One have to die?

sadron · Aug 12, 2009

I've been talking with my sister, about one has to die in story. Is it tradition that one character have to take the role of dying one? Or is it just simply clear, this way it must happen? Sacrifice one?

Does your story/book have one who have to die? Thoughts?

In my story one just died.

KTC · Aug 12, 2009

You write the story. That is all. There is no death quotient.

Kathleen42 · Aug 12, 2009

If this were true, then a good chunk of the books on my shelf would never have been published. Then, again, maybe things are just bloodier in Finland.

sadron · Aug 12, 2009

In Finland? I don't think so. I just wondered if others write the way someone dies...

Caramia · Aug 12, 2009

I have a two-fold character cast, I guess is the best way to describe it. The first group is smaller and is made of essential folks that really get exposure on the pages. The second group is the outer circle and they get some stage time but not nearly as much as the main group. I've already tossed quite a few from the second group to their deaths. I think before it is over, there may be a couple from the first group that will fall for the story, but I'm already making the lists of acceptable losses and unacceptables. (Yes, I make up new words!) I am finding how reluctant I am to kill one of these, it's pretty one-sided on that list. The single character I did try to kill off from the first group ended up being swapped out for a lesser known character. I couldn't do it.

Some folks think it is needed but shoot, I made a group for that reason. They can die without it being a huge loss. However, it is much more stunning and heart wrenching when it is someone a reader has come to care about and for that reason, I may very well move some names over, but I probably won't know who until the scene is being typed.

In response to your question though, yes, my story does require quite a few deaths. I don't think it is required in all tales. When it is a prominent character, I personally want to see it done for a good reason and not just to add to the body count.

Danthia · Aug 12, 2009

There's a common screenwriting idea (tip?) that says you kill off someone in the third act, and that's probably what you're hearing. You don't have to kill anyone off if you don't want to. Lots of books don't. If it serves the story, do it, if not, don't.

Wark · Aug 12, 2009

Kill as many as you want. Just make it relevant.

seun · Aug 12, 2009

Kill everybody. Kill nobody. There isn't a rule. If the story requires a bloodbath, then that's what the story gets. If it requires one death, then that's what it gets.

backslashbaby · Aug 12, 2009

Someone relatively important does die in mine, actually. I was going to have no deaths, but that's just not realistic for the story and the character. After a few deaths, it occurred to me that an important death would be fair enough and a good fit, too.

You don't need death, certainly, but I wouldn't shy away from it if the story would be silly without it (war, for example).

Strange Days · Aug 12, 2009

sadron said:
I've been talking with my sister, about one has to die in story. Is it tradition that one character have to take the role of dying one? Or is it just simply clear, this way it must happen? Sacrifice one?

Does your story/book have one who have to die? Thoughts?

In my story one just died.

Two episodic characters have been already mortified in mine. At least two of the current MCs are going to expire as well- in part Four so I plan. Another two big characters (who are yet to be introduced in the part Four) will meet the Reaper too... And the book is about soccer.

Strange Days · Aug 12, 2009

Wark said:
Kill as many as you want. Just make it relevant.

As long as your name is not "Quentin Tarantino"...

If it happens to be you - then relevance of the murder is unimportant: just butcher everybody...

OpheliaRevived · Aug 12, 2009

KTC hit the nail on the head.

lucidzfl · Aug 12, 2009

My book is a fucking slaughterhouse.

Seriously, do not be in my book, you will fucking die. BADLY!

DeleyanLee · Aug 12, 2009

Some writer friends of mine had buttons made many moons ago that said:

"Nobody dies"

"Everybody dies"

"Everybody gets horrible mutilated but lives"

"Only select people die"

because that's the way the various people's stories always came out. You knew what you were getting, story-wise, when you started to read them. We thought the buttons were hilarious in a "oh-so-very-true" way.

There is no requirement, only what's needed to tell the story.

lucidzfl said:
My book is a fucking slaughterhouse.

