Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

Since I was too busy yesterday to do it and too busy today to do anything but this.

So I made an observation on FB about the ridiculous moment when you realize you're crying over the death of a character in a story and then realize you've been taken in so far that you care that much. I've failed to kill characters time and again. Oh I can kill them in fanfic, usually characters who I dislike and I don't even do that too often. I don't really care for AUs. I can kill the nasty ones but I can't kill any of the protagonist's friends.

And I want to. Why? Sometimes it needs to be done. Not for quick and cheesy emotional reactions (though it would accomplish that as well.) Sometimes a character really has to die to move along the plot, to galvanize the action.

And yet I always try to weasel out of the killing. I have trouble ending stories because I don't want to say goodbye to them so you can imagine the difficulty I have in bumping off a well liked character.

I still want to. Wonders where I can do this...

Also I found a stack of old photos from when I lived in Madison. I either need to do a sequel to my YA story Splinters of Silver and Cold Iron or set something new there. I never did use the Circus Museum or Devil's Lake or House on the Rock. God, I miss Madison. I found Iktomi in that stack. I miss that cat, too.

Points to my music - perfect for Kaleo's upbringing

Comments

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

oh my, poor characters. And yes if the death is meaningless then there's no point. I do write mysteries but often the people dying you never met since that's where the story starts.

Is it wrong to want to leave the reader feeling a little gut shot?

yes it can be.

[priarani560.livejournal.com]

If you feel that way about the characters then they are REAL and that's the whole point.

*hugs*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

exactly and that is what an author should strive for.