Killing off characters~

[Dio]

Hiyas!

 

Okay, so I decided to start a topic dedicated to the knocking-off of secondary and main characters.

 

As I read many online stories, there are countless ones I come across where either the main character, or a secondary character gets killed. Okay...so you're thinking 'no big deal right, it happens all the time?' EXACTLY! It seems to be a common theme especially when parents and family members of struggling and abused gay youngsters are in the picture.

 

To be clear, I'm not trying to say it doesn't, or shouldn't happen; but rather when does it become too much? Recently, and I'm not going to name anyone in particular, I've read several stories that I've put down simply because out of the blue, to move the plot along, someone randomly gets killed in some terrible accident and the result allows said character to move in with said lover, or some variation on that theme.

 

Does this bother any authors out there? I'm sorta hoping for a mix-bag of ideas and views on killing off characters, or your own experiences knocking off Ed the protagonist. When is it acceptable, when is it being used as an emotional crutch...when is it just being lazy in the creativity department...that sorta stuff.

 

huggggggggz

Dio Beckstead

[jalaki]

Well, that's not so easy a question to answer, IMO, heh. It really, really depends on the story. Is there an actual reason for said character to be killed other than just as a plot device, because the author got "trapped," or because the character was extraneous, no longer necessary, too much of a bother, etc (in the case of secondary or minor characters).

 

I don't know, that's largely up to you as an author, and up to you as a reader, heh.

 

In my own personal experience, I've always had it in my mind that a certain character or characters in one of my stories will die (can't say too much, now, can I? Plus I have to actually, y'know, get back into writing first). However, it'll all be for a reason, I assure you, haha.

 

Another story of mine, I went in with the intention of killing as many characters as possible Since they weren't even my characters, it was even more fun *mad cackle* Some of you might know what I'm talking about, those who don't may eventually find out when I get back to writing and re-release the 'finalized' version of that.

 

Anyway...hope this provides at least a matter for discussion, if it doesn't provide any answers outright *shrug*

[Graeme]

I have the same issue. My favourite complaint is car accidents. The number of fatal car accidents in stories is amazing. I had a friend who was writing a story and... for a plot device... had a fatal car accident. I pointed out some statistics. In Victoria, Australia, (where I live), there are less than 500 fatal car accidents a year, with a population of around 3 million (the numbers are not probably accurate, but they are the right order of magnitude). That's one death for every 6000 people. Yes, it happens, but don't just throw it in because it helps the story. What I suggested was a non-fatal car accident (a LOT more common) with the result of the person involved being forced to move away (to get the appropriate medical treatment). It had the same net effect on the story, was more believable, AND allows the option to bring the character back in the future.

 

I use a death as the premise for my latest novel, but that's to set up the story, not to keep it going. Similarly, there's one powerful story I've read where a main character is murdered, but that was set up from chapter one of the story -- it wasn't something that was "just done" to keep the story going/interesting.

 

As long as a death is set up correctly, it can work. My dad died suddenly, but it was a heart attack and he'd been on blood-pressure tablets for years, so a story that had that would be believable. Similarly with aged parents/grandparents. Given sufficient lead up, a death is realistic and believable. It's the use of a death simply as a plot device that I find questionable.

 

There's nothing wrong with a death resulting in an improvement to a character's situation, but when the author appears to have done so for only that reason, that's when I think it's a cheap writing trick and the author should've tried to find an alternative.

 

One of the most memorable bits of writing I can think of is where a gay son is fostered by a gay couple while his dad is off to war. I could see that the author was setting it up for the dad to be killed and the boy to be move in permanently... and was very pleasantly surprised when the author resisted the temptation and the dad came home safe-and-sound.

 

All just my opinion, but you triggered one of my writing-buttons, Dio

 

Graeme

[DomLuka]

I

[Graeme]

All that said, I don

[Empathy]

Hiyas!

 

Okay, so I decided to start a topic dedicated to the knocking-off of secondary and main characters.

 

As I read many online stories, there are countless ones I come across where either the main character, or a secondary character gets killed. Okay...so you're thinking 'no big deal right, it happens all the time?' EXACTLY! It seems to be a common theme especially when parents and family members of struggling and abused gay youngsters are in the picture.

