My 5-Step Process of Ending a Character

The time has come to end a character's life, and if you're like me you're dreading it. Now this 5-step process is uh... not perfect, and I'm not sure I would recommend it XD. but it will tell you a little bit about my writing style.

Step #1 - Deciding who

I don't usually end a character but I feel like it's necessary sometimes to make the story not so corny. So when it comes to the time of deciding who to end in your story it can be a hard process XD.

First off decide why you're killing the character. Is it to show the grieving process of your other characters? Do they sacrifice heroically? Or is it merely because you feel like you have to? (because you don't!) XD

A lot of writers think that a good book must have a death, but that's not always the case. You can show hurt without death.

But anyways back to my process, usually this step takes me a few weeks, months, years, and decades! XD

But when you finally decide you can move on to the next step.

Step #2 - Make a Sad Aesthetic Board

Yeah... XD This step is necessary!! Right? *crickets chirping*

Okay so maybe it's not necessary, but I will make you cry. Fill the board with sad quotes and other images that will bring you to tears.

And if you're really cruel share it with other people to make them cry XD (totally haven't done that)

Psalm 147:3 - He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Step #3 - Overthink it

This is the step where you think about all the possibilities of the character, and then realize now of these can happen because the character is dead. Very sad *wipes away a tear*

You think about them getting married

having kids

their later struggles and joy

and then realize... none of these can happen,

Okay maybe a little over the top, but you get the point. It's hard, really hard.

Step #4 - Give it Way too Much Thought

First I stall for a really long time and cry, But when I finally sit down to write the scene. I overthink it. I want people to be in tears, I want them to cry.

And then I turn into a perfectionist, trying to find the best way to write this death scene.

This leads to more stalling, and then you get even more sad.

and then finally...

you write it...

Step #5 - Come up with a convoluted scheme to bring the character back

You remember all those tears and all that stalling. Well... it was all for nothing because the character comes back. And everyone is happy, and of course, nothing sad ever happens again.

Ever again!

The End

Thanks for reading!!!

I hoped you enjoyed this post, and maybe learned what not to do.

Have you ever ended a character? How hard was it? Did you cry?