Are You in the Mood for Mercy?

Picture your hero or heroine with the villain exactly where they want them. The gun is loaded, the sword is drawn, or the poison is mixed. But wait - a moment of hesitation allows just enough time for the hero or heroine to question whether they should deliver the justice of an eye for an eye they have spent an entire novel seeking or if justice can be served a different way.

You cringe at your keyboard. What the heck is wrong with your waffling hero or heroine. They were bold, they were angry, they were about to kick some villain butt. Why shouldn’t you plunge the dagger into the heart of the blackguard who stole your land, kidnapped you fiancé, ruined your reputation and left you penniless. Here are a few reasons to let the worst of the bad guys, and gals to be absolutely fair, live on to reform or reek havoc another day.

1. The hero or heroine should grow during the novel. A great way for your main character to evolve is to show mercy.  Even if YOU don't want to allow your villain one little inch of kindness your hero/heroine just might need to.
2. On the flip side, sometimes justice is not a quick appetizer - aka the big kill. It is a long seven-course dinner served out over a miserable lifetime where the villain suffers their due rewards every single bleary day of the rest of their life. He, he, he she cackles evilly!
3. The villain can be captured then escape which can lead to your next book. Can you say sequel baby? Cha-ching!
4. If you don't kill the villain you can always bring them back if you want/need to. This is like a nice side road that is always available to meander down for fun.
5. Finally, that fallen person just may have something deep inside of them that can be redeemed, saved and turned into a fallible person with a complex past who often will make the best hero or heroine in your next novel.

Happy Writing My Friends!