DEAR AUTHORS!

Merphy: resurrection cheapens character deaths

Most people: upset by characters' death.

It drives me crazy that female characters are either perfect in every way with no flaws, or just a throw away character. Let me see a woman with some flaws that is also amazing and strong.

Really think the Bible was improved by the resurrection trope though...

The sad thing is, authors can tick all these boxers til they're blue in the face. But if the publishers aren't buying their books, then none of it matters. Publishers buy what they feel is safe for the market; things that capitalize on an existing trend, etc. It's rare they take chances. Let's hope that changes!

Katniss did not want a relationship because she feared for the future of her children in a world that forces children to fight to the death. it is no wonder she changes her mind when the circumstances/danger changes and the world is safer.

As a writer, I feel that when I write a book my target audience is always going to be me, myself, and I. I want to enjoy what I write, and if others enjoy it too, cool! If not, I'm just not the author for you

I wanted to add this to the community post, but... dear authors, could you please write more meaningful, healthy parent-child relationships? It seems that almost all fictional parents are either 1) dead, 2) abusive/toxic in some way, or 3) so unimportant to the story that they might as well not be there at all.

"Keep your characters dead."

But I like when some characters dies, and resurrect but then they are not the same anymore.

Okay but the sexual tension when they're enemies is so fun

"This is all opinion based"

Agreed! Strong female characters dont need to be unfeminine jeez!!

Katniss didn’t want a relationship because the idea of having a child even on accident horrified her while the capital had control and could just TAKE your kid and make them fight to the death. She wasn’t able to entertain the idea of a relationship until she felt safe.

I want to see more male characters (in everything, books, shows, video games, movies, etc) who allow emotions.

I would add that I love it when authors make their antagonists relatable- people rarely wake up and go, "Whelp I am going to be evil today!"" Rather tell us what his or her motivations are and why they think or do what they are thinking or doing. Both Markus Zusak and Victor Hugo are good at this sort of thing.

When heroes come back to life, nope. Ain't for that. But when a villain comes back to life? I'm strangely all for it!

When a character dies, even if it's a secondary character AND IT MAKES SENSE, I automatically respect the author more

Harry Potter does the friendship love very well.