The I Don't Want To Kill My Character Thread

I'm a few hundred words away from a large blot of character deaths. They're all minor characters whom were just names in the footnotes when I wrote my outline, but they've matured in their short lifespands into actual likable characters.

I know what you mean- I had this whole plot revolved around the fact that one of my characters had to betray the others, but I ended up not doing it. I loved him too much! And I wasn't even going to kill him.

I know what you mean. I'm going to kill off Cohen's entire family, including his little niece who's just adorable and I love to pieces. I'll get over it though. Most of my characters are not going to survive the story.

Nano 09- The Inverted Triangle

My word, I hate the moment I'm going to get rid of Jack. It's not really killing because he's an auditory hallucination caused by the MC's undiagnosed schizophrenia, but still... he's cocky but loveable, and the MC is going to miss him (a lot! Me too!)

-- And A Further Collection Of Short Stories For Young Adults --
Freakouts: 2
Bowls of Cheerios consumed: 6
Times consulted cat for help: 15
Times written in class: 8

I want to kill my main character, but I can't find a way to have him fall from a dangerous height. He is supposed to be brought back to life to become an employee for an eccentric company that doesnt exist.

No one told me life was going to suck, I've known it since before I was six.

I know exactly what you mean. My FMC was supposed to have a love interest in the beginning in the story but the he got killed off and the real love interest takes center stage. And what do you know? The guy just refused to die, so now she has two.

Chapters: 6
Characters killed: None
Girls kidnapped: 2
Wizards: 5
Magical Objects: 2
Energy Drink: 8
Sanity Level: 52%

I made a character just for the purpose of killing her, but she wasn't the one I wrote first. First I wrote about her best friend, and it kind of hurt to think that the poor girl's never going to see her friend again.

Then I wrote the actual character and-- well, I'm certainly going to kill her, but I have a lot more sympathy now.

The search has begun, this is page one. Man meet your maker, I give you... the Author. --The Author, The Academy Is...

I'm killing a character every chapter, and most are minor. BUT I'VE GOT TO KILL MY MMC. I don't want to. I love him too much. Its heartbreaking. I want to make it a ghost story where I can bring him back. But him dying is the main plot point. And him stayin DEAD is vital.
I'll just have to sob when the time comes. :-(

It's not the size of the dog in the fight; it's the size of the fight in the dog.

Haha, I had that problem with my last year's novel. I wanted to kill off one of my MMCs, but he just sat there in my head, grinning that lovable you-know-you-can't-kill me grin. He's one of the few people in my books that is actually happy-go-lucky, and I love him!

So.... I just sent him off to another random dimension instead and everybody THOUGHT he was dead. The sideplot actually ended up being very good for my wordcount, lol. I think he hates me now for all the torture I'm putting him through... But it's his fault entirely!

2007: Part Time Super Agents
2008: PTSA: High School Drama
2009: PTSA: Child's Play

Perhaps I'm just sadistic, but I can't wait to build up and build up and build up my characters and then tear them down in the most dramatic, ironic ways possible at the end of the book. Don't look at me like that! Death scenes are fun to write and, if nothing else, help the reader to realize how much he/she did or didn't like a character.

I'm not killing them off needlessly, of course. ;P

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I have a character that I really don't want to kill. He is the king, and the original idea was for him to die in the first chapter, but then my Muse pushed the story back in time a little ways, so he is still alive until the end, either of the first book, or possibly of the first third of a very long book. Either way he is still alive and I have decided I like him. He is a very flawed man, but very caring and a strong leader, and most importantly he is interesting. I like him. But my whole plot hinges aroung him dying and leaving the kingdom in ruins because of his children fighting over the throne, so letting him live is entirely not an option. And it is probably a good thing that his death is so central to the plot, because otherwise he wouls just have to live, which will not work because I can't have another MMC in my story. I have to many already and I know some of them will have to die.
*Curls up in a corner to weep*

The only reason for being a professional writer is that you can't help it.
Leo Rosten (1908 - )

I cannot wait to cry after I have my main character viciously and cold-heartily murder the only person who has ever loved her. I think it will only be then that I know if the story is good enough. If I cry, maybe my readers will cry too.

"Every inch of my heart has your name etched on it.” - Catcher

The original setup for my novel was:

FMC is engaged to marry British man, and so returns to India.
FMC and man get married.
Man dies.

Unfortunately, somehow the man has turned out to be kind of awesome and charming and sweet. And I don't WANT to kill him anymore. But the story can't happen if he's alive.

Bother.

See Girl Write: the life of a college writer, trying not to flunk out.

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I haven't decided who to kill off yet, but I know it has to happen. Everyone can't survive a huge epic battle, now can they?

The problem is, I like all of my major characters too much! There's only one major character I don't have a problem killing, but I feel like if I plan on just whacking her I won't develop her character very well.

Maybe I'll compromise and just maim a few people.

2009: The Seastone
2008: Guardian Reaper [winner]

"Being an author is like being in charge of your own personal insane asylum." -- Graycie Harmon

I (thankfully) don't have to kill off my MC, but pretty much everyone else dies (her parents, her best friend, her best friend's parents, etc... ). xD

Well, hey. It works for George R. R. Martin...

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I have to kill off my main character at the end of my story, but I've had it planned from the beginning so I can't imagine her not dying to be honest. Besides, the story just wouldn't be the same if she lived. I'm building up her death from page one. I hope I'm not a horrible person or something.

Have You Ever Wished On A Shooting Star?