Writing above your age

Shana Noelle · Apr 27, 2009

What should one keep in mind when writing as a character older than the author? For example, I'm nineteen and I'm fiddling with the idea of writing something involving characters older than me, like in their twenties.

Susan Breen · Apr 27, 2009

This will sound sort of silly, I think, but I'm 52 and I'm writing about someone who's 62. There's something fun about imagining the future and the ways in which a person might grow. Or I hope I grow. What you will bring is a 19 year old's perspective on a 29 year old, or whatever, and that will be great.

Shana Noelle · Apr 27, 2009

Really? Cool. I'm pretty sure I can write as someone older. I believe I'm mature enough, but I'm just not sure if other people will see it that way. Plus I just think I can have more fun with older characters. Right now I'm struggling to write a YA, but I'm having a very hard time writing it. And yet I have another idea in my head for a story directed to a little bit older audience. So I am seriously considering just deserting my YA thing and starting this new project.

Alan Yee · Apr 27, 2009

I write about people older than me all the time. (I'm seventeen.) To be honest, I don't think I've ever written YA. I've always had a hard time relating to other kids of my own age, so I think that may have something to do with it.

Good luck on the story.

Rushie · Apr 27, 2009

I'm 52 and my MC is 92. I am going on what I have heard old people say, and how I observe them, and using my imagination about how I would feel at that age.

Blue Sky · Apr 27, 2009

Maybe try letting the characters teach you?

In any case, keep at it!

Clair Dickson · Apr 27, 2009

I know some pretty immature forty year olds and some pretty mature 17 year olds. It's not the age that's really defining, but how the character acts. If you have a fully developed character, and consider where that character is in their life, then you can write whatever you want.

Age is really a number-- we, and our characters, are defined by actions, not number of years alive. I wrote about a 26 year old MC when I was 17... and looking back at that writing now that I'm 28, I didn't do so bad.

What you don't know, research. Make a fully developed character and it won't really matter if you're writing about an age you are not or a lifestyle you've never lived or whatever.

SouthernFriedJulie · Apr 27, 2009

Two strong characters in my current WIP are much older than I am. I'm 33, the two characters are in their 70's. My great-grandparents raised me, so their lives and personalities are the inspiration.

I don't think age matters if you have a way of seeing into people, if you know what I mean.

Stunted · Apr 27, 2009

A 17 year old writing about a 27 year old is not the same thing as being a 27 year old writing about a 37 year old. I mean, teenagers legitimately don't have whole cerebral cortexes (corti?). Their whole brain chemistry is different. Besides which, if you've never had a job, if you've never been in love, if you've never lived away from home...it's just a very different thing.

You can see it in any high school. A freshman is only two years younger than a junior, but, trust me, they're very different animals. Most freshmen seem to undergo a very serious psychological shift sometime between freshman winter and the summer before sophomore year. But when you are that age, you feel like a you're as mature as a senior, when in fact, you are still so so little.

I've had an interesting story about a 20-something year old since I was...15, I think. I'm 18 now and I'm still going to let it sit for a little while. I wouldn't write something about someone who I perceive as a "grown-up", and I wouldn't advise another teen to try it, but I'm not saying that it couldn't be done.

maestrowork · Apr 27, 2009

Your characters are as old (or mature) as they need to be. If you don't know how older people think or act, observe. Mom, dad, teacher, relatives, friends, etc. are people to start with... And don't underestimate the power of imagination.

RunawayScribe · Apr 27, 2009

Clair Dickson said:
I know some pretty immature forty year olds and some pretty mature 17 year olds. It's not the age that's really defining, but how the character acts. If you have a fully developed character, and consider where that character is in their life, then you can write whatever you want.

Age is really a number-- we, and our characters, are defined by actions, not number of years alive. I wrote about a 26 year old MC when I was 17... and looking back at that writing now that I'm 28, I didn't do so bad.

What you don't know, research. Make a fully developed character and it won't really matter if you're writing about an age you are not or a lifestyle you've never lived or whatever.

This. Repped for it. My MC in my most recent project has six years on me. My new MC has eight. I haven't gone older than that for a POV character, but I probably will sometime. It's the character's personality, traits and development that drive them, not their age. There are plenty of mature adults in the world who whine like children when they don't get their way, for instance. If that's your character, go with it. There are mature adults who are too mature, adults who never have fun, adults who screw around and have nothing but fun, adults who know balance...whatever. Make it work for your individual character.

Stijn Hommes · Apr 28, 2009

Generally, the younger characters I write turn out better because I have experience to pull from. But that doesn't mean I don't write older characters. You have to, to make the story believable and isn't every author someone trained in making stuff up and make it believable?

