˒⠀S O T T . . . 𝙲𝙰𝚁𝙳𝙸𝙸𝙰𝙲

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❛ JUST 𝑺𝑻𝑶𝑷 YOUR CRYING,
IT'S A 𝑺𝑰𝑮𝑵 OF THE 𝑻𝑰𝑴𝑬𝑺. ❜

how to write character deaths! ━━ no. 033
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     WE'VE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED THE REASONS WHY AND WHY NOT TO KILL YOUR CHARACTERS. Now, it's time to discuss how to write character deaths.

     Look... characters die. It happens and it's inevitable.

     Sometimes you plan it, other times you don't. Either way, you're still left with the task of writing that character's death scene and it needs to be good. What's the point of going through the trouble of killing off a character and all that work if their final scene is going to be shit?

     Here's the truth: if you don't care about the character's demise, your readers won't either, and that's not good. You should want and need to care about your characters, especially when one of them dies. But character deaths are also a tricky and fickle thing. It's a task that many writers grapple with because, with the prevalence of death as a theme in the fiction genre, authors feel obligated, to an extent, to include it.

     I, myself, struggle with it and often go and watch death scenes from TV shows and movies on YouTube for inspiration. It's difficult to conjure up a death scene that is notable on its own and stands out in a story. I know I'm not the only one who struggles with this and I thought this would be an important topic to discuss.

     Without further ado, I present to you, Grayson's Attempt at Teaching Others How to Write Character Deaths in a Way That Isn't Cliché or Underwhelming, As If She Knows What She's Talking About.

     ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄, 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 ⸝⸝ ⇗
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀→ ⺌ This section is inspired by an article from Miranda K. Writes. Credit for this portion goes to them. Disclaimer: I have added my own words, advice, and paraphrased sections of the article.

          "For most genres, character deaths are not only inevitable but sometimes, they're necessary. Whether it's to move the plot forward or add a shock factor, killing a character off needs to be done in a way that affects the reader as well as the writer. This is the same for practically any emotion, as well—anger, jealousy, embarrassment, etc. Whatever you want the reader to feel, you need to feel as well. Because if what you write doesn't affect you, odds are it won't affect anybody."

          So, how do we, as authors, get ourselves to write that death scene we're dreading?

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟭. You have to cry. I honestly live by this now. "You want the scene to make your reader cry? Well, then you need to write it so it's enough to make you cry. Killing a character is a difficult task, especially if that character is one you love. So, if you pour your own emotion into the scene, odds are the reader will feel it too. If you don't cry when you kill the character, then the scene isn't sad enough. Rewrite it until it makes you cry."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟮. Listen to sad music. Either sad music or instrumentals. (Yes, I'm one of those people who listens to sad music when they're happy. I'm weird.) When I write death scenes I tend to listen to slow and sad instrumentals, such as I Ran to the Future song from The Flash: Season 3 soundtrack. My absolute favorite, though, is Comptine d'un autre été, l'après-midi by Yann Tierson. This song already makes me want to cry on its own. I actually listened to it when I wrote Miles Warren's death scene from 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟓 of my book '𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐄'. It really set the mood and made the scene feel real.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟯. Don't force yourself. This is one that I had to learn on my own, in time. "You want the scene to make the reader feel like they've personally lost a friend, and if you just aren't having a good writing day or your motivation is low, stop. Death scenes are important scenes and should be written when the time is right. Sometimes I feel like writing fun, happy scenes where my characters are smiling and life is good. Other times I feel like writing dark and depressing scenes like torture or death. Make sure that the mood you're in is right for what you want to write, and if the words don't come, don't force yourself. You'll be able to write the scene eventually."

     ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐀 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄 ⸝⸝ ⇗
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀→ ⺌ This section is inspired by an article from dictionary.com. Credit for this portion goes to them. Disclaimer: I have added my own words, advice, and paraphrased sections of the article.

