Of the torture of innocents and the bumping off of characters

Laurelyn · 04-22-2003, 09:29 PM

Well. This is calling all Mooters with twisted minds who torture/kill their characters. I don't beleive I can write fiction without killing at least one character, and the novel I'm trying to write is built on torturing the mind of my protagonist until she snaps (it's built on personal experience. . . bwahaha).
But I wondered how many other Moot writers do this. My friend says she has trouble torturing her characters. I torture mine for fun. Anybody else?

Gwaimir Windgem · 04-22-2003, 09:55 PM

I don't really think I do...I kill a few characters, yes, but I cannae think of an instance where it is to further the story, usually with a theme of sacrifice. Though one of my characters basically ends up as a broken man old beyond his years...

***IronParrot*** · 04-22-2003, 10:10 PM

As a reader: death is way, way overdone. It's good if it's done well, and sparingly.

Aralyn · 04-22-2003, 10:11 PM

Hmm I like my characters to have at least a bit of a hard time and I have one fantasy where there's this girl who's made a slave. It ibvolves some torture type stuff. But not evil.

Gwaimir Windgem · 04-22-2003, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IronParrot
As a reader: death is way, way overdone. It's good if it's done well, and sparingly.

I can think of two instances in one of my trilogy where someone Dies. In one, a person gives his life for another (the Child of Prophecy-type person), and in another, one gives her life up in a titanic struggle against evil.

EDIT: Posted too soon...

See title for details.

In the other, I can't think of any instances where a main character dies (though in a sort of pillage-sequence there will probably be a fairish number of deaths), though I intend the last book to involve a fairish number of people, and will probably have at least one or two deaths there.

Willow Oran · 04-22-2003, 11:51 PM

Yeah... I'm guilty of doing that. I've managed to suppress my evil twisted instincts enough so that it doesn't overwhelm the story now but in the beginning I do end up killing off nearly a whole generation of main characters. As for torture, I don't actually write graphic torture but there is plenty of implied mental torture, especially as my main villaness is something akin to a goddess of perverted emotions. Most of the stuff is absolutely nessecary to the plot though. If it didn't happen my characters would have no motivation, there would be no conflict and thus no story.

Starr Polish · 04-23-2003, 12:23 AM

I save most of my torturous writing impulses to short story characters who aren't likely to show up again. In one of the stories I'm working on, several minor characters (some so minor all you know is their name and the fact that they knew one of the two protagonists) die of old age.

In my fantasy writing people were more likely to die, but it often had to do with the theme of the story, and it was set during a war.

edit: I do tend to torture my characters with suicidal or mental illnesses. When I'm in a bad, dark mood this is usually how I vent out my feelings. I've even written a story (which I have lost and would not post here anyway) about a disturbing public suicide.

Lief Erikson · 04-23-2003, 05:40 PM

My novel has both torture and some characters dying. No main characters die in Part 1 though; only in Part 2, so far. The torture and deaths are all very well placed though, in my opinion.

Coney · 04-23-2003, 06:24 PM

I've done so occasionally (in fact one of my comic book scripts centers around the idea of the main character losing somone close).........I suppose it all depends which directions you want the surviving characters to take.......torture and/or death will have a big effect on their personallity/actions.

Lief Erikson · 04-23-2003, 06:27 PM

Yes, that's definitely true.

Wayfarer · 04-23-2003, 07:56 PM

I prefer to torture /other/ people's characters, myself. ]: )

Lief Erikson · 04-23-2003, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayfarer
I prefer to torture /other/ people's characters, myself. ]: )

How do you manage that?

Ninquelote · 04-24-2003, 10:10 PM

Every story I write, someone dies at least once, because death is a part of life and I want my stories to be somewhat realistic.

I also mutilate my characters mercilessly and kill them off when I'm writing a vampire story... But that's vampire.

Elvellyn · 04-24-2003, 11:01 PM

Kill them all I say! No, not really.

I would never torture or kill my characters unless it had a significant impact on the development of the plot.

Wayfarer · 04-25-2003, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lief Erikson
How do you manage that?

Most of my writings are collaborative/RP fiction.

Blackboar · 04-25-2003, 04:57 AM

Most of my characters, (Usually the "heroes" or "heroines") get brutally killed I admit..
I don't know why really, Its often as tragic as I can make it its just fun decribing blood and gory.

Wayfarer · 04-25-2003, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Most of my characters, (Usually the "heroes" or "heroines") get brutally killed I admit..

