Why I Write Older Characters
I figured since today is my 40th birthday, I’d share more about why I write older characters. Although there’s nothing wrong with younger protagonists, I’ve found myself filling my stories with characters who have weathered the storms of life. Let’s talk about why it’s fun to write (and read) stories that feature characters over the age of 30.
Why Are Older Characters Great?
Older characters have so many layers of life built into them. Writing their stories allows me to explore everything that come with a life well-lived (or not so well lived, for that matter). These characters are already established in their lives in a lot of ways that younger ones aren’t, which makes for strongly formed personalities who are often stuck in their ways or really committed to their patterns. This can be a super interesting dynamic to explore—especially when they’re faced with challenges that force them into new territory. It also creates great tension when they’re forced to re-evaluate everything and upset their well-established lives.
There's also a certain realism that older characters bring to the table. Their stories embody the genuine struggles, joys, and reflections that accompany the different seasons of life. There’s often a much deeper well to pull from when the characters have been through a lot over time. And since aging is a universal experience that transcends cultural and societal boundaries, writing older characters allows me to talk aboutthe shared aspects of the human condition—themes of mortality, health, legacy, and the quest for meaning that resonate across generations. I like to explore how those factors affect decision making and relationships within these stories. It’s so juicy!
In general, it’s important to me that my work always embraces diversity in perspectives, and that each character brings a unique viewpoint shaped by their own context, cultural background, and personal history. Having characters from older generations can bring different insights than what we’d get from a younger character. Imagine the wisdom we could glean from those in their 30’s, 50’s, 70’s, and beyond!
The later chapters of life often go untold or underrepresented in literature, and I think that’s a shame. Writing older characters allows me to explore these untold stories, wading into the challenges and triumphs that don’t always get to be front and center in most novels. While I haven’t (yet) written stories featuring protagonists in their 60’s and beyond as perspective characters, I can’t think of a single manuscript which hasn’t included a relatively significant side character in advanced years. Bunsaku is essential to book one of The Manifold Chronicles. Gigi is a critical character for Bea in WSD (the book I’m querying right now), and Mary is a feisty octogenarian who makes an appearance in that same book. Drawing from my own grandparents’ experiences later in life, I’ve been able to share things related to death bed regrets, memory loss and memory care, and transitioning into roles where they once were the caretakers but now are the ones being cared for. It’s something that so many of us witness or experience in our own families, but we don’t always see these stories told in books.
Through a more zoomed out lens, I like to think of my older characters as bridges that connect the various generations represented in my stories. Through their interactions with younger characters or through flashback narratives, we can really see those intergenerational connections, illustrating the continuity of life's journey. It hasn’t been intentional, but all of my stories so far deal with intergenerational dynamics, and I think it’s because I see these connections as so valuable to society as a whole. The more we can all learn from each other’s experiences, young and old, the better.
Writing older characters is a way of portraying and exploring existence itself, and the impermanent nature of everything around us (including ourselves). It’s the acceptance of change, the embracing of imperfections, and the recognition that life's fleeting moments that really fascinate me. Perhaps I’m romanticizing it a bit—I can admit that—but I truly do believe there’s something beautiful about the fact we’re only here for a certain amount of time, and when we see that in black and white on paper, it’s bittersweet. Bittersweet, and ultimately a beautiful reminder for us to all savor this life. Ever since my most recent NDE (near death experience) in 2020, I’ve been very drawn to existential questions and topics. Thankfully, writing has allowed me to explore it and parse through the profound realizations I’ve come to as a result.
One of the things that stuck with me, even while I was out of body in that NDE, was a question of legacy—particularly my children, and what their lives might look like once I was gone. I realized that they are my entire legacy, and not only was I okay with that, I was glad for it, because they are such incredible people. When I came back into my body, it was purely because I knew I had to be here to help them have a stronger start to their young lives. It wasn’t my time.
Applying that to my writing, I’ve found that older characters often grapple with questions of legacy and the impact they will leave on the world, too, just as many of us facing the realities of mortality often do. Writing their stories allows me to explore the ripple effects of their actions and the imprint they make on others. Most of us do start to think about these things as we get older, and most of us will wonder what we’ll leave behind when we’re gone, so it’s a universal theme, for sure.
I also think it’s important to note that it’s not all about death and dying, either! Life doesn't stop being vibrant in the later years. So writing older characters can also be a celebration of the joys that are found in this stage of life—whether it's newfound freedom, rediscovered passions, or the deepening of connections that come with the passage of time. Those are all so important to see, too.
I love exploring the human experience in its middle and later chapters. If my stories can show a wide range of what it means to be alive, through any and all stages of life, then I’m a happy writer.
Happy writing!
