forum When is it ok to kill off a character?

Started February 13, 2020 by @jantz

tune

Title says it all

It's okay to kill a character off when they have had enough development for your audience to feel emotions towards their death, and the time is right. You never want to kill a character off if it won't allow your readers to feel something, or if it's out of the blue, unless that matters extremely much towards your plot. Sudden killings result in insane characters, if that says anything. I hope this helps!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What Sorrel said x1000
Also make sure that character actually needs to exist in the first place It's better to not have a character at all then to write a meaningless death.

Sensible addition. You're right on that!

And don't kill a character just for shock factor!!! Especially not if they're a minority (POC, LGBTQ, etc)

Adding on to the question: What makes a good sacrifice?

A good sacrifice would be someone of semi-importance to your tale. A greater sacrifice would be someone who has done no wrong, or has done too many wrongs. I find those to be the best kind of sacrifices. Someone who has to the pay the price of many, or perhaps, maybe even someone who volunteers. Volunteer sacrifices are weaker in character, and have a mind set on whatever the sacrifice is created for, but they have less shock-factor than the semi-importants do.

Sacrifice as in ritual sacrifice? or the other one, where someone dies to save someone else, ect?

A good sacrifice would be someone of semi-importance to your tale. A greater sacrifice would be someone who has done no wrong, or has done too many wrongs. I find those to be the best kind of sacrifices. Someone who has to the pay the price of many, or perhaps, maybe even someone who volunteers. Volunteer sacrifices are weaker in character, and have a mind set on whatever the sacrifice is created for, but they have less shock-factor than the semi-importants do.

Ok this is actually really helpful. Thank you.

Sacrifice as in ritual sacrifice? or the other one, where someone dies to save someone else, ect?

As in saving someone else

Ok this is actually really helpful. Thank you.

I was born to assist those in need, it's nothing but my fate falling upon you. :)

Then again, I definitely agree with Sorrel again! Make sure you remember to build up that character however will best impact the sacrifice when you write it.
As a really cliche example bc I have no imagination, a sacrifice that would save one person would be performed by a kind person. Or, you can have someone with the opposite quality have a change of heart, or, even better, have some very evil character die in a way that saves someone/thing/ etc, even if they remain evil. There's lots of ways to go about it!
I'm sure none of this made much sense xD Sorry!

1. when it adds to the story
2. for no reason at all
3. actually, as long as it's not just for the shock value it's fine

I think overly sarcastic productions on youtube has a video about it with relatively good guidelines.