Death by Author

Disclaimer: I’m talking about killing fictional characters that don’t really exist!

Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way…

Admit it, some of us like killing off our characters. And yet at the same time it’s so traumatizing and emotionally sad; especially if you’ve fallen in love with that character, killing them can be hard. I personally like killing my characters…most of the time, at least, because I enjoy creating suspenseful moments and shocking my readers. Other times, I feel so bad that I ask myself whether or not I should have killed them in the first place. It’s horrible. And I know I can’t possibly be the only one.

Anyway, finding “cool” ways to kill characters requires some interesting research. This research will usually leave your web browser history looking like you’re a serial killer or murderer. I had to find a “cool” way to kill a character once and wondered what would happen if I dropped a grenade down someone’s shirt. That was some interesting research for sure.

Killing characters is just a part of the writing job, so here are a few tips to help make you a better character murderer. 😊

1. Make it memorable.

Sometimes I find it hard to kill a character because I’ve become attached to them. This could be a good thing because my readers can care about them too. However, when your readers feel connected with someone and you just kill them off without a second thought, it can ruin the momentum. Don’t just kill your character’s best friend and then have them forget about her five sentences later. Make your character death’s memorable by adding drama, emotion, stress, and of course, a little blood, if necessary. If this character has been with the reader the entire story and dies at the very end, give them the satisfaction of it being an honorable, sacrificial death.

2. Make it worthwhile.

Don’t just kill your characters for fun, you psycho murderer. There should be a reason behind the death. Usually, this reason is to drive the plot forward or give your main character some motivation. If your character is forced to watch his family slaughtered before him, there will be more incentive and drive in his motives as he relentlessly pursues the killer.

3. Make it emotional.

Killing your characters should stir up some emotion, whether it be positive or negative. Death is traumatizing. When someone dies, it’s sad and emotional. There’s always that feeling of loss, shame, and sometimes, guilt. Keep in mind that these emotions will stay with your characters for a longer time the more attached they were to the victim.

4. Make it descriptive…to some extent.

Depending on your writing style, your preference, your characters, and your genre, killing your characters can range from super bloody and gory to something a lot milder. There are only a hundred million different ways to kill your characters, so try to be specific and unique. Go into as much detail as you want or don’t want. Do your research and make it realistic.

5. Don’t kill your protagonist.

Just don’t. Please. Unless you really, really, really, really have to, but at that point, is it even necessary?

Well, there you have it. A few tips to help you become a better murderer…not physically. Again, we’re talking about killing fake people who are simple figments of our imagination. What is your take on killing characters? Do you secretly love it or avoid it at all costs?

Have a great week and keep on writing!

Jordan