How I should feel...

[Provrb1810meggy]

My friend, a beta reader, just called me up, screaming, "YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR STORY RIGHT NOW!" I was a little bit alarmed at first. What horrible thing did I have in there?

It turns out she was upset at me killing off one of the characters in the middle of the book. She said he was her favorite, because he was cool, funny, smart, all at the same time, or something like that. I was quite pleased with this. I want my readers to care about and be emotional about this guy's death, so I'm glad I got the reaction.

On the other hand, when I asked her what she thought of the MC, she said she liked her sometimes and that other times she didn't. So now I'm worried that if I kill of people's favorite character, and they don't like the MC, they won't continue reading.

I don't know how I should feel right now. I think I'll be glad, since I don't want to be sad right now. I'll address the issues of my MC's unlikability issues later.

EDIT: Don't worry. I'm not going to change anything right now, and I'll wait for feedback from everyone else. I was just ranting.

[engmajor2005]

I like Stephen King's advice from On Writing. Submit your work to several betas, and let the majority rule. Ties go the writer.

But, it is your work and you do have creative control over it. If the story depends on the death, don't change it.

Encourage your friend to read the rest and see how it goes. They are a beta after all, and you should be able to depend on your betas to do so.

[TheIT]

I'd say be happy you managed to provoke such a passionate response about your secondary character. I'd also suggest taking a look at your MC and comparing the two, also getting your beta reader's complete reaction once she finishes the whole story. Why does she like the secondary character better than the MC?

If the secondary character's death fits the story, don't pull it out based on one person's reaction. See what else you can do to make the rest of the story match.

Congratulations!

[Zonk]

I had a similar reaction when I only prepared to kill off my MFC. Two of my readers threatened me with grievous bodily harm, as well as refusal to read any more.

I took their advice, coward that I am; and then found that the story became easier to flesh out going forward ;)

But the bottom line is, write the story that you want to write.

It is, however, very satisfying to have created a character with whom readers are prepared to make a significant emotional investment, isn't it?

:D:D:D

[WildScribe]

Your name isn't George R.R. Martin, is it?

[Celia Cyanide]

Have you ever read Battle Royale? When Shinji Mimura died, many kids did not want to keep reading. It happens. I agree that you should see how others feel. Perhaps other people will find the rest of the characters interesting enough.

[icerose]

I would say rather than changing the death of your secondary character, work on your main.

I had this exact problem with a piece of my work and I worked on the main character and it made such a difference for the story.

[janetbellinger]

I read and liked a novel where one of the main characters was killed off near the end of the novel. I liked that character too but the thing is you could see it coming. You were prepared for something bad to happen because of the way she was acting. This woman fell in love and married a serial killer and kept making excuses for him.

[PeeDee]

Mostly, what I suggest is that you not get too caught up in their extreme love of your character. When this happens, assume that you've done your job well, and then move on to writing the next scene, or solving the next problem. Being too impressed with making it wonderful could start to affect your ability to tell the story as clearly and interestingly as possible.

[JeanneTGC]

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott. Beth dies (hope that's not a spoiler for anyone). Some readers are upset -- then and now. Somehow, they and the book go on. Some readers didn't care -- then and now. Somehow they and the book go on.

Write the story YOU want to write. You are the only one who can tell it YOUR way. If you want to kill of a character, slay away. :)

[Saundra Julian]

Egads... brings back memories of Stephen King's Misery! No reader should tell an author how to write his/her book...

[greglondon]

Make your protag as memorable and likable as the character you killed, and keep everything else the way it is for now. Once you've brought your protag up to match your secondary character, get more beta readers and see if they have the same reaction.

[AnnieColleen]

I had this happen when I was reading a friend's novel -- actually two different novels, now that I think of it. She didn't change either, and I can see how they do fit the story (but I'm still annoyed about it!)

One sold to a small publisher, the other she hasn't finished (because it's a long involved story and she has umpteen other projects, not because of my reaction).

