Getting your goal, even if...

Z0Marley · Oct 27, 2009

As a writer, I try to set a goal if I plan to write that day. Naturally there's drama. So when you're writing and you have to get rid of one of your favorite characters (whether it's death, or a break up, or anything along those lines), how do you stay optimistic? Lately I've been flinging a couple of tragedies around, and it's actually starting to effect my day/writing. A couple chapters back I had to kill off one of my favorite characters. Naturally my MC's heart was broken (secretly so was mine), and I couldn't write for 3ish days. I finally got back into the groove of things, and another tragedy occurs.

Am I the only one? If not, what do you do it detach yourself from the story at times like this?

Thanks in advance ^_^

Poetoffire · Oct 27, 2009

Ah, I have the exact opposite problems. Killing characters and making my MC suffer make me love my story and write more, not less. For me, I think of it as less of "oh god, what am I doing to them?" and more of "you know, they're going to die, and that's an honor, because I'm going to let them have this kickass death scene to go out with a bang and influence my MC's physiological state."

Less of nice author, more of sadist.

Sage · Oct 27, 2009

I LOVE killing off the characters I love. And if I'm not crying about it, there's a problem. The meaner I am to my MCs, the more I'm into the story. And I come back because I want that heart-beating thrill I had before when I dared to be so cruel.

There have been instances, though, where I have managed to kill off my favorite character and not feel a thing. Sometimes this comes from overplanning and sometimes it comes from breaking up the scene when I'm writing it or being distracted by other things.

eyeblink · Oct 27, 2009

My main protagonist in The Storyteller's Tale had a rough time of it. She ended up being sentenced to death by burning at the stake.

She'll have a different fate when I get round to redrafting that novel, but it still won't be an easy one.

AlishaS · Oct 27, 2009

So far I have only had two kill of two characters and it wasn't to dramatic, but my MC and her BF broke up and I was balling like a baby, I figure if thats how into it I am than thats how into it others will be when they read it.
The shits going to hit the fan for my Mc in about two chapters and things are going to get intense, but I try to get as much into the story as I can, I think if it makes it for a better story, if you dont care about your charachters dying or what have you than while will your readers?

Sage · Oct 27, 2009

Oh, Alisha, I had a character break up that had me bawling in the middle of Borders. And I knew it was coming and it was completely civil, but I cried for my characters.

Poetoffire · Oct 27, 2009

I have never cried when writing or reading anything.

...does this make me soulless?

Stunted · Oct 27, 2009

I had a sort of similar problem. Whenever I found myself in a scene where the characters were powerless to fix their situations, it was SO hard to write. Luckily, there weren't many of those, and maybe my problem make it easier for me to eliminate them.

So...yeah! Good luck!

Z0Marley · Oct 28, 2009

Haha, thanks for the responses. I don't have a problem killing people off. Before they become an adorable character I've had it planned for them. Then I do it, and I'm so sad that I quit writing for a bit afterwords. I think the only time I experience the "bwahahaha" feeling is when I go back and re-read it.

Poetoffire said:
I have never cried when writing or reading anything.

...does this make me soulless?

Haha either you're soulless or we're... hormonal. =x!

Skye Jules · Oct 28, 2009

I usually only feel that way during re-writes, because when I'm drafting, it isn't that deep or compelling enough to make me feel guilty.

amlptj · Oct 29, 2009

I cant detach myself from my stories. For two reasons, one i'm the main character in my own story... two i started writing my series when i was 12 so i'm way too attached! I had to kill off one of my main characters a few years back and it killed me. He just wasnt fitting in the way i intended so i got rid of the little guy... I actually felt guilty as though he were real or something!

Now my friend said that, to make it more interesting i should kill off another main character, but... sadly i just cant bring myself to do it. Yeah i know its overly convenient that book after book stuggle after stuggle they only end up only hurt. I just cant kill any of them off... so to solve my problem i have other characters get close to my main characters and i kill them off. Like one of my MC's girlfriend is going to be killed in this one i'm writing now.

So good luck with killing off more characters.

Getting your goal, even if...

Z0Marley

Poetoffire

Professional Cynic

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

eyeblink

Barbara says hi

AlishaS

Is swimming with creativity frogs

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Poetoffire

Professional Cynic

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

Z0Marley

Skye Jules

March 15th: Issue 1 release

amlptj

Speling & grammer murderer, Sorrie!