Deleting a Character: Writing Death Scenes

Fantasy worlds and epic stories usually have more than one character. And, at some point, one of those characters is going to trip, fall into a hole, drink the poison, or otherwise be removed from the story. Characters die.

Death is neither a large or small event in stories. Death just is. You could write the death as a brief statement of facts and move onward. Or, the scene could tug on the emotional heartstrings of your readers. The first scene -- matter of fact -- is much easier to write.

Writing death scenes can be a challenge for a variety of reasons. You, the author, may have bonded with a character. It can be an emotional experience to write the scene.

Emotional attachments aside, you have to consider the larger or more global view of the story itself. Remember, each scene must serve a purpose. And, all characters in the story, your story, are there for a reason. So, ask yourself a couple of questions:

Does killing the character best serve your story?
Will this character be replaced? Or, is the story complete?
How will you show conflict in the scene?
Is this death personal or matter of fact?
Does the reader care about the character?
How common are death scenes in your story?
Does your character know they are going to die beforehand?

Remember, conflict is both internal and external. Other characters will react to the death of a character.

Here are some elements to consider when drafting your scene:

Be realistic. Use a mixture of surreal details and action-oriented detail. Bring emotions into the scene. Describe the impact your character’s death has on other characters. Consider pace: Do you want to slow the story down? Or, do you want to keep the reader moving onward in the plot?

One particular online article (link) gives several types of character deaths: tragic, sudden, painful, gory, ironic, and satisfying. These death scene types can guide you when making the decision to write a death scene.

Now, after preparing yourself emotionally and mentally, you must write your scene.