I prefer the 'tragic antihero'.

Silverstripe · 04-25-2003, 01:29 PM

I don't enjoy torturing or killing off my characters, but I'll do it if it's necessary to the plot.

galadriel · 04-25-2003, 01:53 PM

I'll admit that I like watching my characters squirm. Angst is fun. but I don't really see the point of writing graphic torture scenes and such unless it's absolutely necessary to get an emotional reaction out of the audience. I'm much more interested in showing the psychological side of things to bring out character development.

To be honest, however, it's often more interesting when a character's bad luck is his/her own fault. A poor, helpless hero(ine) gets boring.

Occasionally, when I write for myself (i.e. when I'm in a dark mood), I'll write about my character's warped emotional states endlessly and then psychoanalyze said stories in order to figure out my own problems. It's good therapy.

Ianua · 04-25-2003, 07:13 PM

Ooohh...I've been known to be a little sadistic where my poor 'ickle inocent characters are concerened. Thing is, i always have to calculate how many get drowned/shot/strangled/eaten by killer cheesecake from mars/beaten to death by big bully elves/bitten by vampires, or otherwise bumped off so i have at least one hero/heroine left at the end....or otherwise i can give them a nice, drawn out life of mental torture before bringing them to a sticky end....

Moi? Sadistic? Never....

04-22-2003, 09:29 PM	#1
Laurelyn Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Valinor, right next to Telperion . . . what did you expect, Michigan? Posts: 1,315	Of the torture of innocents and the bumping off of characters Well. This is calling all Mooters with twisted minds who torture/kill their characters. I don't beleive I can write fiction without killing at least one character, and the novel I'm trying to write is built on torturing the mind of my protagonist until she snaps (it's built on personal experience. . . bwahaha). But I wondered how many other Moot writers do this. My friend says she has trouble torturing her characters. I torture mine for fun. Anybody else? __________________ The Third Age of Entmoot has begun. Angel of music, guide and guardian! Grant to me your glory! The country I eat and spend the day in is by no means the country I sleep and dream in. Define patriotism. Hold the boat, you spastic monkey! ~ Elenka

04-22-2003, 09:55 PM	#2
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	I don't really think I do...I kill a few characters, yes, but I cannae think of an instance where it is to further the story, usually with a theme of sacrifice. Though one of my characters basically ends up as a broken man old beyond his years... __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

04-22-2003, 10:10 PM	#3
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	As a reader: death is way, way overdone. It's good if it's done well, and sparingly. __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

04-22-2003, 10:11 PM	#4
Aralyn FloraAzul Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Anywhere as long as there is a library in a one mile radius of here Posts: 751	Hmm I like my characters to have at least a bit of a hard time and I have one fantasy where there's this girl who's made a slave. It ibvolves some torture type stuff. But not evil. __________________ Atheism: A Non-Prophet Organization Yet many shall be amazed when they see Him-yes even far off foreign nations and thier kings; they shall stand dumb-founded, speechless in his prescence. For they shall see and understand what they had not seen before-Isaiah 52:15a Civil War- 498,332 dead WWI-116,708 dead WWII-407,316 dead Korean War-54,246 dead Vietnam War-58,665 dead Persian Gulf-372 dead War on The Unborn=35,000,000 dead and counting

04-22-2003, 11:51 PM	#6
Willow Oran Deus Ex Machina Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,951	Yeah... I'm guilty of doing that. I've managed to suppress my evil twisted instincts enough so that it doesn't overwhelm the story now but in the beginning I do end up killing off nearly a whole generation of main characters. As for torture, I don't actually write graphic torture but there is plenty of implied mental torture, especially as my main villaness is something akin to a goddess of perverted emotions. Most of the stuff is absolutely nessecary to the plot though. If it didn't happen my characters would have no motivation, there would be no conflict and thus no story. __________________ "5. Plain Rings with RUNES on the inside. Avoid these like the PLAGUE. -Diana Wynne Jones Tough Guide To FantasyLand ...it's not much of a show if somebody doesn't suffer, and preferably at length. Suffering is beautiful in any case, and so is anguish; but as for loathing, and bitterness... I don't think they belong on the stage at all. - Isabella, I Gelosi

04-23-2003, 12:23 AM	#7
Starr Polish Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Slow down and I sail on the river, slow down and I walk to the hill Posts: 2,389	I save most of my torturous writing impulses to short story characters who aren't likely to show up again. In one of the stories I'm working on, several minor characters (some so minor all you know is their name and the fact that they knew one of the two protagonists) die of old age. In my fantasy writing people were more likely to die, but it often had to do with the theme of the story, and it was set during a war. edit: I do tend to torture my characters with suicidal or mental illnesses. When I'm in a bad, dark mood this is usually how I vent out my feelings. I've even written a story (which I have lost and would not post here anyway) about a disturbing public suicide. __________________ “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” –Bertrand Russell Last edited by Starr Polish : 04-23-2003 at 12:25 AM.

