Saying
Goodbye to Characters
You know that bittersweet moment
when you finish reading a book and can’t bear to part with a character you’ve
come to love for 300 pages? I’ve tried to make my characters as memorable and
hope someday to invoke that emotion in my readers, but I never thought about
having that same feeling when writing about a character.
I’m currently putting
the finishing touches on the third book in the Reality Series and finding it
tough to say goodbye to Beth and Scott. They’ve been with me for a couple of
years now, but it’s time they made room for the other voices in my head.
I realize it’s the
appropriate time to end of their story. I’m even happy with the ending I wrote
for them, but the act of actually ending their
place in brain has me conflicted.
I introduced them to each other,
made them fall in love, and gave them a few hurdles to jump over and a few beds
to fall into. I’ve gone into their pasts and secured their future. My work here
as their creator is done. So why do I feel like I’m abandoning them?
I’m aware they are
fictional and their fate in my hands, maybe that’s exactly why it feels so
daunting to say goodbye.
I’m sure I’m not
alone in this sentiment and realize there must be ways to conquer this feeling.
For now I’m going to heed the advice of another writer friend of mine and
proceed to re-read the third and final book until I feel like I’m sick of Beth
and Scott.
