"Killing off" characters

[myrionomos]

I finished my second story a couple of weeks ago,(14 chapters average 8000 9000 words each) and after re-re-reading it ,I have realized that it is fundamentally flawed.

I had grown so fond of the characters that I failed to see that the story would be tighter and more convincing if at different points a number of them had been written out, killed off, or otherwise taken "off stage." One character in particular, was so attractive as a fun and sexy personality, that I gave her far too much attention. She was largely incidental to the main story line and if I am to post the story, major pruning is required.

Has any one else experienced this problem: is it a common error? Would you recommend re-writing or pruning/editing.

In my case I anticipate a 40% reduction in word volume whichever way I go - if I go at all. At the moment I'm tempted to put it to one side as a major learning experience - and a huge penalty for self indulgence.

 

[sr71plt]

I've both had characters I found I needed to "kill off" and ones I intended to "kill off" who wouldn't leave. If sticking with the original plan was bothering me, I didn't.

 

[jomar]

A movie guy once said (might have been Scorsese), "You know you are really a director when you cut your favorite scene."

 

[TxRad]

Just be careful. I killed off too many in one story, like everyone. It kind of slowed the story down.

 

[Weird Harold]

Would you recommend re-writing or pruning/editing.

I would recommend applying what you've learned to a new story rather than editing a posted story. If you intend to post the story elsewhere or submit the story to a publisher, then a revision would be in order, otherwise, just move on to the next story.

 

[TE999]

If some of your characters aren't integral to the plot, yet they've taken your fancy, remove them entirely and give them their own story.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

I had to kill off characters when I wrote a creative story for an assignment. I loved these two sisters I created, but had to limit my word count. I wanted a complete story, so I killed off the sisters. If I could find the damn folder where I put the copy I'd edit it and place it in non-erotic for Lit.

 

[JustaSCOUNDREL]

Since I am not sure exactly what you mean by "Kill them off." I would suggest you perhaps sent one off on a extended business trip, or if young enough to an out of state college or have them take a year or so long sabbatical. That way you can bring them back if you need via emails, phone calls, or even a couple of weeks vacation back home if needed. If not they are just gone as far as writing.

Just my 2 penny's worth.

Mike

 

[SamScribble]

It's a piece of advice that I have seen attributed to a number of editors: Murder your darlings.

I don't think actual murder is required. But getting rid of the odd 'favourite' character before the end often makes for a better story.

Sam

 

[latinplayer]

Most stories are written in a linear way, and most editors will tell you that if something is distracting to the overall plot, then it should be removed.

I suggest that you set your story aside, and take the concept that made you write the story in the first place, and rewrite it from the start. Cutting out a character, or a section, may leave a gaping void that you'll have to work doubly hard to repair later.

Have your smaller characters stick to smaller parts, and if a certain character wants to take on a life of his/her own, then as suggested above, make an off-shoot story and give that character a chance to shine elsewhere. I've written entire novellas and novels based on small characters that kept jumping up and down in a story, and begged me to give them some attention.

If you feel compelled to be a writer, and you tackle this obstacle and conquer it, this will make for a VERY GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I went through a lot of this kind of stuff early on, for years, until I got a good rhythm going, and now I can snap out a good short story every few days, and am trying to complete a full-length novel every two to three months.

 

[Stella_Omega]

It's a piece of advice that I have seen attributed to a number of editors: Murder your darlings.

I don't think actual murder is required. But getting rid of the odd 'favourite' character before the end often makes for a better story.

Sam

Don't be tender with your characters, get them into trouble so that they can get out of it again.
This also relates to cutting out scenes and sentences that you love but don't actually help the story.

 

[lance gt]

I put characters in limbo, as suggested earlier. In a series, other characters can have the spotlight for a bit, while the main one is in jail, hospital, etc. It allows the story to venture down other avenues that revolve around the stand ins. Tying everything back in is essential, but not hard to do. Soap operas are great for doing this and helped me incorporate that strategy into my stories. Once dead, they're dead, so decide what will happen to the story if you do.

 

[MrMax59]

... Soap operas are great for doing this and helped me incorporate that strategy into my stories. Once dead, they're dead, so decide what will happen to the story if you do.

Or do like the soap operas do and claim it was a dream, or that they really didn't die in the plane crash, or got mugged and had amnesia, or, or, or. Perhaps soap operas are not the best inspiration to cite just before you imply that 'dead means dead.'