So, I guess I'm just a softy (in relation to characters), but still advising you to do what you're already doing. Helpful, huh? ;)

[stormie]

Meggy,
As some others have said, if you get that kind of response from your beta readers, that's great. It means they feel for the character. Your character is not two-dimensional then. Let it be.

You could give your ms. to ten beta readers, and they all could have a different take on it. You'd end up just being confused, and your ms. will not be your own.

[Zonk]

I don't think I will ever forgive JKR for killing off my favorite character (who shall not be named, but was the only wizard HWSNBN ever feared :tongue ).

Will I read Book 7? Sure.

Will it be as much fun? Nope.


:D:D:D

[IrishScribbler]

Egads... brings back memories of Stephen King's Misery! No reader should tell an author how to write his/her book...

Your beta hasn't threatened to break your legs, I hope?

[Provrb1810meggy]

Not yet. I am going over to her house tonight. I hope she doesn't have clubs or anything.

[janetbellinger]

I was upset when Beth died but I could see it coming, as she kept getting weaker and weaker. It is more difficult when you aren't prepared for it.

"Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott. Beth dies (hope that's not a spoiler for anyone). Some readers are upset -- then and now. Somehow, they and the book go on. Some readers didn't care -- then and now. Somehow they and the book go on.

Write the story YOU want to write. You are the only one who can tell it YOUR way. If you want to kill of a character, slay away. :)

[Provrb1810meggy]

Mine is an unexpected accident, not really any indication beforehand, but it's neccescary for the story. One of my earlier beta's had the same "oh my god" reaction, because everyone expected the MC to end up with this guy, but she liked the MC.

[TheIT]

My mom made me promise I wouldn't kill off any of the MCs I told her about. It wasn't a difficult promise to make. How can I make my MCs' lives miserable if they get killed? ;)

On the other hand, secondary characters are fair game. :D

[Alex Bravo]

In the Bloody Ground, by Bernard Cornwell, he killed one of the main characters that had been pivotal through the first three books, and my favorite. I was angry and didn't want to read anymore. He hasn't written a fifth book and I don't really care if he does.

I wasn't mad when Boba Fet in Star Wars died, only that he died too easily.

That said, in one of my works, I had a character that three beta readers loved, but the character only played a minor part. After hearing that, I expanded the character's role and it made the novel better.

[Angel~Of~Music]

I cried out "NO!" so loudly, I'm sure the rest of my family thought I'd lost it. But I agree with you. Book 7 won't be the same without him. Oh yeah, Meggy, kill off as many characters as you please. If people cry and threaten you, it's becuase you wrote that character so well they felt empathy for them.I don't think I will ever forgive JKR for killing off my favorite character (who shall not be named, but was the only wizard HWSNBN ever feared :tongue ).

Will I read Book 7? Sure.

Will it be as much fun? Nope.


:D:D:D

[Elodie-Caroline]

In part of one of my WIPs, the male MC character breaks the female MC's heart. I find this really hard to write about; I can feel the emotions she would be going through and it actually upsets me to write it. But... I won't change the story because of it. I feel that if I'm writing it and it's my work and it makes me feel sorry for the woman, then so should my readers.

Ellie

[C.bronco]

um, did you read Misery? you might want to padlock your doors.

[a tree of night]

Does it make sense? That's really all that matters. Don't take advice from people who are more concerned with their personal feelings for a fictional character than your artistic integrity. Besides, by the time a reader gets upset that you killed off their favorite character, you already have their money.

[Elektra]

I don't think I will ever forgive JKR for killing off my favorite character (who shall not be named, but was the only wizard HWSNBN ever feared :tongue ).

Will I read Book 7? Sure.

Will it be as much fun? Nope.


:D:D:D

I'm still in denial over Sirius. Unfortunately, she seems to be killing off characters based on how much I like them (which means Harry is forever safe).

[Andre_Laurent]

I whacked the favorite character of one beta reader in the last quarter of the ms. She got over it. She liked him better than the MC. So what. My other reader likes the MC better.

I wouldn't worry about it unless everyone you let read it likes the other character better than the MC.

