How to kill off your main character?

[Burst]

I thought up an novel idea and I want to start it off with the death of my main character. I know this is probably frowned upon, but there's a reason why he's killed off and that becomes the drive to the story. So I need help finding out unique ways to kill him off. Anyone want to help?

[ArielFingolfin]

If you want it to drive the plot then his death should probably have something to do with that. For example the age old plot of one guy being killed by the bad guy and his friend stiving to get revenge. How will his death impact the rest of the story?

[Cassia]

Bomb?
Poison?
Should it be like a natural thing (landslide), accidental (war going on and they are not targeting him), or like an assanation?
There is a lot of ways you could go with that.

[Ophiucha]

I'm not sure he counts as the main character if you kill him off in the beginning. I mean, he can be the main character of Chapter 1, but after that... surely whoever takes over is your 'main character'. It reminds me of the first Evil Dead film. It kind of made it seem like the girl was the main character, if there was one at all, but by the end, it was Ash who took front and centre. And everyone considers Ash to be the main character since that's how it ended up.

Anyway, killing him off in a way that drives the rest of the plot? Murder tends to drive stories. Revenge stories, specifically. What kind of story are you telling? If it's a story about characters dealing with grief on their own terms, a more solemn story, then it doesn't really matter how he dies. If it's a story that you want to end with a fight against a dragon, then he should probably be killed by the dragon. Or perhaps they want to resurrect him and they need the eye of a dragon to do so. Or you could have a bit of political subterfuge. Make your main character the king and the other characters his sons (and daughters?) fighting it out to get the throne. There are a million ways it could go and how he dies would depend on what you want the rest of the story to be about, really.

[Cassia]

Well said!

[Steerpike]

I can think of a few ways in which this could be the main character and die in chapter 1.

That said, this would therefore be an extremely important and meaningful part of your story. As a writer, you really ought to come up with this yourself rather than asking others to think of something for you.

[Ireth]

Your question reminds me of the book The Lovely Bones. The main character, Susie, is raped and murdered close to the start of the book, and the rest of it deals with her new existence in heaven as she watches over her family (and her rapist/killer, for some reason), and her family's struggles in trying to move on.

[Burst]

I can think of a few ways in which this could be the main character and die in chapter 1.

That said, this would therefore be an extremely important and meaningful part of your story. As a writer, you really ought to come up with this yourself rather than asking others to think of something for you.

I know, but I couldn't think of any other ways... that's why I was asking for help haha.

I'm not sure he counts as the main character if you kill him off in the beginning. I mean, he can be the main character of Chapter 1, but after that... surely whoever takes over is your 'main character'. It reminds me of the first Evil Dead film. It kind of made it seem like the girl was the main character, if there was one at all, but by the end, it was Ash who took front and centre. And everyone considers Ash to be the main character since that's how it ended up.

Anyway, killing him off in a way that drives the rest of the plot? Murder tends to drive stories. Revenge stories, specifically. What kind of story are you telling? If it's a story about characters dealing with grief on their own terms, a more solemn story, then it doesn't really matter how he dies. If it's a story that you want to end with a fight against a dragon, then he should probably be killed by the dragon. Or perhaps they want to resurrect him and they need the eye of a dragon to do so. Or you could have a bit of political subterfuge. Make your main character the king and the other characters his sons (and daughters?) fighting it out to get the throne. There are a million ways it could go and how he dies would depend on what you want the rest of the story to be about, really.

I'm adding some fantasy and supernatural elements to it. He still remains my main character because he is resurrected by a Necromancer, who wants to use him... Maybe I could add in some mystery about his death?

Your question reminds me of the book The Lovely Bones. The main character, Susie, is raped and murdered close to the start of the book, and the rest of it deals with her new existence in heaven as she watches over her family (and her rapist/killer, for some reason), and her family's struggles in trying to move on.

I loved that movie. I didn't even know it was a novel. Wow.

[Kenneth J. Ester]

He is murdered by the one person he trusts more than anyone else.

He dies in a failed attempt to save someone or losing a battle to an enemy.

He dies by giving his life to save another.

He can die of a disease that took him quickly.

Getting hit by a bus is always good. lol

He can commit suicide after realizing he wasted two hours of his life watching reality TV.

Ok, so not all the suggestions are serious. The disease idea was a total joke.

[ThinkerX]

He still remains my main character because he is resurrected by a Necromancer, who wants to use him...

failed hero. He gave his life trying to stop something bad from happening, but it didn't work. His undeath, should things work out, is a chance to put things right.

However he died, it should be something he mentally replays over and over again.