|
|
Post by pelwrath on Jul 20, 2024 9:44:36 GMT -6
How important is the age of the characters in a story? Does this importance vary with genre? Why is it important?
|
|
|
|
Post by RAVENEYE on Jul 20, 2024 10:18:34 GMT -6
I believe it's imperative for YA fiction to feature main characters in the YA age range (whatever that is). Assuming the same thing for children's fiction. I'm guessing one of the main reasons for this is that kids would have a hard time relating to main characters who are their parents' age, dealing with stuff their parents deal with, and, therefore, not actually want to read the book.
|
|
|
|
Post by ScintillaMyntan on Jul 20, 2024 11:47:36 GMT -6
I personally feel more comfortable writing people who are younger than me. Since I don't have many of the experiences common to other 31-year-olds and am probably quite immature for my age, I feel like I have no business writing them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alatariel on Jul 20, 2024 16:00:19 GMT -6
I believe it's imperative for YA fiction to feature main characters in the YA age range (whatever that is). Assuming the same thing for children's fiction. I'm guessing one of the main reasons for this is that kids would have a hard time relating to main characters who are their parents' age, dealing with stuff their parents deal with, and, therefore, not actually want to read the book. - Middle Grade is 11-15 years old for the protagonist - YA is typically 16-18 and all POV characters are in this age range - NA is 19-22 (new adult) - Adult is really anything...with adult themes, pacing, and at least one POV must be an "adult" so above the age of 21/22. You'll see plenty of "adult" novels that feature a teen or young adult as a main character POV but other POVs are older. Mistborn, one of the main characters is definitely around 18 or so whereas the other main character is her mentor and in his 30s. Those books are in the adult fantasy genre. So it matters for your POV characters. The ones doing the "telling" and the narration of the story. |
|
|
|
Post by saintofm on Jul 20, 2024 16:25:25 GMT -6
Depends on the story. The Hobbit is about a middle age man and its a children's book.
However alot of middle grade (middle schoolish age range) and YA (high schoolish, early college age, so under 20) it can make a person relate to the character more if they are in that age range, or at the very least find comparisons. Kinda of a: I been there, yeah I did that, I Have to look forward to that!
Other times its hard to think of a character in that situation. It might be the point, but if not handled well scenes of a sensual nature or intense violence could turn an intended audience away. I think part of the shock value of Southpark early on was a bunch of third (later fourth) graders swearing so much their movie almost got an NC-17.
It also depends on the romance. No matter how historically accurate your setting is, its going to look weird to have a really young person marrying a really old person.
|
|
|
|
Post by pelwrath on Jul 20, 2024 17:59:44 GMT -6
Thank you all, so you need to let the reader know how old the characters are?
|
|
|
|
Post by saintofm on Jul 20, 2024 20:45:24 GMT -6
Thank you all, so you need to let the reader know how old the characters are? In most cases I have seen people been pretty blunt about it when it comes up. Depending on the situation phrasing or wording that gives a rough estimation is enough (old man, little girl, stripling, and so on for instance). Otherwise this seems to be a moment tell works more than show. |
|
|
|
Post by Alatariel on Jul 20, 2024 22:04:05 GMT -6
Thank you all, so you need to let the reader know how old the characters are? Generally, yea. Either with context clues or in the blurb on the back or a more direct way. That way your reader has certain expectations set up about the character. How well they can handle conflict, how they communicate, how they approach a problem, etc. Younger generally means more impulsive, less experience dealing with interpersonal conflict, certain ways of thinking that's unique for teens or young adults. Older adults tend to take a step back, assess a situation, communicate maturely, are more emotionally aware...not always, of course, but I'm speaking in broad terms. |
|
|
|
Post by pelwrath on Jul 21, 2024 8:06:00 GMT -6
The question came up from an Alpha readers comments. The MC was described during the book as a middle child with 13 yrs in the navy. they wanted to know how old he and his sisters are.
|
|
|
|
Post by saintofm on Jul 21, 2024 22:55:47 GMT -6
Assuming he got in the navy after highschool, so maybe sometime around age 18, this would make him 31ish. They can be slightly older or younger, or 10 or more years apart if you want.
|
|
|
|
Post by HDSimplicityy on Jul 22, 2024 23:03:14 GMT -6
I'd say it is important. Their age can indicate their season of life the story takes places in. It doesn't always indicate their maturity, whether wise or just plain stupid.
