Where do characters go when they die?

There comes a moment in every writer’s story when they are faced with a terrible knowledge – a character must die.

I have always had a great deal of respect for authors that can execute the successful completion of a character’s arc or maintain the integrity of the story by cutting a well loved character.

It’s hard to do. Worse, it’s hard to do well.

During the three day weekend I wrote, finally, after a 2 month break and it felt a lot like what it feels like to go back to the gym after a long hiatus. It was painful. Clunky. Awkward.

Then halfway through Sunday, I hit a groove and the writing began to pour out. I forgot to eat or drink. I forgot to get up and stretch my legs. One whole chapter tumbled out and more felt like they were ready for the push.

So I pushed.

For sure, I’ve killed bad guys in my stories. I’ve even knocked off the minor characters that were primarily only catalysts in the arc. I’ve done major bodily harm to my favorite fictional characters – but I’ve never actually killed one off without an already devised and elaborate way to bring them back from the dead.

But as I shut my computer down last night, I had the sinking realization – the character I was working on, was not long for this fictional world.

It is inevitable. The arc demands it, unless I do a complete re-write of the last half dozen chapters, even though I know that I wouldn’t re-write said chapters, because it’s better this way.

But knowing the doom of a beloved character is not the same as having the balls to actually write it.

I haven’t read any J.K. Rowling but I know the Harry Potter stories and I’ve always been impressed that in children’s literature – J.K Rowling actually manages to do the deed. It’s hard enough to write the death of a character to an adult audience – I can’t even imagine trying to make that work for children. And yet – it makes the story more clear, powerful and rich. Death makes the story human. Tangible.

JRR Tolkein, Jacqueline Carey, George RR Martin, Robert Jordan, Sara Douglas and many other writers have been able to pull off a death scene that drags cathartic emotions from the depths of the most unfeeling soul to the surface and can turn you in to a weeping sobbing infant.

A mark of a poor storyteller is the avoidance of a permanent end to a thread. If the writer is unable to let go of a character despite what the arc or story decree – what kind of storyteller does that make them?

Not that I’m pointing fingers, Stephanie Meyer.

Even still, I know it’s not an easy task. Nobody WANTS to be an executioner, but good writers know it must be done. Knowing it must be done, does not give you the courage to do it. It doesn’t take away the dread of writing a scene you know is going to depress you beyond measure, and leaving you balled up like a little girl with a box of tissues and a pint of chocolate ice cream.

I once sobbed for three days over the break up scene I had to write for two characters in a screenplay I was working on – I sobbed like a lunatic even though I’d ALDREADY OUTLINED THEIR MAKEUP.

So I don’t suspect that writing this death scene is going to be easy. Losing a character is like losing a friend. I know everything there is to know about them; when they lost their first tooth, what they wrote on their Santa list in 6th grade, when they had their first kiss, what size shoe, what books are on their shelves and what expired food they have in their cupboards. I’ve known them since they were born.

And I guess it’s my duty as a storyteller to give them an honorable ending.

Still, I don’t know how I’m going to do it. I don’t want to think too much on it now that I know its coming – I’ll probably just let it surprise me. Let the character decide how they want to go. Will they be scared? Will they know the end as well and choose it? Will they fight it or run or embrace the fate?

I just don’t know.

Whatever happens, I’m sure I will need to go out for a good stiff drink – or three when I actually get the resolve to have a character give up the ghost.

Even though I’m not a religious person, I have my own beliefs about mortality and life after death – but this does raise the question since it’s never actually come up before…

Where do fictional characters go when they die? I’ve never wondered before. I guess I just thought it was a box in the closet until now- packed with all the divorce papers, the softball mitt from 8th grade, and my old trumpet sheet music.

I have to hope that characters go someplace better than that. Ya, know?