Does anyone else feel bad When they have to Kill off their Characters?

It's inevitable. I'll sometimes sketch out an alternate version just to see if there is some way they can survive without doing damage to the story. Rarely works. Even minor characters can give a bit of a feeling of loss.

In a way, that's good, if you can weave those feelings into your story, make the reader feel what you feel. If you simply and dispassionately bump someone off, that's pretty meaningless.

 

Hi,

When I wrote Dragon I loved my hero, but for the book to work he had to die. It was the noble sacrifice. I couldn't have him go through the whole book sacrificing everything he was to save his family - and the galaxy on the way - and then have him survive. But right at the end I made an executive decision and left his fate in limbo, so that he was dying on the deck of the battleship, enjoying open heart surgery at the hands of a medbot having achieved everything he'd needed to, but not dead.

Christian Aaron Moody the Third could actually be alive somewhere out there - ready for a sequel!

Cheers, Greg.

 

I used to not care about killing off characters, especially if I knew from the start that they were going to die. Heck, one of the first people to get killed in my oldest work in progress is a little kid, and even though it's supposed to be sad, i didn't and still don't feel that bad about it because I knew from the moment I first wrote that character's name that he was going to die. His death is an important part of the plot, and I guess I could let him live if I really wanted, but it just wouldn't be realistic given the circumstances. But, there is another character that I'm still debating whether I should kill off or not. If he dies, it will be at the end, so it could go either way. But I wrote his death scene, just in case, and I cried while I was writing it... and when I read it later... twice. So, I guess it depends on the character, their purpose in the story, and how much I like that particular character whether I feel bad about it or not.

 

I feel the same. But it's a story choice: it's necessary to do what makes the story move better—and it can be painful. The most important point is to make sure that killing off a character (or not) moves the story forward in the best way possible.

I agree with Insolent Lad's point that it's good you feel this as a writer because then your readers will feel it too.

 

I like making villains who have little to no remorse or regret for their terrible actions. Thus their deaths are seen as justified or necessary. If a heroes' death has been planned then it serves a higher purpose of saving or inspiring someone. If the death was not initially planned then it serves as a surprise twist for the characters, reader and myself. Everyone now has to adjust to the new circumstance.

 

Same. I do it gleefully.

 

One of my books began with one of the main characters dying. No one noticed because she slipped her spirit into an artificial body mask that her aunt kept in the closet. Then the challenge was to see how long it took her friends to notice she wasn't quite herself. That was fun.

In another book I enjoyed killing off the protagonist's boyfriend. He had been such a manipulative jerk. When the mud flow got him I felt really good about it. It was either that or have someone bite off his whatchit and while he deserved it, it would not have been good for the storyline. Grin.

 

Besides the emotional distress you personally experience, this seems to me like the opposite of a problem (as long as you actually do go through with killing your characters!). Here’s a saying: no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. It’s a good sign that the feelings are real to you; it’s a symptom you’re writing something emotionally impactful.

 

I'm merciless and indiscriminate with my character deaths. No sense in using a death mechanic if it's not used equally among all living things. Even my gods can die. My slaughter has no limits. Actually, death is some of the kinder things I have done to those poor spawns of my imagination over the years. No character really dies as they can be brought back though means that doesn't involve resurrection. Flashbacks are a fun option.

 

If I kill someone in a story I probably have regretted their concepts since their creation. So no.

 

The problem with flashbacks is that unless executed skillfully they can confuse the reader.

 

When my characters have to die, I feel terrible about it. I cried when I had to kill off the abusive mother for Pete's sake. She was finally redeeming herself. Dammit.

 

I get quite attached to my characters and I usually feel sad that I don't get to write about them anymore (although there are a select few that I quite look forward to. I'm looking at you Sebastian.) It does help though that most of my characters' deaths are pre-determined.