If you are a writer, one area of planning your novel could be deciding if one of your characters should be killed. While this could have a dramatic impact on your plot, it is also one of the toughest decisions you may have to make. Death in fiction, especially thrillers, can have a significant impact on the reader but that doesn't mean you can kill someone pointlessly. So, before you begin to end the lives of your characters, please read on and take a look at when you should refrain from swinging that axe. 

They are Going to be Resurrected

If you are a writer of science fiction or fantasy, then the possibility of a character coming back to life is plausible. Reincarnation, time travel or resurrection are just some of the alternatives to killing off one of your characters. But just because these options are open to you, it does not mean you have to take them. Using any of these methods can, of course, give the plot an exciting twist, but it will also open up a can of worms in regards to plot holes and logistics. Before you think of using any of these methods, ensure you have integrated the power to come back from the dead long before you execute it. The last thing you need is for your reader to feel cheated at the climactic scene because the solution to the conflict seems far too convenient. 

Their Death Is Pointless

You need to have a good reason for killing any main character. You have put a great deal of time and effort into building the backstory of your character and, more importantly, your reader has invested their time in getting to know them. To decide whether you are killing the character just to add shock value, or if their demise is really necessary, you need to ask yourself what effect their death will have on the plot? Will it move the story forward? Is it the consequence of their past behavior? Is it to highlight the evilness of your villain? If you haven't got a valid reason, then your character must survive. 

They're An Insignificant Character

One thing you really need to avoid when creating meaningful characters is predicability. There is nothing more predictable than introducing a character simply to die and become the villain's next victim. This is so problematic for two reasons. If you have created a character well, then the reader will care what happens to them. To kill them with no valid reason will leave the reader feeling deflated and cheated. Secondly, their death will fail to evoke an emotional response from the reader. Instead, they will feel just infuriated and frustrated at the character's pointless death. 

The Character Is A Minority

This is where you really have to tread carefully. If you have created a character of color then be very wary of killing them. Having characters of color in your novel should be the norm, but you do need to be sensitive to how they are treated. That is not to say that the characters of color should be given a free pass, but if you are going to kill the only minority character in your story, you need to avoid doing so. In my opinion, it is just stating the wrong kind of message that people of color are not as important, so they can be killed off; it just raises too many sensitive issues. As is the case with all minority groups in fiction, it's about balance. By ensuring your characters are a good mix of diverse characters that survive the cast on the final page, then you will avoid any unnecessary risk of unintentional bias. 

Although death is part of life, just think about the reasons you are pulling the plug and the potential problems it will cause to the plot and your integrity as a writer. Remember, do not use a death just as a shock tactic; the reader will know and not thank you for it.