Andrey Istomin's Blog: Between Words & Worlds - Posts Tagged "amwriting"

Two weeks. Three thousand characters. One corpse.

I’ve finally done it—I’ve committed the act I’d been meticulously planning since the first book: I killed off the main character. Yes, it sounds like something out of a serial killer’s diary, but in reality, it’s just the confession of a dystopian author who got a little too attached to her own fictional world.

You’d think that after spending years crafting a character—giving them depth, flaws, and a journey that readers (hopefully) care about—ending their story would be cathartic. And it is! For about five minutes. Then reality hits: the editing, the localisation, the second round of editing, the packaging, the marketing, and the eternal quest to find a community of readers who will understand why this death wasn’t just necessary, but perfect.

And let’s not forget the fun part: explaining to marketers that no, this isn’t a mistake. It’s not a plot hole. It’s not even a tragedy. It’s a feature. A brutal, heart-wrenching, narratively satisfying feature.

If you’ve ever wondered what writers actually do, let me tell you: we don’t just sit around sipping tea and waiting for inspiration to strike. (Though, full disclosure, there is a lot of tea.) We plot, we scheme, we agonise over every word, and sometimes—when the story demands it—we become literary executioners. And then we panic about deadlines, because of course the moment you finish writing is the moment you realise how much work is still left.

So, to anyone who thinks writing a book is just about ‘making things up’: come talk to me. I’ll introduce you to the fine art of literary murder—where the stakes are high, the guilt is real, and the satisfaction is fleeting.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a corpse to edit. And a third book to outline.

Fun fact: Killing off a character you’ve spent two books with is harder than you’d think. It’s like breaking up with someone you’ve known for years—except you’re the one holding the knife. And the red pen. And the marketing plan.

<spoiler>P.S. To my future readers: Yes, I had to do it. No, I won’t bring them back. (Probably.)</spoiler>

<spoiler>P.P.S. If you’re curious about the first two books, check them out here and here. And yes, the third one is coming. Eventually.</spoiler>