Seriously, do not be in my book, you will fucking die. BADLY!

Can I be in your book and get a really gross, gruesome death told in glorious detail? Pretty please?!?

Charlie Horse · Aug 12, 2009

Keep in mind, just because someone dies, doesn't mean you can't bring them back to life.

ishtar'sgate · Aug 12, 2009

Wark said:
Kill as many as you want. Just make it relevant.

Yes, death needs to serve the story. In my medieval novel several people died. That was the nature of the plague years. People died in huge numbers. If none of my characters were touched by the black death the story wouldn't ring true.

lucidzfl · Aug 12, 2009

DeleyanLee said:
Some writer friends of mine had buttons made many moons ago that said:

"Nobody dies"

"Everybody dies"

"Everybody gets horrible mutilated but lives"

"Only select people die"

because that's the way the various people's stories always came out. You knew what you were getting, story-wise, when you started to read them. We thought the buttons were hilarious in a "oh-so-very-true" way.

There is no requirement, only what's needed to tell the story.

Can I be in your book and get a really gross, gruesome death told in glorious detail? Pretty please?!?

Absolutely!

The deaths in my story are definitely told in loving detail. Its a hard R story.

Greenify13 · Aug 12, 2009

I go with: You write what the story needs, and the characters need.
Otherwise it may come off as inappropriate or not right because it seems out of character.
Either way, my main character is probably going to die in the next paragraph. :/

I love that...can I have some buttons?

I think it calls for a project though. I haz an idea now.

jodiodi · Aug 12, 2009

Death is not required in any story. If, however, a particular story calls for someone (or multple someones) to die, then they die.

I tend to write epic fantasy romance with scores of deaths during wars or other actions. I also have some select character deaths as needed. But I don't choose who lives and who dies. The story does.

Greenify13 · Aug 12, 2009

jodiodi said:
Death is not required in any story. If, however, a particular story calls for someone (or multple someones) to die, then they die.

I tend to write epic fantasy romance with scores of deaths during wars or other actions. I also have some select character deaths as needed. But I don't choose who lives and who dies. The story does.

This is exactly the point!

Couldn't have said it better myself...I didn't say it better myself!

sunandshadow · Aug 12, 2009

I prefer stories where no one dies, but then I don't believe in sacrifice. (It may be okay if the villain dies, but his death is probably not a sacrifice since he's the villain.)

lucidzfl · Aug 12, 2009

sunandshadow said:
I prefer stories where no one dies, but then I don't believe in sacrifice. (It may be okay if the villain dies, but his death is probably not a sacrifice since he's the villain.)

I don't particularly like the idea of the MC dying. Just my personal style.

I do however love the concept of hopelessness. It turns me on so much.

year90ninezero · Aug 12, 2009

I am finishing up a horror novel. My advice is o kill everyone you possibly can and still have a POV (if it's not omniscient). That's just where I am right now.

JoNightshade · Aug 12, 2009

I used to kill people off left and right. Not so much anymore, I think it was a teenage angst thing. Oh, right, and I was in love with Shakespearean tragedy.

Now I prefer to keep them alive so I can torture them longer.

Chris Grey · Aug 12, 2009

Here are three reasons to kill a character:

To shock the reader.
To win a Newberry.
The character failed to learn a lesson.

The first one is weak sauce.

The second reason applies double if the character is loveable and especially if the character is the main character's dog-- your book will win an award and be on a "required reading" list in many elementary and junior high schools; also, your book will also contribute to young readers deciding to be young television watchers instead.

I prefer the third reason. Look to A Christmas Carol as an example. After all the visitations, there are four possible endings:

A sinner is redeemed, and goes on to live a changed life.
A sinner is redeemed, then dies.
A sinner refuses to change his ways, and continues to live in sin.
A sinner refuses to change his ways, then dies.

One of these versions will be told on Christmas for centuries. One version will be told on Halloween. One version will be told in the evening news.

But that's just how I see it.

One have to die?

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