 

To be clear, I'm not trying to say it doesn't, or shouldn't happen; but rather when does it become too much? Recently, and I'm not going to name anyone in particular, I've read several stories that I've put down simply because out of the blue, to move the plot along, someone randomly gets killed in some terrible accident and the result allows said character to move in with said lover, or some variation on that theme.

 

Does this bother any authors out there? I'm sorta hoping for a mix-bag of ideas and views on killing off characters, or your own experiences knocking off Ed the protagonist. When is it acceptable, when is it being used as an emotional crutch...when is it just being lazy in the creativity department...that sorta stuff.

 

huggggggggz

Dio Beckstead

 

 

 

I know exactly what you mean, and it gets a bit repetitive. The parents die and now they move in with their lover. I'm a big fan of unhappy endings that make sense. And I have no prob killing of characters if serves the story. Not that those other stories were bad but it's just repetitive.

[JamesSavik]

I'm glad that you brought this up Dio. In my story that is something that I've got to deal with and I'm having a heck of a time making it work to my satisfaction.

 

The story Broken (at AwesomeDude and Deweywriter) is based on true events and people that I knew. I find as I write it, I have unresolved issues about it. The more I work at it, the more I remember and it starts an old cycle of what-ifs and blaming myself.

 

In the old days, my Scottish friend Johnny Walker and I would just get hammered. Sober it's a little harder to turn off.

[Krista]

Hey,

 

Well death in any story should be looked at as a large event in the story. Characters that are introduced and then killed three chapters later that never had any real importance is just a waste. Death though is common in fictions everywhere not just gay fictions. What may be leading up to that death is really what is common. The way the character dies is probably common as well.

 

In my own writing there is one story that a character will die in. The death of that character will come at the end of the story. Which is why I'm not in any hurry to finish that story, because I know I'd have a terrible time not making the story into the, "They're finally in love then you off one of them!" I don't want to deal with death in my stories, but there are a few people that did approach it in a way that I enjoyed.

 

I tend to stay away from a romance story developed in a realistic style where a character dies during a violent act. That's just my opinion on reading though. Nothing inappropriate about that if done correctly.

 

Anyway so death in stories should never be thrown in just to cause a twist to keep the story going longer, right? To make the death appropriate for the story it should either be explained afterwards or hinted through out using techniques like "foreshadowing." Then try to think of creative and appropriate ways for a character to die that's does fit the story.

[DarkShadow]

There are many reasons for killing off characters. Killing off a main character can do many things for a story especially at the beginning. It pulls the reader in. Lets them see a bit of reality. We are surrounded by death every day. No, we don

[Dio]

We are surrounded by death every day.

I guess. I'm also surrounded by lots and lots of air...friends...smelly laundry, arguments, debates, disagreements, love, life... the list goes on and on. Just because people die in real life doesn't justify its use in a story, especially the way many authors use it.

 

Having the main character subject to loss makes them real. It builds their character in our minds into who we think we might someday be. It also gives the reader hope seeing that person survive such a horrible event. The lines of reality and Fiction blur when it comes to the pieces a reader chooses.

That's an interesting way to look at things. Loss is a piece of a gigantic puzzle, but it is not the end-all of characterization. Besides, there are plenty of ways to show loss without killing off someone (see above posts), it just requires more effort and creativity to come up with them--something it seems many authors lack motivation to do.

 

Death creates conflict. Conflict creates hope. We all hope for the happy ending, but we also marvel at a car race waiting with morbid curiosity for the next horrific wreck.

Conflict indeed creates a situation where hope is certainly something a reader might walk away with, depending on said character's actions, but conflict doesn't automatically mean death. Someone doesn't have to die to evoke an emotional response.

 

What I believe, and it seems I'm not the only one *whew*, is that death is often the easy way to get a tear-jerking and emotional reaction, but sometimes it's for all the wrong reasons. I'm of the opinion that unless your plot somehow revolves around, or builds up to a death scene, it's often an irrelevant and lazy plot device. I'm not saying it shouldn't be used, but if it must be used, use it as a tool for some greater purpose, not an excuse or a copout. And if anyone is thinking 'well gee hey if I knock off aunty Edna I can get Jake to be adopted by Fred's parents and they can shack up all they want!!!!!!!!!' please stop now and reevaluate your sense of 'greater purpose'.

 

Sorry to single you out there Shannon...hehe...your post made me think of some stuff.