04-23-2003, 05:40 PM	#8
Lief Erikson Elf Lord Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 6,343	My novel has both torture and some characters dying. No main characters die in Part 1 though; only in Part 2, so far. The torture and deaths are all very well placed though, in my opinion.

04-23-2003, 06:24 PM	#9
Coney The Buddy Rabbit Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Trapped in the headlights.. Posts: 3,372	I've done so occasionally (in fact one of my comic book scripts centers around the idea of the main character losing somone close).........I suppose it all depends which directions you want the surviving characters to take.......torture and/or death will have a big effect on their personallity/actions. __________________ Blessed are the cracked, they let the light in Beatallica

04-23-2003, 06:27 PM	#10
Lief Erikson Elf Lord Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 6,343	Yes, that's definitely true.

04-23-2003, 07:56 PM	#11
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	I prefer to torture /other/ people's characters, myself. ]: ) __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

04-24-2003, 10:10 PM	#13
Ninquelote Elven Warrior Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Here. For the time being. Posts: 336	Every story I write, someone dies at least once, because death is a part of life and I want my stories to be somewhat realistic. I also mutilate my characters mercilessly and kill them off when I'm writing a vampire story... But that's vampire. __________________ XIAN- for hating Wiccans. MURDERER- for hating vegetarians. PREP- for hating Goths. These are a few of my favourite things, the hypocritical stylings of the most "liberal" groups.

04-24-2003, 11:01 PM	#14
Elvellyn The Redneck Elf Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: In a house Posts: 539	Kill them all I say! No, not really. I would never torture or kill my characters unless it had a significant impact on the development of the plot. __________________ Oliphants make great pets.

04-25-2003, 04:57 AM	#16
Blackboar Legolas's beloved sister and Queen of the Wood Elves of Mirkwood Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Under the hill at Bag-end, Hobbiton the Shire Or Rivendell,I can't remember!!!!!!!!!! Posts: 1,086	Most of my characters, (Usually the "heroes" or "heroines") get brutally killed I admit.. I don't know why really, Its often as tragic as I can make it its just fun decribing blood and gory.

04-25-2003, 01:29 PM	#18
Silverstripe Empress of the Writewraiths Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Running around somewhere inside my head. So what are YOU doing here?! Posts: 1,546	I don't enjoy torturing or killing off my characters, but I'll do it if it's necessary to the plot.

04-25-2003, 01:53 PM	#19
galadriel Elven Warrior Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a castle made of clouds Posts: 459	I'll admit that I like watching my characters squirm. Angst is fun. but I don't really see the point of writing graphic torture scenes and such unless it's absolutely necessary to get an emotional reaction out of the audience. I'm much more interested in showing the psychological side of things to bring out character development. To be honest, however, it's often more interesting when a character's bad luck is his/her own fault. A poor, helpless hero(ine) gets boring. Occasionally, when I write for myself (i.e. when I'm in a dark mood), I'll write about my character's warped emotional states endlessly and then psychoanalyze said stories in order to figure out my own problems. It's good therapy. __________________ Human kind cannot bear very much reality. dreamflower - for all things Lady Galadriel

04-25-2003, 07:13 PM	#20
Ianua Hobbit Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: England Posts: 28	Ooohh...I've been known to be a little sadistic where my poor 'ickle inocent characters are concerened. Thing is, i always have to calculate how many get drowned/shot/strangled/eaten by killer cheesecake from mars/beaten to death by big bully elves/bitten by vampires, or otherwise bumped off so i have at least one hero/heroine left at the end....or otherwise i can give them a nice, drawn out life of mental torture before bringing them to a sticky end.... Moi? Sadistic? Never.... __________________ Happy, Clappy, and annoying beyond belief ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Her Lips were red, Her looks were free, Her locks as yellow as gold, Her skin was as white as leprosy, The nightmare life-in-death was she, Who thicks man's blood with cold -Intrveiw with the vampire- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'I can resist everything exept temptation'- Oscar Wilde