Writer's Angst: Killing off Characters

Even after 9 completed books, 2 incompleted, and 1 in-progress novel, I still cannot come to a depressing scene and write it easily. They always get me. Every damn time, without fail, they prove to stop me in my tracks.

I don't think it matters how seasoned a writer I become. I will always reach the scene where a character must be killed off and I will drag my feet. I will sit there and stare at the screen wishing there was some other way to further the plot. Perhaps there's another route for the characters to take, another action that could sidestep the inevitable.

But you have to do it. A writer has to put up her dukes, settle in for the long haul, and lay out the scene that tears her heart to pieces.

I've spent months with these characters and now I will spend one 2-hour writing session killing one off.

Sad day :(

Torn

"It's ridiculous really how things end up. For twenty-five years she's been there for me. For eighteen years she helped me stay on time, do my homework, taught me what was right and wrong, and gave me everything she had. She helped me move into college. Went I went overseas, she prayed for me and my squad everyday. When I came home she was right there at the hospital to take care of me. Now here I am. She doesn't even realize I'm here. She doesn't even know she has a son anymore. I reckon keeping her like this is the least I can do to give her as much time as possible."

Writing Update

With it being the day before the holiday and chores begging to be done and responsibilities calling, I'm a tad short on time. So here's a quick update on the novel-in-progress.

A week and a half-ish after starting, I have a tad over 23k words written. It's November 21 and that leaves 27k to be written before the end of the month. We'll see if that happens! Even if I don't win Nano, I still love the book. It's so different to be writing this genre. The plot unwraps in such a strange way that it's still a little bewildering. The only solution I can think of? Just roll with it! Besides, this is my first realistic fiction so mistakes are allowed.

Here's a tidbit from the story. This features Matt, the secondary character and friend to MC Ethan. Matt suffers from PTSD after serving in Afghanistan and having his motorcade ambushed. He's also a little intense. I would say he's most similar to Jace from the Bell Tower series but he is by far the first character of his kind I've written.

            When Matt saw nothing of interest in the fridge, he closed it and spun around as he picked up the scent of coffee. “That’s what I need.”

            One second he was by the fridge and the next he was grabbing a mug from above the coffeemaker and pouring a cup. It only then dawned on Ethan that Matt was probably a little too slim for his height and build. There should have been a few extra pounds on him. But he had no time to worry about food while he grabbed the sugar from the pantry and shoveled three scoops in his coffee.

            Ethan stared at him. “Really? Three scoops of sugar?”

            Matt grinned “I need to wake up.”

Sheriff Mayberry

           The officer parked in front of the office before getting out of his squad car. He waved out at them and headed up to the front door. After living the last seventeen years in the city, this man was the strangest lawman he’d ever seen. His brown uniform was pressed and neatly arranged on his imposing frame. The sheriff’s star hung over his right breast pocket while above it was his name tag of R. Mayberry. Somehow the name fit the owner. His skin was leathery from years in the sun, his hair a dash of salt and pepper over strawberry blonde, and a handlebar mustache so bushy across his upper lip that it looked like the thistles of a wicker broom.

            He nodded his head at him, touching his finger to the faded cowboy hat on his head before he mumbled, “You must be Mr. Williams.”