ChaosTitan · Apr 28, 2009

Clair Dickson said:
What you don't know, research. Make a fully developed character and it won't really matter if you're writing about an age you are not or a lifestyle you've never lived or whatever.

Yes.

Research is key in anything we write. The age of our character is as important to who they are as anything else. A sixty-odd year old homeless man who fought in Vietnam won't have the same perspective or life experience as a forty-year old divorcee who's given up on getting married again.

Eric San Juan · Apr 28, 2009

Same way one would write any other character: Observe people, know people, get into their head, become an actor, and write them. After all, writing fiction is all about pretending, isn't it? Your beta readers will tell you if something doesn't ring true.

I wrote a serialized fiction piece for some local papers some years ago. I was in my 20s, but the series was targeted towards senior citizens. The main characters were all senior citizens. When readers of the paper met me they routinely said they assumed I was a senior, too.

But one doesn't need to be a senior to write seniors, one only need be willing to observe and understand people different than they are. If we can write vampires and elves and police officers and heroes, there shouldn't be any reason for writing an older person to be different.

Phaeal · Apr 28, 2009

Stunted said:
cerebral cortexes (corti?).

Hmm, I suppose if more than one vortex are vortices, then more than one cortex would be cortices. But I still vote for cortexes.

happywritermom · Apr 28, 2009

I am turning 43 (ahhh!) and I still feel like I am the same person I was at 19. My priorities have changed. My perspective has changed. My tolerance levels for some things are higher and for other things are lower. But I'm still me and the voice in my head is the same. Try not to think about it too much. Clearly, the priorities and interests for someone older are different, but, beyond that, human nature is human nature regardless of age.

Shana Noelle · Apr 28, 2009

Everyone's been extremely helpful. Thanks a bunch. *big hugs all around* Hehe, excuse me for my enthusiasm. I may be a little bit hyper due to too much boredom.

caitysdad · Apr 28, 2009

i never had a problem writing ahead of me; it's writing behind me that i have trouble with at times.

bettielee · Apr 28, 2009

Just pretend. The imagination can see past is cortexia. (thought I would find a way to skirt the cortexes, cortices controversy)

Senora Verde · Apr 28, 2009

I mainly write about characters much younger than me (YA and MG) because I've had time to process all the events and feelings I had at that age.

I've written a few short pieces about men in their fifties (I'm a 27-year-old woman) but I chose a guy I knew and tried to get in his head and tried to write from his perspective.

I would pick someone you know and watch and listen. Try to get in his/her head.

I know I DEFINITELY viewed the world differently at 19 than I do now.

djf881 · Apr 28, 2009

Orson Welles was 21 when he directed and starred in Citizen Kane. Of course, he was also a genius.

I'm 27 and my protagonist is 90. I'll let you know how it works out in the end, but I think I've found a voice for him that's pretty compelling. I've got a wonderful inspiration in my grandparents.

Charlie Horse · Apr 28, 2009

It's part of our craft. Probably along the same lines as writing across gender. I just read a Tom Robbins book where his main character is a twenty something Filipino woman. Now there's a stretch.

LAWolf · Apr 28, 2009

A-okay. 'Tis fun to imagine what life will be like when we are older. Part of the fun of writing fiction for me is to develop a character whose life I haven't lived. My characters are almost always older than myself though not by many years.

LadyMalice · May 2, 2009

I find it more easier to write from an older person's perspective than a yonger persons.
I've always been mature for my age. I was forced to grow up early I guess. I get along with older people much more than people my own age.

I'm 17 years old and one of the main characters in my book is physically alot older than me but mentally alot younger than me. You have to keep in mind the mental age of your character as well. Just because they might have the body of 45 year old doesn't mean they have the maturity and mentality of someone that age.

CheshireCat · May 2, 2009

I don't think anyone has quite put it this way, but unless you intend to spend your career as a writer telling stories peopled entirely by characters your own age, then you'll have to develop the ability to be whoever you need at whatever age you need.

It's the same for gender, or race, or religion, or just career.

You'll create characters with whom you have absolutely nothing in common, characters who are the very antithesis of everything you are, characters who have experienced things you'll never experience -- and on and on.

Writers create, and very few of us replicate who and what we are in our characters. Bits and pieces of us, of course, but our characters are not us.

Study people. Listen to people. Watch mannerisms, eavesdrop on conversations. Watch TV and movies.

Think about how many characters inhabit the average novel, and then imagine yourself being each and every one of them.

Because that'll be your job.

Writing above your age

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