When you are in the business of creating characters you will eventually be faced with the question: "Should I kill this character off?" And very soon after that, " ... and how should I kill him or her?"

Some characters are easier to kill off than others. An evil dictator, morally repugnant, with little to no redeeming features, is quite easy to kill. Sometimes, it can even be fun. Or cathartic. A heroine with a kindly and pleasant disposition, someone who continually does good deeds, and someone who loves and is loved, is much more challenging for a writer.

Writers seldom mention this but a lot comes down to how strongly the writer relates to the character. And no, it isn't always the "good" character who is relatable.