The D-Word
This question might not seem worthy of much attention, and depending on your personal preference you may believe you already know the answer. However, given today's culture and the sensitivities many individuals have towards certain words, plots, and phrases, I think that it should be addressed. I've noticed that a lot of complaints against movies or novels can be divided into two camps: people are either upset because their character ship didn't work out or a character they loved passed away. You should give the latter your primary focus. Death is often a touchy topic, and is thus one which should be discussed.
To begin, I will answer the question simply and honestly: yes, you should 100% incorporate the topic of death in your novel. The only excuse I would accept from you to do otherwise, would be if it went against your established magic system. As we all know, death occurs in the real world, but if your fiction novel takes place in a realm where there is no end of life (such as heaven) then death would not be relevant.
So why should you include death in your writing? The primary reasons are because it makes the reader savor the character(s)and also become more deeply immersed in the novel. These two reasons go hand and hand. When the reader suddenly becomes aware that death is a possibility for their hero, they will relish that character even more, enjoying the life that the character has in the novel while they still can. Then, naturally, when the reader becomes attached to the character(s) they will become immersed into the fictional world you have created, eager to see if their hero will survive.
Readers like something real. Even if it hurts and makes them shed a few tears, they want the raw emotion. Some people might be upset and stop reading a series because their favorite character was lost, but that is up for them to decide. It's up to you to write things how they are. There is death and there is life.
Thus saying I strongly encourage you to address death in your writing...how you do that however, is up to you.
~Lydia R. Sherren
