Everyone likes a happy ending. Except the critics. *shrug*
Simplified I know but probably not too helpful.
Simplified I know but probably not too helpful.
Should he die?
- Thread starter Everin
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Without having a great idea of what the details of the story it's hard to give a yes or no answer. I don't think him dying or him not dying will immediately lead to a jump up in the quality of the story, whether he dies or doesn't, the important thing is that the story has impact within the context of the story. Do whichever you think will have the greater effect on the reader.
Okay yes humanity has done some wonderful things but the percentage that is tolerable is minuscule compared to the percentage that needs to die in a fire. To learn what sort of person I am read "Snark Knight" on Tvtropes.orgedy131 said:
Anyway... I don't want to take any chances with suspension caused by spam or whatever so I'm going to just leave it as, 'I don't care much for the majority of humanity. Probably because middle-school killed my faith in the universe.'
This is pointless. By itself, it's just a twist. We don't know if it would be good or bad without reading the book. Him dying won't automatically make it better or worse, I can't tell you if it will be a good twist or not. I will say that it depends on the tone of your novel. If it's a somewhat happy novel, him dying would just be a jarring shift in tone.
Ah...this is just what the internet's for. Don't know what I'd do if I couldn't bounce ideas off people!Everin said:I've got writer's block on this subject, so your opinions please
Anyway, OT it really does depends on the context of the story. Has the girl suffered any other losses in her life? Perhaps of the same illness/accident? That makes it all the more poignant if you're trying to capture her sense of helpnessness.
Don't labour too much on the sadness, though. Look at a book like The Time Traveller's Wife, for example: it makes you sad with regularity, but not constantly throughout. Spend some time on the build up. Perhaps do it from 'his' point of view, showing the long waits between visits and how he hates the fact that he only ever sees her upset (because she's not exactly in a laughing mood when she comes to see him). Before the end, however, do something light hearted. Something that will make us smile/laugh, and then have him die soon after. The impact is greater that way and leaves the reader with the 'emotional rollercoaster' effect.
If you don't want him to die, then don't ham it up too much. If you build expectation, then it's a massive anticlimax if he ends up living. Hey, it sounds morbid, but that's just how it is! If you do a'last minute recovery' situation it will come across as horribly Hollywood and contrived.
Either way, don't focus on whether or not he lives and dies. Just start writing and trust your own emotions as you go. You usually find that what you're typing just seems 'right', and if you don't get that feeling, then scrap the last few pages and try again.
One website I've found really helpful is http://www.thewriters.org.uk . It's fairly new, but the community are all amateur writers (myself included) and the mods are fantastic (although not as good as you, of course, escapist mods!
). Definitely worth checking out if you're a writer.
Have him be mutilated to death by a very aroused walrus.
It's a very unexpected plot twist nobody will be able to see coming, a departure from established genre conventions and cliches, and a clear message of the irrepressible forces of nature that's very appropriate for a romance drama. To handle such a topic in a way that retain serious artistic and literary merit would truly be inspired, so reach for the stars and all.
It's a very unexpected plot twist nobody will be able to see coming, a departure from established genre conventions and cliches, and a clear message of the irrepressible forces of nature that's very appropriate for a romance drama. To handle such a topic in a way that retain serious artistic and literary merit would truly be inspired, so reach for the stars and all.
If it plays significances in the overall theme of the story.
Stories generally flow, if the story asks for it at the end, then it'll most likely come. I think most endings are decided before hand. I do film so I always think in terms of that. I know Casablanca's ending wasn't decided until the last minute available, but then again that film is overrated anyway. Rules of the Game while you can't see the main character's death coming, you could see Renoir planned it to illustrate his point. Breathless is another one where the main character dies, that one also seemed quite planned.
I tried to do a writing fiction paper and barely passed because you had to obey so many of these silly narration rules while film is completely different (and because my tutor was a p.o.s.), e.g. I got grilled for not giving my character enough motivation at the start. So I probably don't know anything about it.
Stories generally flow, if the story asks for it at the end, then it'll most likely come. I think most endings are decided before hand. I do film so I always think in terms of that. I know Casablanca's ending wasn't decided until the last minute available, but then again that film is overrated anyway. Rules of the Game while you can't see the main character's death coming, you could see Renoir planned it to illustrate his point. Breathless is another one where the main character dies, that one also seemed quite planned.
I tried to do a writing fiction paper and barely passed because you had to obey so many of these silly narration rules while film is completely different (and because my tutor was a p.o.s.), e.g. I got grilled for not giving my character enough motivation at the start. So I probably don't know anything about it.
It worked for John Steinbeck in Of Mice and Men. (Yeah, I was being facetious.)
OT: It can work, but don't just throw it in. I'm sure you realise that already, but it has to have meaning and impact.
If you can make the death meaningful make sure you plan for the tragedy of his death or it'll seem cheap and frustrating.
(Yeah, I was being facetious.)OT: It can work, but don't just throw it in. I'm sure you realise that already, but it has to have meaning and impact.
When Leslie dies I literally weep. It's so tragic I just can't avoid it.
Depends on what kind of ending has more weight in context. Look through your story again, and based on what has happened so far, determine from there whether his death makes sense or not. Just my take on it.
Except yourself of course.Agarth said:
Agarth said:
Oh wait.Agarth said:
OT: It can work, but it should mesh with the rest of the story. Whereas events in good fiction seem elegant and somewhat inevitable without seeming predictable, the death of a main character can seem abrupt and jarring if not done right.
Personally, a good bittersweet ending can be really enjoyable. Manageing to set this right before you kick the bucket, or sacrificing yourself to save your love. Just seems like there are too many "happily ever after" endings, need some real life stuff every now and then to offset it. Also, I dunno why, but always seems sadder if the chick dies, so I say go for that ending.
I don't know a ton about romance novels... or romance... or reading... or death... but I do know that those books are sometimes meant to help you get "hot n heavy" ya dig? And nothing kills a bone faster than a death. Seriously getting aroused at a funeral is hard as shit. Abysmal man.
