Hello and Newbie Question about Hero's Age

merry_and_silver · Oct 3, 2011

Hi Everyone,

I've been a member for a while, but not posted much.

I have an idea for a standard first person type of mystery novel, but I'm unsure of how old to make the hero.

He will work in a fisheries office. He is kind of a bumbling guy, smart, but still bumbling. He will have a female sidekick who is a college student, and competent in all of the areas that this guy is not. He is single, and there will be no romantic interest between him and the sidekick (except for maybe a few implied thoughts here and there, nothing major.) He will probably have another romantic interest.

31, 41, or 51?

I like the younger age because I think (I mean I've read, or something...) that a younger hero will be more appealing to more readers.

I like the older age because I will be able to more effectively contrast his style, personality, and experience with the sidekick.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Bob

heyjude · Oct 3, 2011

Bob! Glad to have you here.

Only you can say how old your MC should be. If you're drawn to an older MC for the reasons you mentioned, by all means, write him that way. Lots of books have characters who aren't young.

Jamesaritchie · Oct 3, 2011

Unless you have a specific reason to do so, there's no need to give an exact age for the protagonist. If you do have to give an age, the character should be drawn to that age for a reason, for the particular type of story you want to tell.

Somewhere I read that most protagonists in mystery fiction are pictured at thirty-five or so, unless a specific age is given.

But even thirty is a lifetime of experience away from the average college student.

Namatu · Oct 3, 2011

How do you see this character? If you don't know, you need to get to know him better. He's smart but bumbling. What experiences has he had? What makes him a bumbler? Is he okay with that or frustrated? Did his mother support him? What was his childhood like? You don't have to answer these questions here, but thinking on the answers - if you don't already know them - might help guide you toward his age.

Hope this helps.

merry_and_silver · Oct 3, 2011

Thanks, everybody.

I know that I have to think more about who my main character is--I've just started to do that today. Maybe bumbling wasn't a good word choice. Unfocused and unguided might be better. I want to contrast this with the sidekick, who will be competent and efficient, but with less life experience than the protagonist.

I think I need to keep on hashing out the larger pieces of the novel, and then the right age will come to me.

And thanks for the welcome!

Bob

Hello and Newbie Question about Hero's Age

merry_and_silver

heyjude

Making my own sunshine

Jamesaritchie

Namatu

Lost in mental space.

merry_and_silver