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Old 08-20-2012, 10:58 AM   #1
John Carroll
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Killing characters based on real people
When I first started writing, I decided that I would write characters based on my daughter's boyfriends and kill them in the book if they hurt her since it wasn't legal to do so in real life.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn't want to waste my characters on losers. To this date, I haven't put any of my daughter's boyfriends or any person I don't like into my books. I actually feel better about that. My stories are unsullied as a result.

I know others have at least considered and likely added people they don't like to their books in order to kill them off. I'm curious what the results have been and how you've felt about it in retrospect.
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Old 08-20-2012, 04:31 PM   #2
Steven Lyle Jordan
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Now, if that doesn't sound like a set-up for a cheesy detective story, I don't know what does: Various boys find themselves getting offed; and when the connection between the boys' manner of death and the book series of an author--whose daughter dated all the boys--is discovered, the author is #1 on a short suspect list...
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Old 08-21-2012, 01:38 AM   #3
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This is a different slant but just as interesting and far less fraught with moral questions.

Does anyone here sometimes use "random selection" to kill characters to shake up a story line?

I have used it a few times. Once a major character was "off'd."

I think Martin might have some kind of similar mechanism.
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Old 08-21-2012, 11:16 PM   #4
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I don't have many killings in my writing but most of the evil character are named after people I not fond of.

And I did write a book out of spite and love, but mostly spite.

Have fun, Jan
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Old 08-22-2012, 12:54 PM   #5
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Killed three members of my writing group in a fairy tale I wrote... Turns out to be one of my best selling short stories, who knew?
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Old 08-22-2012, 01:32 PM   #6
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Old 08-22-2012, 03:10 PM   #7
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I think you have to be careful when doing so. Don't want to invite a lawsuit or something.
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Old 08-22-2012, 07:18 PM   #8
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.
"All characters and names are fictional
and there is no intention to reference
any living or dead being"
.
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Old 08-22-2012, 07:41 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by frahse View Post
.
"All characters and names are fictional
and there is no intention to reference
any living or dead being"
.
Yeah, but - by definition - a fiction writer tells lies.
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Old 08-22-2012, 08:58 PM   #10
John Carroll
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Yeah, but - by definition - a fiction writer tells lies.
Not lies, pretend truths.
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Old 08-22-2012, 09:02 PM   #11
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Reminds me of an old TV show...

Quote:
The story you are about to see is a fib, but it's short.
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Old 08-23-2012, 01:02 AM   #12
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Reminds me of an old TV show...

Quote:
The story you are about to see is a fib, but it's short.
So you are going to tell the truth in just a few words?

Or you are going to tell the truth in many words?

Or you are going to tell a lie in just a few words.

Or...

The old mariner (actually Kirk Douglas): "I got a tale or two to tell ye lads, , and I swear it by my tattoo." - 20,000 Leagues.
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Old 08-23-2012, 03:16 PM   #13
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Yeah, but - by definition - a fiction writer tells lies.
Trust me my dear.
(audibly drawing breath)
Have I remarked on how the setting tropical sun brings out the red and gold glints of your hair?
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Old 08-26-2012, 04:25 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by frahse View Post
This is a different slant but just as interesting and far less fraught with moral questions.

Does anyone here sometimes use "random selection" to kill characters to shake up a story line?

I have used it a few times. Once a major character was "off'd."

I think Martin might have some kind of similar mechanism.
No one has such a mechanism? Is everyone so careful and thoughtful about death?

Fate doesn't work like that.
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Old 08-26-2012, 04:36 PM   #15
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I have relatively few characters based on a single person, although many are have traits that come from a combination of people I know. However, I have at least once, created a character based on a real person I didn't like, when I knew that character was going to die a grisley death. Bwa-ha-ha (evil laugh). I have to admit, I did enjoy writing the death scene.
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