[MattW]

I once read a book where I was very intrigued by the main character. Out of nowhere, about 3/4 through, the author went and killed me!

[JeanneTGC]

I'm still in denial over Sirius. Unfortunately, she seems to be killing off characters based on how much I like them (which means Harry is forever safe).

LOL! Sooo true!

[Elodie-Caroline]

Hahahaha :D Thank you. I never thought about that aspect... I still aint changing my story though. I'll just get myself a Big dog... or a big hunky bodyguard :tongue

um, did you read Misery? you might want to padlock your doors.




To 'a tree of night'... Having the reader's money or not, isn't what would matter to me; I would much rather that they liked my story and felt for my characters, whether I killed them off or not. If someone likes your characters, it proves that you wrote them to be believable I reckon :)


Ellie

[johnzakour]

You could give your ms. to ten beta readers, and they all could have a different take on it. You'd end up just being confused, and your ms. will not be your own.

Yeah, that's why I don't use beta readers. I'm easy enough to confuse myself with just my own opinion. You have to do what you feel feels right. It's your book, not your beta readers.

There is one very kind author that I did use to send pages to and ask, "please tell me if these suck." But then I realized she's too nice to really be critical.

So now when I write a book, I’m the only person to read it until my publisher reads it.

[Ardellis]

In my experience as a reader, the only thing a writer can do that's worse than killing off a much-beloved character when the plot calls for it is copping out and not doing it. If it has to happen, it has to happen. Let the reader grieve and move on or not as s/he would over a real person.

Wait. I just thought of something worse: hinting that someone important will have to die and then killing a tertiary character when your reader is all braced to lose a favorite. That's where David Eddings lost me when I was a young'un.

[a tree of night]

To 'a tree of night'... Having the reader's money or not, isn't what would matter to me; I would much rather that they liked my story and felt for my characters, whether I killed them off or not. If someone likes your characters, it proves that you wrote them to be believable I reckon :)
I was being somewhat flippant with the money comment, but not entirely. You can write for art, you can write to sell, or both. Writing to appease is only good for politics. And, for what it's worth, the readers will like your story and your character(s), right up to the point that you kill them. Every reader has the right to like or not like any aspect of your story, but they do not have the right to demand that you treat them the same way that they would have if it contradicts your vision.

[Provrb1810meggy]

She said the MC really grows on her, so I'm happy. I know, I know, it's only the opinion of one person.

[Elektra]

Was that your hook I saw over at Snark's (GOTTA GET A Q)? I thought it sounded really fun, like a popcorn movie for readers.

[Provrb1810meggy]

Yes, that was the one over at Snark's. Thanks for the feedback! She called my plot device "silly," but I'm not sure that completely upsets me. "Silly," wasn't really what I intended, more like fun, fluffy, but still heartfelt. I'm not getting too upset over Snark's opinion, though.

[Elektra]

It's silly in one of those as-long-as-you-don't-think-about-it-too-much-you'll-have-a-great-time kind of ways. The hook itself was really well written, too, I thought.

[Novelist in Paradise]

. I'll address the issues of my MC's unlikability issues later.


Can you make the unlikability bits interesting? There are many characters I don't like who are fascinating nonetheless.

[Akuma]

I don't think I will ever forgive JKR for killing off my favorite character (who shall not be named, but was the only wizard HWSNBN ever feared :tongue ).

Will I read Book 7? Sure.

Will it be as much fun? Nope.


:D:D:D

Meh. Chances are the character in question will come back.

After all, each book has been berated with allusions to the rebirth of a particular bird I will not name.

And, yeah, the other one will die, too.

[Akuma]

Unfortunately, she seems to be killing off characters based on how much I like them (which means Harry is forever safe).

Oh-ho-ho... Is that so?

*selling insider info on the works of JKR* :tongue

[farfromfearless]

Kill him and let him bloody well stay dead if it furthers the plot. Though if people want the character back so badly, would you be adverse to including zombies in your story?

[J.S Greer]

I'd say be happy you managed to provoke such a passionate response about your secondary character.

I agree. You at least suceeded in pulling her in, and making her care.