          When the time comes where your character dies, how are you supposed to write the scene? Is there a specific way? Below, we discuss.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟭. Don't be afraid to get gruesome. "Some of the most iconic deaths are ones that make us feel that secondhand pain, or ones that are so inventive we wonder how they could possibly happen in real life. Think of novel ways to use unorthodox items or materials for your death scenes. For example, everyday items are especially cruel and unusual; the more familiar the object, the more visceral the death can be."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟮. Have them sacrifice themselves. This one is self-explanatory and has been done a million times. However, it is still a good way if you make it emotional enough.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟯. Throw in a red herring. "Through clever use of foreshadowing, you could throw the audience for a loop and make them think a character is going to meet their fate only to show up unscathed at a later time. One way to do this is to use a red herring, or "a literary technique that is meant to mislead or distract from some real issue at hand." A bit of realism is key here. A character isn't likely to survive a horrible plane crash or another obstacle in which the odds are stacked against them. Be clever! Did they escape an assassination attempt? Were they transported to another world or dimension, only to find their way back? This method requires some thought, but it could be worth it."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟰. Duel it out. "This method is sure to give readers some strong emotions. Two characters enter a conflict, but only one comes out alive. The stronger their relationship, the more effective this death is. A final duel is usually how this plays out, but it doesn't have to be written that way. If your story is particularly long, you can draw out this process over a couple of chapters or books. The two characters repeatedly meet in a test of wits or strength, each coming out harmed, whether it's physical or mental. Finally, one prevails over the other. But which one: protagonist or antagonist? That's for you to decide."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟱. Give the 'Big Bad' character their comeuppance. "If you want a death that's satisfying and easy to pull off, make your main antagonist die a death readers will savor. The longer the wait and the more complications experienced along the way, the better the death. Take pleasure in finally sinking the sword into a character made of pure evil."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟲. Death with dignity. "Some characters just don't deserve to die. That's a fact you'll need to grapple with when you decide that the kindhearted and well-intentioned person even you ended up falling for gets killed by the antagonist. Sometimes you need to show that those villains mean business.

          "Just make sure you can justify the death. Killing off a well-liked character without reason will make your readers angry. And no one wants angry readers. If they absolutely must be sent off, have them reveal important plot information, or at the very least make them seem dignified and noble in their death."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟳. Make an example of them. "Some stories are about lessons or morals, and there's no better way to get a moral lesson across than killing off a character due to their mistakes. Want to teach your readers that hubris will never win? Have a character get in over their head because of their ego. This is one you shouldn't do more than once. Any more and you end up seeming preachy in the worst way. But when used in the right moment, it can be very impactful."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟴. Give your character a second chance. "We've discussed all the ways to kill off your characters, but that's not to say they have to die. It can be an impactful way to progress your story, but it's not the only way. It may be better to give them a near-death experience and let them live just a little bit longer. Death can be an overused trope in literature, so whatever method you choose, it needs to make sense and not upset the audience. Save these ideas for the perfect moment, to get the perfect reaction that will make your work of art stand out."

     ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝟖 𝐓𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐅𝐔𝐋 ⸝⸝ ⇗
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀→ ⺌ This section is inspired by articles from Writer's Edit and Clippings. Credit for this portion goes to them. Disclaimer: I have added my own words, advice, and paraphrased sections of the article.

          "Whether we're ugly-crying because we loved the character so much and OH, THE INJUSTICE, or punching the air and cheering because that villain got what they deserved... There's nothing like a well-crafted death scene to elicit a strong reaction in a reader. But how should we approach death scenes from the other side as writers?

          "Dealing with character deaths is a difficult part of fiction writing. A lot of thought, effort, and even pain goes into crafting those death scenes readers respond to so strongly. It's an intimidating task, to say the least. Luckily, here's a handful of useful tips for writing meaningful death scenes."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟭. Develop a strong relationship between the reader and the character. "Without a doubt, the most important part of writing a meaningful death scene is making sure the reader actually cares about the character who's dying. If you haven't created compelling characters whose fates your readers are emotionally invested in, you're going to have a hard time writing a death scene that packs a punch. Crafting properly developed characters, who readers can root for, relate to or just simply like, is a sound strategy in any fiction writing. And when it comes to fictional killings, these characters are the ones whose deaths will be the most meaningful and affecting for readers.

          "Spending plenty of time developing a character's personality, backstory and motivations is the best way to build up to a death scene that's really going to mean something. If you perfected the development of the characters up until the point they die, you're going to have a death scene that invokes tons of emotions. However, you shouldn't put all your focus on making the death scene emotional and forget about the main plot. The character's death must also add meaning."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟮. Make the reader despise the character. "On the flip side, creating an authentic villain who inspires readers' ire is a surefire way to get them cheering when you kill that character off. As we touched on above, your reader doesn't always have to be saddened by a character's death! It's simply a good, strong reaction you're looking for—whether that be sorrow when a 'good' character is lost, or triumph when a character who's caused pain or destruction has it turned some way back on themselves.

          "To get the most out of killing a villain, you have to make sure that the audience has a great hate buildup toward him. Seeing the character you're rooting for bringing the villain's evil to an end never loses its shine. If you managed to create a genuine villain that readers despise, you've got yourself a recipe for an excellent death scene. Remember, making the reader cry over a death scene was meant to leave an emotional blast, not to leave them in agony.

          "Additionally, as a side note, you should try as much as you can personalize the antagonist. It's generally not recommended to have your antagonist in the form of natural adversity like illness or any natural disasters. These ingredients can act as a great catalyst in the main plot of your story. However, such elements lack the ability to act against your characters on purpose. The intention to hurt the protagonist is one of the core qualities of a great villain."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟯. Generate a chain reaction that's based on the death scene. Oh, these are my absolute favorite. "The best way to make the most out of a death scene is by allowing it to lay its shadows on the plot. Getting the readers invested in death's outcome is great. However, getting the other characters invested gives you the most meaningful death scene. An effective death scene can add extra layers of depth to your plot.

