The friend of my friend. . .

[rolanni]

Off on another part of Teh Intertubes, a colleague is writing the last book of a series, and is experiencing separation grief.

During our interview at ConQuesT, I made the comment in reply to. . .something, that readers and writers have a different relationship with the writer’s characters; with readers experiencing something like a traditional, real-world “friendship” with those characters they’ve come to like.  The relationship between an author and her characters is more nearly collaborative, and while I do love my children, I don’t worry about them to the extent that some readers report.

Back at. . . Duckon, I think it was, a few years ago, I happened to overhear a young lady in the hallway between panels who was being congratulated by her colleagues for having made an author on a previous panel (on what I suppose was fan fic) break down and cry.  “She had to be made to understand,” the young lady was saying, very sternly, “that she doesn’t own those characters just because she made them up.  They belong to us, because we give them life!”  (Yes, I did check.  No, I didn’t start in with the young lady then and there.  This is entirely due to the fact that Steve grabbed my arm and pulled me down the hall to our next event.)

All of these things, though, speak to the “reality” of fictional characters, and the hold they have over the minds and hearts of readers (and writers, too, if we do only make them up).  My colleague who is wrapping up the series wonders what will happen to their beloved characters in the minds of readers, once their story is told; and if readers will also experience grief, knowing that this is the last book.

I have my own opinions on this (quelle surprise!), but I’d like to hear yours:  How do you handle the ending of a series?  What’s your relationship with — and your responsibilities toward — people who live in books?

Originally published at Sharon Lee, Writer. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[redpimpernel.livejournal.com]

I've had authors make me cry many, many times, but I don't believe it's right for readers to make authors cry. That just sounds like someone justifying being a bully. The author owns the characters, we readers merely make friends with them, and sometimes we love them.

When book series end by design, I don't really grieve. I may be sad that the story has been told as much as it ever will be; and if the author has done their job well, we are able to close the book with  a certain level of acceptance.

Having a literary series end as the author intends, is kind of like having a friend die in their sleep of old age, or after a long illness. You've had time to prepare, you know it's going to happen. But, having a story end, essentially in the middle, for whatever reason, is like having that friend killed unexpectedly in a car accident. There is no closure, no satisfaction, nothing but questions about what might have been. The reader reacts in accordance with the strength of their connection to the characters and the story. From disappointment and bewilderment for characters who are acquaintances,  to real grief for characters that deeply connect with us, and that we truly love.

Unless an author dies unexpectedly, you rarely get that grief-inducing reaction, because you never know when the author might go back and write another book in a series, so there is always hope. I have only ever truly grieved over fictional characters twice, and both times was for TV shows that *spoke* to me on a deep level, and that were then canceled mid-run (Remember WENN on AMC, and Firefly). I was depressed for months over their cancelations. I've never had that kind of reaction over a book/series.

As far as my responsibilities toward the people who live in books? Respect for all, and their creators. Whereever possible treat others with compassion and kindness.