually think some of the most pointless deaths EVER came from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. <br /><br />I love those books, I really do, but some of my favourite characters (Lupin, for instance, and also Tonks) died off the page with no warning whatsoever and hardly any reaction at all from Harry! And Hedwig! Why kill Hedwig? WHY????<br /><br />The best death of a main character for me would have to Callum's in Noughts and Crosses. I cry every time yet that is still one of my favourite books.<br /><br />Anyway, thank you for a really useful post! Helen Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09114260829191310795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-22612824067060378272013-08-10T18:21:41.125-05:002013-08-10T18:21:41.125-05:00I have a habit of killing important characters, bu...I have a habit of killing important characters, but they all die to bring out something in the main character. Is it all right to kill main characters? I killed one because only through death it was possible she could complete her mission. I really didn't want to kill her, she was like my favorite character I have ever come up with, but the story I felt wouldn't work without her dying. Oh well, there is after life in that story. Anyway I really enjoyed this post, though I have to disagree with captain Kirks death being worthless. He had to do what he had to do to help the other guy save his friends and stop the bad guy and etc.But anyway great post, was very helpful.Jacinta Seckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683723326512702467noreply@blogger.com