Regrettable, But Necessary

[TheEldritchGod]

You ever write an outline and it has a theme? The story needs to hit certain story beats in a certain order to make sense. It isn't about the message, but just to be coherent. You need to hit these points in the story arc or, well...

What's the point?

Its a good story, but then you come to a point you... might not have really thought through. Maybe its a bit too disgusting, or maybe you really don't want to rip out a character's heart. But you have to. You can coach it in a certain framework, or you can soften the blow or even make the actions justifiable in a way, but in the end it has to happen. The story needs this or it just doesn't make any sense.

So you write it anyways, because if you don't, you wasted everyone's time.

If you have, was it worth it? Do you blow it off, or beat yourself up?

Some characters it is easy to lash the wind into thier backs and layer pain and suffering upon, but some... you know don't deserve this shit, but it has to happen anyways. You don't have a choice, or you don't have a story.

And if you don't care, you wouldn't know if you did a good job. If you dont give a shit, why would the reader?

What's the right answer? How do you justify injustice, just for the sake of a goddamn story beat?

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I had a similar issue as I had a character that I was supposed to kill off but every time it came for me to do so I couldn't. The character didn't deserve it and I enjoyed writing the character so much that I wanted them to survive. Though all I could do was postpone their death until the last moment where they needed to die for the sake of the story. It hurts. Though if you made it so then it must be done. Just do it when you feel like you can.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

I had a similar issue as I had a character that I was supposed to kill off but every time it came for me to do so I couldn't. The character didn't deserve it and I enjoyed writing the character so much that I wanted them to survive. Though all I could do was postpone their death until the last moment where they needed to die for the sake of the story. It hurts. Though if you made it so then it must be done. Just do it when you feel like you can.

It would be easier to kill them.
And it is already written. The set up just posted. The hammer falls in 12 hours.

Funny thing is, I don't think the readers will understand just how bad it is. Not for quite a while.

 

[georgelee5786]

Hmm, I imagined that when I kill a character I like, I'd just blow it off, but this thread makes me think it'll linger in the back of my mind forever. Surely killing off characters ain't this hard, right?... Right?

 

[Zirrboy]

So am I to understand that, like Paul, the issue is you personally not wanting to write a certain conclusion?
I must admit that as a writer, my issue is rather the opposite: Not caring enough to make their strives compelling.

But as a reader I agree with the necessity. Sudden and disproportionate, even if perfectly reasonable, positive resolution of circumstance betrays the compassion built for the character in the face of their doom.

The only likeness to a suggestion I can offer would be this one: Give them the single most important thing you can allow them to have while taking everything else.
This might be far too blunt for your setting if it could go unnoticed, though.

 

[tiaf]

Hmm, I imagined that when I kill a character I like, I'd just blow it off, but this thread makes me think it'll linger in the back of my mind forever. Surely killing off characters ain't this hard, right?... Right?

Seems like I'm cold-blooded since I kill at least one character in every arc of my story.

Ah, my MCs also died several times of tragic deaths for the angst. Though a RE arc follows afterward...

 

[Esper]

Hm... for me it is easy to write bad things for good people. It may be just my brain not registering how horrible it is, or the fact I have heard stories that show true horrors of people, but whatever it may be I can write it.

When I do however, I get it... It hurts a lot, but I always seem to just... get over it? I don't really know how to call it, I just write and as I go on I see a story beat I have to hit and DO IT, because the story wouldn't be the story otherwise... I never get how I just move on from tragedy, but I know if I think of them as characters, as something to enjoy and aren't real, I can maybe get past the pain long enough to write what is needed.

(Edit): Maybe that is how? Since I think it is necessary I don't question it hard enough till I read it again, and realize what I did to my character. Maybe it is cause I accepted my mortality and since I always put a bit of myself into my characters I accept the necessity?

 

[TheEldritchGod]

I suppose the problem is, this time the MC doesn't have it coming. This might be the first actually "good" character I've written. He's flawed, but he didn't make the choices that caused the situation. Or he didn't accept responsibility. He winds up in a bad spot with an impossible choice and makes it. The one he makes is the one he'll hate himself the least for making.

Its rare I actually write something truely unfair. But if it was fair, the story doesn't work.

All i can do is tell myself its good writing, but it still doesn't sit well with me.

Hmm, I imagined that when I kill a character I like, I'd just blow it off, but this thread makes me think it'll linger in the back of my mind forever. Surely killing off characters ain't this hard, right?... Right?

Killing is easy. Its over and done. Yeah. Dont worry about that. The characters die when the story ends anways. Sooner or later its just off camera.

How the characters live is another story.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

I feel that suffering may bring a certain sense of satisfaction and achievement, so I have an alt account where I write tragic short stories. While I write the story, I try to feel and associate myself with the character so when it's over, I feel like I just survived something.
Usually, however I just kill the characters rather than subjecting them to difficult problems.

 

[Deleted member 57675]

I feel that suffering may bring a certain sense of satisfaction and achievement, so I have an alt account where I write tragic short stories. While I write the story, I try to feel and associate myself with the character so when it's over, I feel like I just survived something.
Usually, however I just kill the characters rather than subjecting them to difficult problems.

Similar but i try to disassociate from characters.

 

[Ay89AZ]

Isn't that the whole point though of writing the pain -- you write pain, love and tragedy with the idea that by the time you hit publish catharsis comes? I love reading works with that in mind and the build up of everything does not justify why it happens (sometimes that's besides the point) but that it happens. Bad things happen to good people but there are signs, and I guess the best way to make it seem cathartic is to layer it into the fold of the story. In a way, put bullet everywhere so when the character is shot, you still feel the heat of the gun. (Does that make sense?)