Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when it comes to the characters you've poured your heart and soul into creating. If you are a writer you know how difficult it is to say goodbye to your beloved characters. Honestly, it can feel like saying goodbye to old friends, whether it's the protagonist or the quirky sidekick. Either way, you have to say goodbye to your characters to finish your novel. And even though letting go can be bittersweet it is a necessary step. So, grab your favorite writing utensil and continue reading to uncover 5 essential tips for saying goodbye to your favorite characters.
Write them a Proper Send-Off
Writing a proper send-off for your characters is essential because it allows you, the writer, to provide closure to their story arcs. A proper send-off could be anything from the end of their adventure to the start of a new generation. In general, knowing and writing the conclusion scene of your novel not only grants you the opportunity to say a heartfelt goodbye but also ensures that your novel has that closure that readers expect. By giving your characters a proper send-off, you can find comfort in knowing that their "journeys" have been concluded with lots of care and respect. Ultimately, this paves the way for you to start new novels or other creative endeavors.
Celebrate
By celebrating the journey and growth of your characters, you can appreciate what you have been able to achieve with your characters along with the connections you made with them. Celebrating your novel also allows you to reflect on the evolution of your characters throughout your story, which highlights all of their triumphs, challenges, and adventures. Through celebration, you can navigate the process of letting go of your characters and your overall story with grace. For more tips on how to celebrate once you finish your novel, click on the button below.
Start a New Project
Starting a new novel can also be a therapeutic way for you to say goodbye to your characters if you are struggling to let go of their beloved characters. By immersing yourself in a new narrative, you can channel your energy into restarting the writing process and therefore crafting new worlds, characters, and storylines. This transition will allow you to shift your focus away from dwelling on your "old" characters and instead embrace the excitement of starting a new novel. Engaging with new characters and plotlines not only provides a welcome distraction but also helps you hone your craft. Ultimately, starting a new novel is a really great idea if you are seeking to say goodbye to your old characters. But also remember that you may want to take a break between writing two novels.
Write a Sequel
Relating to the previous point, you may also want to think about writing a sequel to your story. With this method, you don't necessarily have to say goodbye to your characters as it allows you to extend all of your characters' journeys. For example, you could explore new aspects of their personality, and in the sequel you could provide closure to any unresolved storylines. In general, through the process of writing the next story in your characters' lives, you can gradually let go, knowing that the stories of your characters' will continue in really fun and new ways. Additionally, writing a sequel will keep the characters alive in your mind, providing a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Reread Your Story
Lastly, a lovely way to grapple with not writing the stories of your characters anymore is by rereading your novel. By doing so, you allow yourself to revisit the moments, emotions, and adventures that you wrote and shared with your favorite characters. It provides you with an opportunity to go through their exciting journeys again. You get to relive the whole writing experience from the initial spark of creation to the final pages of your story. Through this reconnection with your characters, you can gain a renewed understanding of their story and the impact they've had on you. Plus, continually rereading your story can help you eventually say goodbye to those fan-favorite characters.
It can be hard to let go of your characters. Writing a novel takes lots and lots of time and dedication and therefore you get to know your characters immensely. From their favorite music genre to the color of their bedroom, to the way they take their coffee in the morning, every detail becomes a little piece that makes up their identity. That is why they really can begin to feel like people. However, you must remember that you aren't crafting actual people and that eventually, you will have to say goodbye to your characters. This will allow you to move on and start a new project and will bring closure to the actual plot of your story. But while it is essential to let go of characters, thankfully the tips above are sure to help.
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