Character Age

[Tarin]

A recent thread talked about writing characters of the opposite sex, which got me to thinking about all the different "roles" writers fill in their stories. Not only do we write about characters of the opposite sex, but characters of other races, religions, backgrounds, and ages - all of which present their own challenges.

But what about age?

Do you generally write characters that are around your own age?

How old are the main characters in your WIP?

[Ransom v. Unman]

But what about age?

As I've grown older, I've found that the age issue is nowhere near as prickly as it once was. My biggest problem when I was younger was perceiving the way older people act, and understanding this and applying these behavioural patterns to older characters in my stories. Raised on Nickelodeon as I was, it was difficult for me to picture adults or authority figures as anything but overbearing, oppressive, stupid and dull.

As I've (hopefully!) matured, I've found characters of all different ages to have all kinds of personalities, histories, ways and manners of dealing with things. I don't know how effective I am at writing for older characters, but I can't imagine I'm much worse than anyone else my age writing for them...

Do you generally write characters that are around your own age?


Strangely, I've found myself writing about characters "my own age" since I was in my teens - that is to say, I have featured many 20 somethings and 30 somethings in my stories even then, but now as I've actually grown to that age, I find myself sticking with that range.

Usually, they're either in their 20s or 30s, or they're thousands of years old beyond the measure of our comprehension. :D


How old are the main characters in your WIP?

Bobby - 22, Suzy - 19, Norio - 31, Arsan - 45, Persi - 20, Gallahad(dwarf) - 45, Jillian(Elf) - 80, Séaneen(Elf) - 55, Katrin(Vampire) - ~3300, Soulsucker - 27, Tiari - 31, Ioùnia(Elf) - ~5800, Lord Chaos - ~15,000, Lord Aggression - ~14,800, Jamey Miller - 18...

I guess the average age of my mortal characters is about mid-20s, so I do write more my age than I suspected.

A fascinating insight.

Nice thread - thanks!

[Tamera]

I'm a woman in my late 40's and am writing about two men. My novel starts when they are 10 & 12 and will end with them in their 30's. My secondary character will end up in his early forty's. I don't know about age. It seems the older I get, the easier it is to understand what motivates people of all ages. Maybe it helps me to think young because I'm a children's pastor.

[pajarita_deDios]

Hmmm...Well, in Mary of Sorrows, Maria is around 24, she doesn't know for certain. Elliot is about 36 or 37.

I guess as long as I know the character, how he/she moves and thinks and works on the inside, I don't usually worry about age.

[Jonathon89]

My character Tori, is 19 years old. I'm only one year younger.

[kerrig]

My wip is so widespread that the ages are also. My main character is portrayed at the age of 7 and later at the age of 28. My antagonist is around my age and is 38. That may change, I don't know yet. My other characters will be between the ages of 25-55. I am still doing my character sketches. The Lord showed my how to write this novel without the influence of demonic spirits because the research I have to do could have easily invited them in. I do not want to do that. I want to be able to write like Peretti without those influences.

[Lookin^Up]

When I started writing as a child, my main characters tended to be about my age or acting my age. Over the years, I observed the behavior of numerous age groups, so now at middle age, I don't have much problem with creating believable characters of any age.

Children's dialogue will be simple, the grammar not the best, and their perception quite limited by inexperience. Older characters will be set in their ways, want to relive past glories with anyone who will listen, and perhaps have some eccentricities in their speech. One of my favorite elderly characters kept repeating phrases as he spoke, for instance.

Generally, though, I still favor the 20-40 range for most characters, because they have so much energy and hope at that age.

[Tarin]

Elliot is about 36 or 37.

Really? I had him pegged quite a bit younger.:o

Looking back over my writings, I see that although I certainly wrote about kids my own age, I had a definite predilection for older characters... and to some extent that has continued with me over the years. Generally speaking, I write about characters who are 10-15 years older than me. I like writing about characters in their thirties: they're young and spry enough to withstand all the adventures I throw at them, but at the same time they've got enough time under their belts to look at the world a bit more maturely (or at least one hopes!;)).

In my WIP: Chris is 31, Allara is 29, Mactalde is 43, Elarn Fett is 27.

[pajarita_deDios]

Really? I had him pegged quite a bit younger.

Uh oh... ;)

[righter1]

Interesting question... I've always been hesitant to write characters where the MC / viewpoint characters are significantly older than me, but other CW members have convinced me it's not as big a deal as I'm making it.

That being said, my current WIP (which is into editing mode!) has 2 lead characters, and they're both close to my age. Amanda is 24 (I'm 25) and Rick is 26. Amanda and Rick's close friends, Hank & Mary, are older -- in their mid-30s. But, I have characters ranging from 3 years old (Hank & Mary's son Connor) to the upper 70s (Amanda's neighbor Mr. Schneider.)

[jacks girl]

I'm writing two stories right now. But I'll focus on one The Game. Alex is in his 30's. Adam is in his 40's Lisa Adams wife is in her late 30's. The young woman Alex is chasing is Samantha is in her early 30's.

I am now looking 41 square in the eyes. Ugh I have always written about the people in my stories. Age hasn't really mattered. When a Character finds me I write about them. I've written about people from late 50's to 8. I love them all.

[silumenye]

My characters have ages all across the scale. But the majority of my main characters are in their twenties, mid to late. When I was younger, everyone was just edging out of their teens(18,19). I have a problem writing about children, getting their talk and actions limited, so children are limited in my books, except where they are needed. It has always been easier to write about older people, even all the way to their 70s.

Regars, silumenye