A WRITER'S GUIDE TO MURDER
TRIGGER-WARNING: Vivid descriptions of death and dead bodies.
Electricity has always been a spectacle. From the moment it had been invented, people found ways to incorporate it into their stories. Because it's such a powerful thing, the scenes in which it's used are always intense, traumatizing (at least if there are witnesses to the death) and incredibly dramatic. And electrocution doesn't stop at the electric chair or some faulty wires. There are so many ways to make this a creative end to your character, it would be impossible to list them all in this article. But for the sake of trying, here is Electrocution: a writer's guide to murder.
Water and Electricity
Electrocution using water involves using water as a conductor to deliver a fatal electrical shock to the victim.
Setup 1: Drop an electrical device (e.g., hairdryer, toaster) into a metal bathtub filled with water while the victim is bathing. Ensure the bathtub is conductive, or ensure the victim touches a metal faucet to complete the circuit.
Setup 2: For non-conductive bathtubs (e.g., porcelain or plastic), ensure the victim touches a conductive element (e.g., metal faucet) when the electrical device is introduced.
What It Does to the Body
The electrical current passes through the water and the victim's body, causing cardiac arrest, severe burns, and damage to internal organs. The victim may experience muscle spasms, loss of consciousness, and ultimately death.
How It Can Be Described
"The moment the hairdryer hit the water, a violent surge of electricity coursed through the tub. She convulsed violently, her screams cut short as her body stiffened, then went limp. The acrid smell of burning flesh filled the bathroom as wisps of smoke rose from the water."
Examples of Setting
Domestic Setting: Home bathroom or hotel suite.
Public Setting: Spa or public bathhouse with faulty equipment.
Direct Contact
Direct contact electrocution involves delivering an electrical shock through direct physical contact with a live current. Use a taser, rig a metal surface (e.g., door handle, railing) with a live electrical current, or set up exposed wiring that the victim will touch.
What It Does to the Body
The electric current enters the body through the point of contact, causing burns, cardiac arrest, and potentially fatal damage to internal organs. The victim may exhibit muscle contractions, respiratory failure, and loss of consciousness.
How It Can Be Described
"He reached for the metal handle, and the instant his fingers wrapped around it, a jolt of electricity surged through his body. His muscles locked in place, eyes wide with shock, before he collapsed to the ground, smoke rising from his seared skin."
Examples of Setting
Industrial Site: Exposed wiring or machinery in a factory.
Home Setting: Rigged household appliances, lightbulbs, or door handles.
Public Setting: Electrified public installations or fences.
Natural Lightning
Electrocution by natural lightning involves using a lightning strike to deliver a lethal electrical shock. Have the victim outdoors during a severe thunderstorm, increasing the chances of being struck by lightning. Position them in open areas or near conductive structures (e.g., metal poles, trees).
What It Does to the Body
A lightning strike can cause severe burns, cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and neurological damage. The victim may have visible entry and exit wounds, charring, and internal injuries.
How It Can Be Described
"The storm's fury reached its peak as a blinding flash lit up the sky. A deafening crack followed, and he was struck, his body convulsing as the lightning coursed through him. When the light faded, he lay motionless, steam rising from his charred clothes."
Examples of Setting
Outdoor Adventure: Hiking in mountains or open fields.
Urban Setting: Rooftops or open city parks during a storm.
Dramatic Confrontation: A final showdown amidst a thunderstorm.
Electric Chair
The electric chair is a device used to execute a person by delivering a series of high-voltage electric shocks. The victim is restrained in a specially designed chair, electrodes are attached to their head and legs, and a high-voltage current is passed through their body.
What It Does to the Body
The electric chair causes extreme pain, burns, and cardiac arrest. The shocks disrupt the heart's rhythm and cause severe damage to internal organs. The process can be visually graphic, with visible burns and sometimes smoke emanating from the body.
How It Can Be Described
"He was strapped into the chair, electrodes clamped to his head and legs. As the switch was thrown, his body jerked violently, the smell of burning flesh filling the room. Smoke curled from his singed hair, and within moments, he was still."
Examples of Setting
Historical Setting: Early 20th-century prison execution.
Dystopian Future: State-sanctioned executions in a futuristic society.
Crime Thriller: An illegal execution setup by a criminal organization.
Faulty Electrical Appliances
Using everyday electrical appliances that malfunction to deliver a fatal shock. Use or tamper with household appliances (e.g., toaster, microwave, hairdryer) to create a short circuit or expose wiring.
What It Does to the Body
The malfunction causes an electrical surge that can lead to severe burns, cardiac arrest, and internal damage. The victim may experience sudden convulsions and immediate death.
How It Can Be Described
"She reached to unplug the toaster, unaware of the exposed wire. A sudden jolt threw her back, her body convulsing as the current coursed through her. She collapsed to the floor, smoke rising from her charred hand."
Examples of Setting
Domestic Setting: Kitchen or bathroom with faulty appliances.
Workplace: Office or workshop with poorly maintained equipment.
Public Setting: Cafes or restaurants with neglected electrical safety.
High-Voltage Power Lines
Electrocution through accidental or deliberate contact with high-voltage power lines. The victim comes into contact with live power lines, either by falling onto them, touching a downed wire, or being pushed.
What It Does to the Body
High-voltage power lines can cause immediate death due to extreme electrical burns, cardiac arrest, and severe internal damage. The victim may be thrown violently and suffer extensive visible injuries.
How It Can Be Described
"He stumbled backward, his hand brushing against the live wire. A flash of light and a deafening crack followed, his body convulsing violently before being flung to the ground, smoke rising from his scorched flesh."
Examples of Setting
Construction Site: Accidents involving cranes or scaffolding.
Rural Areas: Encounters with downed power lines during storms.
Urban Areas: Maintenance work gone wrong or sabotage.
Jake Zuurbier, born in 2002, is a writer with a broad background. With a degree in both Business and Management, his work in writing is combined with a business in books & home decor, sports clothing & gear and multiple forms of other output like music or meditations. He has worked jobs in retail and horeca, ranging from working kitchen in a hotel-restaurant to a floor manager position in a clothing store.
In his free time, he is just as occupied. Photography, weight lifting, kickboxing, cooking and reading are amongst his hobbies.
To learn more, or get in contact, visit www.apolloimperium.com/jakezuurbier
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