But good advice overall

 

[mynameisben]

I wrote a detective/thriller once, where the author was killed halfway through the first chapter. The only clue to his disappearance was the remaining 158 blank pages.

My publisher did me one better. He killed the whole damn story.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I tend to write porn or romance or about things I know, so death doesn't play much of a part in my stories. Most of the tension in my stuff is internal -- characters struggling with themselves -- so death and killing wouln't really solve anything or make any dramatic sense.

And I don't like the idea that creating a character you like and then killing him or her off is any kind of formula for success.

As they say about suicide: death is easy, living is hard.

 

[sr71plt]

Hmmm. You know vampires and giant moths. Who would have known?

 

[TxRad]

Hmmm. You know vampires and giant moths. Who would have known?

How about a gaint silk worm. I need some new rope.

 

[Frotality]

ill tell you something.... ill tell you two "pet" characters who were favored by thier creators and given more focus than was ever necessary.

jar jar binks and wesley crusher.

no matter how much you love them, these kinds of characters never seem to translate very well at all to an audience. if you happen to create one of these, get rid of them. perhaps make them the focus of thier own story if you have to, but the CANNOT survive as anything less than leading roles given authorial attachment to them.

 

[Stella_Omega]

How about a gaint silk worm. I need some new rope.

No, you'll just hang yourself with it, if it's long enough.

 

[myrionomos]

I would recommend applying what you've learned to a new story rather than editing a posted story. If you intend to post the story elsewhere or submit the story to a publisher, then a revision would be in order, otherwise, just move on to the next story.

I think Harold that you are right. I looked at eliminating certain characters but the fact is that they had already given the remainder of the story a different direction, and merely taking them out would not answer. Moving on!

 

[TxRad]

No, you'll just hang yourself with it, if it's long enough.

No chance of that. It's not even long enough to tie a decent knot in.

Oh, you meant the rope, silly me.

 

[NikkiBastion]

Oooh, this one's touchy for me. As a writer of stories, I have no problem terminating someone, and sometimes it makes me all giddy inside.

From a reader perspective, that's a whole other story, even if I totally grasp the logic of it. And this is only with regard to actually killing off a character, as opposed to getting rid of them for the sake of the story as it's being developed.

Take the 2009 summer series Harper's Island - outstanding story, great acting, gorgeous setting, and I knew going in every week somebody was going to die. Every character was so well developed I fell in love with all of them, except in the first 2 episodes since I didn't get time to get to know them.

But when they killed off JD, I was downright traumatized by it...I actually felt like I got kicked in the stomach, and cried (along with scores of people). I finished watching the show to the end but it wasn't the same...it was now just to see how they wrapped it up...and then they killed off Cal and Chloe and it was heartbreaking. I cried again (along with pretty much everyone else by that point). It wasn't just direction, the actors were so amazing in the show that they were real, believable, and we loved them all, even the assholes...so it was far more effective for an emotional gut punch when they were killed off.

Except for the part it wasn't intended to be a tear jerker but a fun murder mystery ah la survivor. I think even the directors/producers had no way to know just how attached the audience would be to any of the characters and every week, a ton of people were downright pissed about it, even to the point arguments ensued at how the directors/writers had really screwed up the whole show taking out these characters, what the hell! - completely forgetting that was the entire point: murder every week, down to the final survivors.

So, if you write a character that you ultimately intend to kill off, beware of making them so lovable that people feel like someone they love is gone, the reaction can be pretty nasty!





RIP JD... *sniff*

 

[NikkiBastion]

I wrote a detective/thriller once, where the author was killed halfway through the first chapter. The only clue to his disappearance was the remaining 158 blank pages.

My publisher did me one better. He killed the whole damn story.

I love that premise...too bad...I'd love to read it, how amusingly clever!

 

[mynameisben]

I love that premise...too bad...I'd love to read it, how amusingly clever!

Well, stay tuned. I may come back to write a sequel as a ghost writer. This being dead and all is getting a little boring.

 

[NikkiBastion]

Well, stay tuned. I may come back to write a sequel as a ghost writer. This being dead and all is getting a little boring.

Hahah!

I see what you did there. And I, for one, approve!


I can't believe it would get scrapped. I mean somebody published that one book "everything men know about women" that was nothing but 360 blank pages.

The author being killed off in the middle of a story - i love that! hah!