monty31802 submits: Another good Newsletter, weapon is Gun or Knife and leave the body where it falls.

Shadowstalker-- Covid free said: I would have to say on the whole I like going the whole "blaze of glory" route. For most walk on villains and such I don't mind keeping it simple mostly, snapped neck, stabbed in the heart, etc. Because you don't expect the reader to be too invested in them. But if I kill off one of my main characters for whatever reason, I want them to go out fighting in that "feel good" way. Especially since I have invested blood sweat and tears into giving them a personality, a background, and on the whole making you feel close to them. To me they are like my own children sometimes. Once they die off, that's it. Having them come back in a surprise twist is one thing, but when I (the writer) know they won't come back, I feel I must give them my own 21 gun salute.

Raine tells us: Generally, I only kill the bad guys but sometimes, to move the plot forward and create the necessary tension, you have to kill a good guy. They've been shot (body reclaimed by partner), tortured (body hidden in a mass grave to be discovered later), blown up (no body), caught in a volcanic eruption (no body to dispose of that way), and knifed (managed to make it back to their team). It's never fun to kill a good guy but sometimes, it just has to be done.

Quick-Quill admits: In my novel a minor character dies. Its in the yr 2000 but he's been shot then disposed of in the old fashioned way; tied to a cinder block and thrown in the river. He's found when the current pulled the body back and forth and the rope rubbed along the cinder block and got cut. Body floats to the surface. Sometimes it doesn't have to be forensically elite. The old way works just as well.

bane1 advises: Great article. I've often thought, mainly while watching movies, how little grieving there is when a main character is killed. 'Oh how terrible they died, how will I ever go on.' then 'lets get revenge for his death.' then 'lets all celebrate our victory' and never again think about the loss of a dear friend in the process. It's very short sighted story telling in my opinion. Another thing... and this I learned from reading James Rollins is, you can never use a character is dead unless you actually saw them take there last breath. Rollins uses this a lot to add twists to his plots. A character you thought was long gone will appear, alive, and at the worst possible time, especially if it is a villain. In one book he actually kills a main character off (or so you are led to believe). He is sinking and sinking to his sure death under the ocean but you don't actually see him die. The characters are distraught over his death but at the end, after all is done, there is a small signal, that he is alive and in need of help... but the main characters don't get the signal. And that is how drama and cliff hangers are made. Use death to your advantage, I guess was my point of all this.

Red confesses: In the story I'm working on my characters fight demons and they usually explode, melt, or dissolve when they die.(That way their existence remains a secret.) But I do have some planned deaths for the human characters, mostly killed by some magic fire or lightning and the body is found later.

StephBee phones it in: My favorite way to kill a body? Umm… (punching in numbers) "Hello, is this Stephanie Plum?" heheh

BIG BAD WOLF Feeling Thankful answers: Personally, I don't like killing characters. However, I'd prefer to do it where they were trying to protect someone, or in such a way that the main character is forced to come to terms with the way things are, like having a soldier killing a respected Commanding Officer to prevent the C.O. from turning after he's been bitten by a zombie, in a story where the undead outnumber the living.

omikey numbers: Two types of killing for me. One you tell the reader and others coming out of the blue. But pretty much the same for those getting snuffed...never see it coming. Bad guys or good guys, doesn't matter, dying comes fast if they're lucky.

And those deaths you let the reader see coming...not what's expected. Glitches and twists will always fill best laid plans. Unavoidable. Let alone people fighting for their lives.

And then there can be the accidental deaths of MICs', mini insignificant characters you kill. For example a body's been decapitated and right away, known to be drunk driver. A broken whiskey bottle can been seen sticking out of the neck. Gruesome. And while death deserved, there's twists without emotion elicited because that's life and death for MICs. You save feelings for those characters who deserve better and their deaths helps the story unfold.

Excerpt: The Sergeant released the limb and yanked Bill’s feet just inches off the bottom of the hole —not out— he only needed to lift them to find ground but no strength remained. His boots kicked the sides several times in a death spasm while the three killers watched.

“Major,” smiled the Corporal, “You have a way with people. Don’t take long before strangers just open up to you.”

Thank you all for replying, they were fun answers!