Obviously in these types of genres someone always ends up dead, right? It wouldn’t be much of a story without it.
Shamini Flint, author of the Investigator Singh series said that for her “Death is just a catalyst.” Huh, really? Is that how every writer thinks when wiping one of their characters of the grid? Shamini also pointed out that the death of a character in her novels had to happen so the Inspector could begin to ask questions and get the people talking about the ‘real’ issues that she wanted to talk about. “If I write a book to talk about issues such as terrorism or law no one will listen to what I have to say.” She’d said.
Ah, yes, but write it as a crime novel and you have everyone’s attention. And when you really think about it, doesn’t every book, to some degree have an underlying message the writer is trying to put forward to the reader to contemplate.
Personally, I haven’t killed any of my characters off yet, but I know at some point someone will die. Unfortunately for them it’s inevitable and, necessary to the story. After all, that’s life. People die all the time in the real world. Why should it be any different in a fictional world? Nothing is ever perfect.
Honestly, I’m dreading the moment I have to sit down and write that crucial scene.
Let me ask you this:
What does it mean for you to kill off one of your characters?