Today, I have to write a scene where someone in my book dies, someone important to me and one of my main characters. I've known for sometime that I'd have to write the scene but I've kept putting it off, trying to find a way around writing the scene, but sadly, my characters are not leaving me many options here. (Do you hear me, Sophia? NO options!)
Anyway, I hate writing scenes like this, I know I'm probably going to cry, going to yell, going to feel the emotions my characters are feeling and I hate that.
Does anyone else go through this?
Source: psychology today
Are you kidding? The people in my manus are always more than characters, they are so real to me. I cry and laugh with them. I had to kill a mother and her two daughters and my heart broke. I was in grief a long time. My mom was mad at me for killing them off, but it had to happen. We move on.
ReplyDeleteMy newest WIP is really hard on me, but the premise means a lot to me.
My husband, who's not a writer, doesn't understand this. He often laughs when I'm crying over my work. Oh well, at least other author's understand.
ReplyDeleteann
Hi Ann! You know, I know exactly what you mean about fighting with yourself when it comes to writing a certain scene.
ReplyDeleteThat is EXACTLY what happened to me not too long ago.
I had decided to write a romance without any villain (and I am so used to writing my books with villains). I pushed the panic button and could not go on.
Then one day, I just gave myself permission to accept the fact that this particular book does NOT need a villain and that internal conflict and relationship conflicts can be just as easily written.
Guess what? As soon as I accepted this fact, I finished the book in one week when I battled with the idea for over a month!!
I find it terribly difficult to kill characters. (In fact, I recently blogged about it myself!) I'd take it as a good sign that it's hard for you, though--if it was too easy, wouldn't you wonder if your character was interesting or important enough to begin with? I think the fact that it's a challenging scene for you to produce makes it more likely to have an emotional impact on your readers, which is of course one of the best things a writer can hope for. Best of luck!!
ReplyDeleteThey turn into our children, don't they? I've gotten used to killing off characters, unfortunately--2 victims in every book so far.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen
Don't I know it! I'm going through the very same thing as we speak! Sigh.
ReplyDeleteBisi
Hi everyone! Yeah, I agree with you all, we would all like our stories to be full of happiness... well, actually I'm not sure I would. My real life's pretty boring. I need the insane to keep me sane.
ReplyDeleteann
I think you just have to suck it up and do it. When something is awful, horrible...it's best to just get it over with.
ReplyDeleteI think just trying writing something like 'John* dies'. Wants it's there and they are dead, you can mourn them and write the rest of it.
THe good thing is when you read those opening chapters, they'll live again each time you read it.
Just remember how William Shatner felt after killing off Captain Kirk. Don't do it. Find another way.
ReplyDeleteI've not yet had the experience of killing off a character, but I think if it was one I cared about, I'd mourn the loss. I know when they're hurt or scared, I feel it as if it was me.
ReplyDelete~ Corra
from the desk of a writer
Oh yes, I put off writing the scenes that I know are going to take an emotional toll on me. Eventually, I get them done, but then I feel all washed out after.
ReplyDeleteTirz, I agree with you, like life, you can't just turn the page and move on, you must mourn but we have the book to remind ourselves.
ReplyDeleteTooty, that's funny. I'll have to remember that.
Corra, it's funny how writers really feel for their characters, I don't want you to have to mourn a character but I think it's something all writers should do, at least once.
Jayda, exactly. I feel washed out. Depressed. Tired.
ann
I know this feeling very well! I often put off writing these scenes untill the last possible moment.
ReplyDeleteMy characters become family after hours and hours of working on a story. I have to get to know them that well to do them justice in the text. So when it comes time to inflict pain, or death, it causes me pain too.
Lyla, I'm glad to know that everyone feels the same way. Also, it's comforting that people like us, even though we kill in our books, feel guilty enough not to do it in real life.
ReplyDeleteann