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Question: Would It Be Too Bold to Do This!?
Alright, in a story I'm writing, I just described a fighting scene and one of the main characters (There are five) was just critically injured (He was poisoned-- don't ask!)!. Would it be too bold to put a rough time limit on his life and then have him die due to the sickness!? Or should I leave it a mystery as to how much time he has left!? I was just thinking that a lot of authors use the same sort of idea and leave it mysterious as to how much the character has left, so I thought 'What if I were just to blatantly say that this character has only a month left!?'
Would that be too much of a let down!? Or would it be more original to just tell everyone when he dies!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I think killing off a main character shows a lot of courage!. Either way works and has its own pros and cons: giving him a time limit would increase tension between him and the other characters and give an element of pathos to the time between now and his death, especially if he knows he is dying!. The con is that writing from the POV of a dying man is difficult!.
The other way would surprise the reader but I think dramatic tension for shock value is a fair trade, and too much fiction relies on shock value these days!. I vote for giving a time limit!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com
You could always have a doctor tell him he has, say, three days to live!. Then, of course, he could confound the doctor by making a full recovery!. Or, perhaps, have a shaman come to him at the dead of night and cure him!? You could build up a good tension scene here, with the shaman creeping into the hospital, dodging the guards, and finally helping the man!. Does that sound feazible!?
Good luck
Mike BWww@QuestionHome@Com
It will have less of an impact on the reader if you give a time limit and then follow through with the time limit because there will be no element of surprise!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Nothing is too bold!. Just go with your instincts!.Www@QuestionHome@Com