 For Authors: August 16, 2006 Issue [#1212] |
  For Authors
This week: Edited by: archgargoyle
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"True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist." – Albert Einstein
"It is easy to be nice, even to an enemy - from lack of character." - Dag Hjalmar Agné Carl Hammarskjold
“You just drop a character like this that and the other and it's done.” - Terrence Howard
"I can resolve the story now and it's fun in a way it wasn't before because finally I've reached my resolution, and I think some people will loathe it and some people will love it, but that's how it should be." – J.K. Rowling
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Expendable Characters?
To some authors, killing off characters is just part of the plot. It gives realism amongst a story and that realism is what helps draw in many readers, whether it is science fiction, drama, fantasy, or horror. Although, you always expect some form of death in horror, lol. Anyway, killing off expendable characters can seem pretty easy when you think about it. These are characters that aren’t usually the main hero, heroine, or your evil nemesis of the story. Sometimes they hold a rather large part of your plot, but they aren’t the end result of the tale.
Just a few weeks ago, I read an article on CNN.com that enlightened on the rumor of J.K. Rowling’s last Harry Potter novel. There are rumors that Rowling will be killing Harry. In fact, Stephen King and John Irving have pleaded for Harry Potter’s life is not ended. This is huge! It’s something many authors don’t think of doing very often because as a reader, we want to see good prevail. This is the kind of thing that could do many things for Rowling’s writing career and fan-base, good or bad.
However, there are stories out there in which a main, loveable character met his or her demise. George R.R. Martin, a fantasy author has ended many lives within his series, many of whom I enjoyed reading about in the stories. But ultimately, it’s up to the author to gauge where the story is going and how to do all characters justice in the end. I can honestly see how an author might draw the conclusion where the protagonist is martyred for the cause of others in their world. Right now, I’m waiting to get another book by Terry Goodkind. He recently released the second book of his ending trilogy to The Sword of Truth series. As a reader, I’m afraid Goodkind will end many lives in the end, including Richard, his main character, but it’s the anticipation that keeps me reading. Even if the cliffhangers are annoying, I want to read more.
In movies, we see many main characters killed because when you think about it, the main character is fighting a battle in futility to succeed, especially in movies about criminals, where these bad guy/good guy is in a life that usually only ends in death.
As I consider a few plots of my own, I wonder if, when, or how a character will be killed. Is it necessary to fulfill the plot? Is it fair to the main character? Does showing that kind of vulnerability of my character important?
Besides, in writing science fiction and fantasy, there’s always room for a resurrection of sorts. 
So, what do you think about the possibility of Harry being killed during this last novel?
What are your thoughts and feelings of ending the life of one of your own characters, expendable or not?
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Last Month’s questions: Who challenges you to become a better writer? What areas of your writing do you feel you could be challenged in better?
glory  - Hello Sir Duck.
God challenges me to sharpen the Gift that He has given me. He pushes me to write the very best that I can by opening up myself to hear His Voice, and when I do, I soar!
raeburk01 - Who challenges me to write? That would now be the wonderful people here at WDC. Before I joined here all my friends and family that read my stuff would tell me how great it was, not really constructive. That's why I love this site! I think that my character development in my novels is where I need the most work. I am good with basics, but not so much with indepth study of my characters. I think it's a military child thing spilling over- you get to know the basics, but then you move on....hmmm... how very deep of me. hahaha
writeone - The biggest part of my writing that needs a boost is probably dialogue. I used to teach plot, characterization, writing prompts, POV ... yet I feel I lack in dialogue. Also, inspiration is not a problem, it is the follow-through and trying to turn that stupid internal editor off.
Thanks for the inspiration!
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