          "It's essential to show how the character's death affected other characters, especially your main protagonist. The way a character reacts to someone dying can tell readers a lot—not only about the character themselves but also about their relationship with the departed character. You should also make time to explore the chain reaction after the death scene. This includes the impact on others and the related repercussions that follow losing that character. Try to weave these kinds of insights into your death scenes to add an extra layer of depth. It's important to explore all the lost opportunities and the personal costs of every character's death.

          "Furthermore, there should be personal and practical costs and consequences to every character's death. Drawing these out and exploring them is a great way to deepen the story, develop your characters, and ultimately add meaning to every death scene."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟰. Avoid spoon-feeding the readers with overused clichés. "A good reader appreciates reminders and hints. However, throwing out tons of details at the reader might make your story predictable and not enjoyable. This is a mistake that many beginner writers fall in. It's always tempting for writers to pack death moments with tons of drama, and there's nothing wrong with that. Yet, it's essential that you watch out for the excessive intensity, as readers might think it's overdone.

          "For the readers, it feels like you're trying to force them toward a certain emotion rather than letting them explore the death impact in them. This can easily backfire on you if you aren't careful enough. You should also know that if the readers have a good buildup until the moment of death, they'd be too invested to need a push from you. If you find yourself writing the scene in a way that forces the readers' emotions, this means that your buildup is lacking.

          "Revisiting your buildup here is a good thing to do. It's important to keep an eye on the development of the story. This is another common mistake where some writers focus on the scene more than the story. If you focused on the writing style and forgot about the story itself, the end result won't live up to the standard you'd be hoping for. One example of overused death scenes is when the dying character has a long speech. Even if the dying character is revealing an important piece of information, the long speech might draw the emotions out of the scene.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟱. Don't rely on shock value. (I'm looking at you, Marvel.) "One of the most important qualities of any death scene is that it must be necessary for the story. Killing characters simply for shock value isn't the right way to craft a meaningful death scene or a meaningful story overall.

          "Yes, it can be great to surprise readers with a huge plot twist in the form of an unexpected character death. But when this is done purely for the sake of shock, and doesn't actually contribute realistically or meaningfully to the story, it can come across as cheap or contrived.

          "To avoid going overboard here, always remember to check if you're providing more details than the reader really needs. If you think the gore levels are too much, you can tone it down by keeping it simple. Consider whether the more shocking aspects of the scene contribute to the story or the development of a character, or—and be honest with yourself here—whether you've included them for shock value alone."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟲. Try to balance between the buildup and shock value. "Of course, using the element of surprise to your favor is a great formula for a shocking plot twist. Yet, sudden death needs a smart balance between buildup and surprise. You shouldn't give away your shocking death. A buildup might tell the readers that something bad is about to happen. A smart way to maintain the shock of sudden death is by suddenly referring to the character as "dead". This gives the readers the "value" in your shock while allowing for the needed buildup for it."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟳. Put yourself in the reader's shoes. "The best way to write a death scene that touches readers' hearts is by putting yourself in their shoes. You have to put yourself in the right mindset to write a piece of literature that sheds a tear in your own eye. This doesn't have to be literal. However, the more you feel what you're writing, the more it'll evoke the same emotions inside the readers. Similarly, if you feel indifferent about the death scene you're writing, the readers are likely to feel nothing as well.

          "You might have to draw deep from your own emotional well, harking back to your own experiences of loss, grief or trauma. And while this can make for some raw, moving, and effective writing, it can also be emotionally taxing. So if you're willing to, quite literally, 'suffer for your art', don't forget to take care of your mental health. Be sure you have a way to get yourself out of this dark mindset when you're finished writing."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟴. Draw a connection between the death scene and the early moments. To me, this is such a kick in the face sometimes, but I love it. "However you go about writing the scene, you should make sure that you build a connection between that scene and the early moments when everything was going well. Not only does it remind the readers of the good times, but it also concludes the character's journey in a unique way. This can be a part of the burial scene, or just before they catch their final breath."

     ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐄𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐒 ⸝⸝ ⇗
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀→ ⺌ This section is inspired by an article from Writer's Edit. Credit for this portion goes to them. Disclaimer: I have added my own words, advice, and paraphrased sections of the article.

          It's undeniable that death is a theme with enduring relevance in the world of literature. As long as you take the steps to ensure character deaths are written with care, with the grand scheme of your narrative always in mind, its presence in your writing won't be cheap. Here are a few pointers for dealing with death in your fiction.

