1. CMastah

    CMastah Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2014
    Messages:
    222
    Likes Received:
    39

    Publishers and deaths of minors in novels?

    Discussion in 'Plot Development' started by CMastah, Mar 21, 2014.

    Here's the thing, the novel I'm working on will have a few kids getting murdered in the first few chapters, is that going to be a problem for publishers? The descriptions aren't vivid, more along the lines of dispatched, skewered or run through (with bladed weapons). I know people are squeamish about that stuff on TV but was wondering if the same held for novels (also, by minors, I mean kids younger than ten).
     
  2. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2006
    Messages:
    19,150
    Likes Received:
    1,034
    Location:
    Coquille, Oregon
    have you never read the modern classic, 'lord of the flies'?

    if not, i suggest you do so... it will answer your question...
     
  3. Siena

    Siena Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2012
    Messages:
    352
    Likes Received:
    93
    Almost certainly not.
     
  4. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    Messages:
    23,826
    Likes Received:
    20,815
    Location:
    El Tembloroso Caribe
    Also, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. ;)
     
  5. Renee J

    Renee J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2013
    Messages:
    460
    Likes Received:
    220
    Location:
    Reston, VA
    Or Stephen King's It.
     
  6. Bjørnar Munkerud

    Bjørnar Munkerud Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2012
    Messages:
    477
    Likes Received:
    275
    Location:
    Oslo, Norway
    Or The Hunger Games ... it's actually very powerful stuff if you do it right, rather than all that gruesome, and as it's a fictional story you can feel good about having characters die, which can lead to interesting emotions and that great touch of realism many stories need.
     
  7. CMastah

    CMastah Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2014
    Messages:
    222
    Likes Received:
    39
    Thanks guys, I'd actually forgotten about some of the ones like lord of the flies (or even children of the corn for that matter), I guess it actually has been explored pretty well.
     
  8. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2010
    Messages:
    10,742
    Likes Received:
    9,991
    Location:
    Near Sedro Woolley, Washington
    There are only two deaths in that book (if I remember correctly) and they are both made very significant. Very.

    It works in Lord of the Flies because the deaths are powerful. It doesn't mean you can just off your characters willy-nilly for no reason. But if the deaths matter, go for it! :)
     
  9. JetBlackGT

    JetBlackGT Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2013
    Messages:
    462
    Likes Received:
    158
    Location:
    Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States
    Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter, Coraline...

    No. Never kill any children in your books or publishers will run from it like it was lava ;-)
     
  10. CMastah

    CMastah Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2014
    Messages:
    222
    Likes Received:
    39
    Heheh, I guess the real challenge now is in making kids that see little in word count who are likeable enough for readers to be upset for :p
     
  11. Burlbird

    Burlbird Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2011
    Messages:
    972
    Likes Received:
    294
    Location:
    Somewhere Else
    I don't think it's that much about making them "likeable" before killing them: it's more about death as a subject in writing. It comes with maturity, I think: death itself is the ultimate subject, so taking it lightly may "irritate" your readers in more ways than one.

    As @minstrel said about "Lord of Flies": significance. And it goes for the "grown-up" characters as well: sure, people die like flies all the time ( :) ) but even acknowledging this makes a powerful statement in writing.

    And f*k the publishers, they are the least of your concerns here: it's the readers who'll judge the story, and it's your personal growth as a writer (etc) which is ultimately at stakes with everything you write&publish. :)
     
    EdFromNY and minstrel like this.
  12. EdFromNY

    EdFromNY Hope to improve with age Supporter Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2010
    Messages:
    5,101
    Likes Received:
    3,203
    Location:
    Queens, NY
    Amen to that. Don't worry about taboos, even if you know you might be crossing one. Dip into any of the Greek tragedies and you're likely to stumble across something to make you gasp. Start with Sophocles' Oedipus Rex.
     
  13. JetBlackGT

    JetBlackGT Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2013
    Messages:
    462
    Likes Received:
    158
    Location:
    Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States
    Romeo and Juliet.

    If you want to be shunned, have them get pregnant. Oh wait; I think that's a TV show. And a movie.
     
  14. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2006
    Messages:
    19,150
    Likes Received:
    1,034
    Location:
    Coquille, Oregon
    and euripedes' Medea!
     
    EdFromNY likes this.
  15. Burlbird

    Burlbird Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2011
    Messages:
    972
    Likes Received:
    294
    Location:
    Somewhere Else
    mmm Medea, the mother of all child-killing in literature :D
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice