So, character death. Since the last year just ended—died, if you will—let’s start off 2022 with a bang, shall we?
Character death is a fraught topic. Some projects need them. Some projects don’t. Some projects don’t know until they’re on that threshold and the author is sweating profusely over it. Some readers love it, some only like it in certain contexts, and many readers avoid it at all costs.
The best advice on killing characters (should you deem it necessary in your project): YOU NEED A GOOD REASON TO DO IT. Even if the reason is “shock value” or “upping the ante”, there has to be a reason why you’re blooding your hands with your darling character.
Shock value deaths have to happen very carefully, and so do upping the ante deaths, although in different ways. They are not really the same (though there can be some overlap, especially when it comes to genre shifting).
Personally, unless you’re committing to Death In Your Plot, I don’t suggest character death as the way to show things are more serious. There are many other ways to do that—failure of goals, a new villain introduction, serious or permanent injury, kidnapping, etc—and you should avoid it especially if it’s going to be the only/one of a few deaths in the story. Character death is something to be used perhaps not sparingly, but for Important Reasons.
But your story, your rules! That’s the most important thing to remember. Wanting anything for a character as a writer is basically how you do. You’re allowed to do anything you want! The plot should work, and death should always serve the plot or a character arc, but it’s ultimately your choice.
So you’ve decided to commit, but you’re not exactly sure how to approach it. Death in writing can be tricky, especially if you’re unsure about it or how to proceed. It should help to start by focusing on two things: your narrative itself and the narrative tone.
YOUR NARRATIVE: does the character death make sense. Shock value/sudden deaths have their place, but it’s a very specific place and if you’re unsure how to use them, stay away. Are there other options for your character and their subplot, and if so, what are they? Think of alternates, and think about what makes the most sense. (Don’t feel bad if you do have other options; it doesn’t mean they’re the best for your story! Just think it through.)
Think about themes you’re using for your character or their subplot. Self-sacrifice is a big one in heroic narratives, or sacrifice for the greater good. Or maybe your character is the victim of some great crime that pushes the rest of the plot forward. Maybe they’re in over their head, or they make a fatal mistake, or this is a moral event horizon for another character who kills them or somehow otherwise leads to their death. Maybe it’s simply an accident in an unforgiving, harsh world.
There are a lot of things that cause character death, all valid, and you need to figure out why you need to kill this character. Figure out your reason behind it all, and then, ultimately, ask if that reason best serves your story.
YOUR TONE: so your character has a bangin’ reason for being dead shortly—but does it make sense outside of the plot? If you’re writing a fluffy 5+1 set, maybe not. Character death changes a story’s tone, especially once readers realize you’re going to commit to it. And there’s nothing wrong with that—but you must be prepared for it.
If this death signals a darker turn, then that’s great. It’s a common enough trope and good enough reason. Or if it’s the low point of the story, that’s fine too, or if it’s the last death, or signals an end to a war/fight, or is a last goodbye. (Character death can be a positive feeling, too, but that’s almost always reserved for unsympathetic antagonist deaths. Even mercy kills and sympathetic villains largely come off as bittersweet at best.)
Keep in mind where your story is, where it will be at the point of death, and where you want it to be afterward. Give the death weight; commit to the heavier tone of the story while the characters (and presumably readers) get past the death themselves. If you’re going to kill a character, don’t gloss over it, unless they’re really not that important. (Or you’re having a hell of a lot of fun with an unsympathetic character’s POV.)
There’s nothing wrong with thinking a character death might be the easy way out; sometimes it is. Sometimes it is, and it’s still best for your story. But if you’re worried about that, then give careful consideration to other options you may have. It shouldn’t have to be your last resort, but neither should it be your first.