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟭. Remember the significance of death. "An important step in understanding death in fiction is pondering its significance to audiences, and considering why it's one of the most frequently portrayed themes. Human mortality has been reflected upon since the birth of literature, often elevating writing and provoking thought among readers about the nature of life.

          "Modern writers often see death as a theme of universal value, the ultimate existential dilemma. Without fail, the theme can rouse feelings of anxiety and fear, while also potentially opening up avenues to self-discovery and coming-of-age. Additionally, death has great symbolic importance as part of the natural cycle of birth and decay.

          "With all this to consider, it's easy to see why death often wins writers' awards. But it's important to be honest with yourself as a writer and to consider what the idea of death means in the unique context of your story. It's too metaphysical and powerful a theme to simply shoehorn into a narrative."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟮. Have a reason for every character's death. "There are many reasons why death can be important to a story, and many ways it can add depth to situations. Having specific reasons for including death in your story can help you craft significant death scenes effectively. Let's take a look at some of the reasons you might incorporate a character's death into your story."

           ➳❥ 𝙏𝙀𝙉𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝘽𝙐𝙄𝙇𝘿𝙄𝙉𝙂. . . "The death of characters can seriously raise the stakes. It throws the characters into a state of immediacy, where danger is imminent and the audience becomes quickly invested due to escalating tension. (For example, in the Harry Potter series, the deaths of major mentor figures Sirius Black and Professor Dumbledore signaled the fact that Harry was on his own, left to face an increasingly deadly foe without the safety of his childhood tethers.)

          "Incorporating death can also create an atmosphere of dread and mystery. In some instances, it can clearly communicate the wickedness of an antagonist. A brief glance at lists of top villains in literature demonstrates how compelling villains often leave a bloody trail in their wake, which adds to their menacing personas—especially when their true identities are not immediately known but the deaths they cause pack a narrative punch."

           ➳❥ 𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉𝙄𝙁𝙄𝘾𝘼𝙉𝙏 𝙀𝙈𝙊𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝙄𝙈𝙋𝘼𝘾𝙏. . . "If grief, guilt, horror, and other feelings associated with death are conveyed successfully, the audience will have a strong emotional response. A great way of learning how to create a lasting emotional impression is to look for what others consider great death scenes. What pulls on heartstrings will always be quite a subjective and varied affair, but steering clear of over-the-top melodrama will be your best bet.

          "Study what you find striking in death scenes. What makes your heart hurt or beat faster? Additionally, look for what you find lackluster or unconvincing. Have you ever read a hokey death scene where a parent dies because the author doesn't know what to do with them or scenes where crying cancer patients are milked for all their dramatic worth?

          "Be careful not to venture into the realm of purple prose. Think clearly about what strong feelings you wish to trigger in your audience and learn the art of subtlety."

           ➳❥ 𝘾𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀. . . "Death can be a motivating factor for growth or self-discovery. It can even be an impetus for characters to shift their habits and lifestyle, which can pose interesting challenges and drive the story. A focus on death can also change the way audiences view historical events, and can make us reflect on existential questions."

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟯. Know when to avoid and embrace predictability. "George R. R. Martin, the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, is famous for the fact that any one of his characters—no matter how important—can die. He states: 𝙄'𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧. 𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙄'𝙢 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙮-𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧, 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙨.

          "The unpredictability attached to Martin's character deaths enlivens his stories. But being unpredictable doesn't mean writing death scenes purely to shock or pull cheaply on heartstrings. Instead, it means playing with audience expectations, while remaining true to your characterization and the intent of your overall story. Think about whether or not there are predictable patterns in your writing, whether you always kill off characters due to aimlessness in your plot, or whether you lean on killing a certain type of character, such as a family member. Also, ponder over the predictability of your prose. Do you lean on cliched phrases and flowery descriptions to get an emotional point across?"

          ╰─── 𝟬𝟰. Ask yourself: do I need to include character deaths? "Judges in the writing industry often seek the sorrow and existential angst that death brings. It's no wonder that many writers gravitate towards this concept, trying to portray it in ways nobody has before. However, as a writer, it's important to ask yourself if you're merely killing a character because you don't know how else to elevate your story. By including character deaths, are you being true to your vision? Keep in mind the significance of death scenes, while also learning death-free ways to deal with situations.

          "Aristotle states that to master the art of tragedy, one must elicit feelings of both horror and pity. These strong feelings don't always require the presence of death and maudlin depictions of grief. Remember that tragedy, and any other situation with emotional depth, doesn't always require a body count."

     I hope these were all helpful and if you have any questions or want more tips on this topic, let me know!

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❛ THEY TOLD ME THAT 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑬𝑵𝑫
IS 𝑵𝑬𝑨𝑹, WE GOTTA GET 𝑨𝑾𝑨𝒀
FROM 𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙴. ❜
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