 

lub,

db

[DarkShadow]

I guess. I'm also surrounded by lots and lots of air...friends...smelly laundry, arguments, debates, disagreements, love, life... the list goes on and on. Just because people die in real life doesn't justify its use in a story, especially the way many authors use it.

 

 

That's an interesting way to look at things. Loss is a piece of a gigantic puzzle, but it is not the end-all of characterization. Besides, there are plenty of ways to show loss without killing off someone (see above posts), it just requires more effort and creativity to come up with them--something it seems many authors lack motivation to do.

 

 

Conflict indeed creates a situation where hope is certainly something a reader might walk away with, depending on said character's actions, but conflict doesn't automatically mean death. Someone doesn't have to die to evoke an emotional response.

 

What I believe, and it seems I'm not the only one *whew*, is that death is often the easy way to get a tear-jerking and emotional reaction, but sometimes it's for all the wrong reasons. I'm of the opinion that unless your plot somehow revolves around, or builds up to a death scene, it's often an irrelevant and lazy plot device. I'm not saying it shouldn't be used, but if it must be used, use it as a tool for some greater purpose, not an excuse or a copout. And if anyone is thinking 'well gee hey if I knock off aunty Edna I can get Jake to be adopted by Fred's parents and they can shack up all they want!!!!!!!!!' please stop now and reevaluate your sense of 'greater purpose'.

 

Sorry to single you out there Shannon...hehe...your post made me think of some stuff.

 

lub,

db

 

I agree that there are certainly many ways to show loss and have your character move on. The DOH series (who I blame for many hours of lost sleep

[TalonRider]

In the Round Robin story, "Collision," we dealt witht the death of one of the characters. The death was intentional as the story was a mystery. Yes, we had some gay charaters, but that comes out as part of the over all plot.

 

I also host a story at The Talon House, "Starting Over." This story involves the main character dealing with and coming to terms with the death of his best friend. It's eventually revealed to be a suicide and the reaons behind it. I posted this story for the way the author handled it.

 

Stories involving suicide tend to bother me as I have experienced some of the things authors have written about. I was home the night my boyfriend of 2 years killed himself.

[Empathy]

Just because people die in real life doesn't justify its use in a story, especially the way many authors use it.

 

 

 

 

What I believe, and it seems I'm not the only one *whew*, is that death is often the easy way to get a tear-jerking and emotional reaction, but sometimes it's for all the wrong reasons. I'm of the opinion that unless your plot somehow revolves around, or builds up to a death scene, it's often an irrelevant and lazy plot device. I'm not saying it shouldn't be used, but if it must be used, use it as a tool for some greater purpose, not an excuse or a copout. And if anyone is thinking 'well gee hey if I knock off aunty Edna I can get Jake to be adopted by Fred's parents and they can shack up all they want!!!!!!!!!' please stop now and reevaluate your sense of 'greater purpose'.

 

Sorry to single you out there Shannon...hehe...your post made me think of some stuff.

 

lub,

db

 

 

That's something I think about a lot, because at some point in each story I wonder if something terrible should happen to one of the characters and death is always an option.

 

 

When I wrote, AAT I wrote it with the intent of trying to be emotionally intense. Honestly it was a bit of a test for myself, as I lack emotion in most of my writing. And from the moment I had the idea for the story I knew I was going to kill off the main character.

[dkstories]

Sometimes it's fun killing characters, especially characters people like...then again I also like killing off swimming pools. Killing a swimming pool and a minor character at the same time was just icing on the cake.

 

Then again, killing too many characters can have a negative affect...so saving it up, being judicious about it, and then catching the reader by surprise with the awful, gruesome death of a character is a good way to go (in orther words, with sci-fi, killing characters is par for the course, vampire stories characters HAVE to die...other stories like Bully, I don't think there's a NEED for killing a character).

[jalaki]

Guess I have to reply to this again with a little shameless self-promotion. Not only do I get to kill of characters in this story, but I get to kill of characters that aren't even min It's twice the fun!

 

The reason I mention it though, is because it's kinda the point. I can't say why, exactly, because that will ruin the future parts of the story...but it's plot-critical to have a lot of death going on here. So sometimes it's not only excusable but necessary.

 

That said I've already gotten flak from it (in this particular case, I think a lot of it is because I'm killing another writer's characters and people like them oh well, they'll get over it ) and totally expect to get much more as it progresses.

 

Muwahahaha.

Edited November 6, 2006 by jalaki