The main character in Fourth Wing is 20? Yet she speaks like a 15yr old. BLEH; its cringy. The protagonist in Tress of the Emerald Sea - Tress - is 18, she speaks like someone older with eloquence and heart, despite her inexperience in her encounters with others.
Also, the character needs to be in a relatable period of life to the reader. Age will matter then. When I was toying with the ideas that became my WIP book, Ellexis started out being 15-17. A younger Lara Croft was the idea. I was in my mid 20s writing that. Later, I settled on her being 26. It fit where I want her to be in life. it isn't the most important detail, however.
|
|
houndxofxchrist
Smoke
Posts: 4 
Preferred Pronouns: Pronouns are only used when not directly speaking to me. Use whatever suits you.
|
Post by houndxofxchrist on Aug 18, 2024 17:03:12 GMT -6
I read the Ender's series of books and honestly I felt these children were WAY to young to be doing the things they were doing. And I'm sorry but Bean hiding in a toilet at like three and these children being world leaders at like 10 was very unbelievable.
|
|
|
|
Post by RAVENEYE on Aug 19, 2024 10:24:04 GMT -6
I read the Ender's series of books and honestly I felt these children were WAY to young to be doing the things they were doing. And I'm sorry but Bean hiding in a toilet at like three and these children being world leaders at like 10 was very unbelievable. Totally agree. It was a really bizarre choice, honestly. Like, why not have grown-up soldiers "playing the game" instead of recruiting children? I never read past the first book b/c I just couldn't buy the situation. |
|
houndxofxchrist
Smoke
Posts: 4
Preferred Pronouns: Pronouns are only used when not directly speaking to me. Use whatever suits you.
|
Post by houndxofxchrist on Aug 19, 2024 21:40:14 GMT -6
I read the Ender's series of books and honestly I felt these children were WAY to young to be doing the things they were doing. And I'm sorry but Bean hiding in a toilet at like three and these children being world leaders at like 10 was very unbelievable. Totally agree. It was a really bizarre choice, honestly. Like, why not have grown-up soldiers "playing the game" instead of recruiting children? I never read past the first book b/c I just couldn't buy the situation. Consider yourself lucky. It got REALLY dumb, pig aliens, little kids being world leaders and acting very much not like children at all. My suspension of disbelief only goes so far. |
|
|
|
Post by saintofm on Aug 20, 2024 4:58:06 GMT -6
Totally agree. It was a really bizarre choice, honestly. Like, why not have grown-up soldiers "playing the game" instead of recruiting children? I never read past the first book b/c I just couldn't buy the situation. Consider yourself lucky. It got REALLY dumb, pig aliens, little kids being world leaders and acting very much not like children at all. My suspension of disbelief only goes so far. When kids don't act their age period. There can be good reasons for this, and if handled well I can suspend my disbelief. Say we have a character that's a kid genius. There has to be some things that make the kid still a kid either in beliefs they have, or mannerisms, or just naivete (however you spell that word, of all the words English stole to mean unworldly and or inexperienced why did we steel this one?) such as Dexter from Dexter's Laboratory or Data from The Goonies. Also if a story is done in such a way, such as say the Dexter example, where the level of camp and absurdity allows some leniency for rule of cool. A good thing as some shows run on rule of cool. If it leans more heavily towards realism there in any sense of the word, the more it needs some grounding. The brain is wired differently than a neurotypical person, or there is some abuse or intense trauma that happened. I could believe some of the mistakes or conclusions the kids made in Harry Potter. I also get Matilda in Leon: The Professional as she had a messed up childhood and just realized her entire family was murdered. |
|
You add them to your profile as you do them around the forum.
Oct 29, 2024 13:05:44 GMT -6
You add them to your profile as you do them around the forum.
Oct 29, 2024 13:05:44 GMT -6
Nov 2, 2024 23:16:12 GMT -6
*
Nov 2, 2024 23:16:12 GMT -6
*
