tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post8448255666273413266..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: An Age-Old Question: How Do You Show a Character's Age? Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-59128362956915267622023-07-08T07:03:32.203-04:002023-07-08T07:03:32.203-04:00Works for me. I did something similar in The Shift...Works for me. I did something similar in The Shifter to show my protagonist was 15. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-67063684748341460532023-06-19T08:58:56.199-04:002023-06-19T08:58:56.199-04:00most common age is between fifteen and eighteenmost common age is between fifteen and eighteenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-90220413503911836382023-06-19T08:57:56.286-04:002023-06-19T08:57:56.286-04:00(My current story is set in a sci-fi fantasy world...(My current story is set in a sci-fi fantasy world, for a bit of context)<br /><br />I take the small bombs, staring at them like they might spit poison.<br />"You're giving me these?" I ask incredulously. <br />"Of course, Kinz. Hush and take the Photon Flashes."<br />Never in my sixteen years of life or two years of being in Squad Three had I ever dreamed of getting Photon Flashes. First, the deadly grenades release a roomful of smoke, disorenting whoever is in its path. Second, it creates a huge flash of light which may temporarily blind someone not wearing one of our helmets. Third, it explodes like any old grenade, but releases a huge blanket of a dark, sticky substance that traps anyone for capture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-76096106162873306832023-02-02T05:07:18.457-05:002023-02-02T05:07:18.457-05:00Nice. She sounds young to me, probably that awkwar...Nice. She sounds young to me, probably that awkward around 10/11 age where she's still a little kid, but also verging into the 'tween years. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-28748204991136787862023-02-01T03:28:49.767-05:002023-02-01T03:28:49.767-05:00Well, this wasn't going to work! And now, Bran...Well, this wasn't going to work! And now, Brandon would snigger, and Mum would get annoyed and probably cry again. Oh, this was all Dad's fault. Why did he have to leave? Who was Carly, anyway? And why did Dad want to live with her instead of them? The beautiful, perfect, un-played with doll dad had given her for Christmas stared down from the shelf with big, cold, blue eyes. She was too old for dolls! Stupid dad. He should have known that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-78323526661248391972021-03-29T14:49:03.809-04:002021-03-29T14:49:03.809-04:00Glad you enjoyed it :)Glad you enjoyed it :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-56326719851293098832021-03-28T04:45:04.670-04:002021-03-28T04:45:04.670-04:00amazing helpfull!!!amazing helpfull!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-55606605593352681352021-03-20T08:23:39.550-04:002021-03-20T08:23:39.550-04:00I get that Jonathan is school-aged. The voice soun...I get that Jonathan is school-aged. The voice sounds younger, so I'd guess middle school. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-46800799425360500802021-03-20T02:57:51.570-04:002021-03-20T02:57:51.570-04:00The noise sounded again, and Jonathan smiled. When...The noise sounded again, and Jonathan smiled. When the kids at school heard what had happened to him, they would be so jealous. Especially Harrison. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Harrison’s face once he heard the news.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01499461921917021368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-50181719617664498262019-04-04T10:12:44.405-04:002019-04-04T10:12:44.405-04:00Good advice with excellent examples. Thank you.Good advice with excellent examples. Thank you.LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-19769935365939578602019-04-03T10:27:45.938-04:002019-04-03T10:27:45.938-04:00SNIPPET:
I was seventeen years old when I was in t...SNIPPET:<br />I was seventeen years old when I was in the tragic accident. Now, eight years later, I'm a patient representative trying to help someone deal with a similar incident. Could it be that was the cosmic reason for that crash?Glynis Jollyhttps://ascriptedmaze.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-8792008103720055532017-06-26T19:56:02.960-04:002017-06-26T19:56:02.960-04:00Okay, I know I'm like 2 years late, but I'...Okay, I know I'm like 2 years late, but I'll try.<br />#1: I think a 40-60 yr. old man in a 6 yr. old body? Maybe I didn't understand the story.<br />#2: Around 33 because "kids"<br />#3: I don't really know who's narrating, but I'm guessing 30.<br />#4: 10-15. I think 13.<br />Well that was fun to do and I also came up here after searching "How to calculate a fictional character's age in real life" but surprisingly getting no results, lol. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-81910883346093812692015-10-05T21:52:36.431-04:002015-10-05T21:52:36.431-04:00Snippet #4
I looked outside to see today's ki...Snippet #4<br /><br />I looked outside to see today's kids playing. I so wanted to go out and play with them, but I get really shy, and the other kids and their mommies and daddies say they feel cold, when they're around me. They call it a "chill". Plus they're wearing weird clothes. I mean I'm wearing a dress, as it's only appropriate, but these girls! They're ... They're ... They're showing skin! I can see their ankles! In a way I want to join them! Can I take off this dress, and wearing those short-pants, and those arm-less shirts? I'm not sure! I mean sometimes I get people who visit me. Like this crazy old lady, who came from Long Island? She kept bragging about her size or something crazy like that! I mean seriously?! So you're a medium! Well I'm petite for my age! You don't see me complaining! Then there was this guy, Zachary was it? Zach? Is it Zak? He was interesting! He would show up with his friends and ask me questions! Since I got a good strapping or two, for being rude back in the day, I knew to be polite and answer all his questions. He asked me if I knew who I was. I told him my name, and told him, that it was nice to meet him. I even offered him tea for a tea party, but he and his friends only heard me say my name. He then asked if I remember what happened to me. Well it was hot and flames were everywhere, and the men in their horses and carriages didn't get to me in time. But I don't care! Now I can talk these interesting people! They had magic cameras! They were interesting! Although Zach? Zak? Zachary? Well he always wore a mask! None of his friends did though! What was up with that?!<br /><br />Now I see my fellow kids, well the kids of today, walking and running and playing. They even would tap at these plastic things, and talk to them! And I even heard one talk back! It was amazing! It was magical!<br /><br />Maybe I should just say "hi". It gets boring in this dusty and creaky house anyways.<br /><br />End of Snippets<br /><br />Ok! So I hope you like my snippets, and let's see who can guess each one's age. Hint: Only one of them is set in realism. The others? Not so much.<br /><br />Well good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-64322096917453096722015-10-05T21:51:27.104-04:002015-10-05T21:51:27.104-04:00Snippet #3
I walked down the streets, when I real...Snippet #3<br /><br />I walked down the streets, when I really didn't need to. I was just bored. I looked at the humans of today. I remember when their ancestors would burn sheep and oxen as a tribute to me, so that they can get better chances at hunting. Now no one even notices me. No one is thanking me for helping them kill their meal, as they now have super markets and restaurants. Now on blessing their arrows in my name. For they now have bullets. No one even knows who I am. I'm just a myth to them. And I wouldn't have it any other way.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-59936477287593107442015-10-05T21:50:53.350-04:002015-10-05T21:50:53.350-04:00Snippet #2
I went to the store, to pick up a few ...Snippet #2<br /><br />I went to the store, to pick up a few things for the guys tonight. It was my turn to get the beer, for our annual cook-out. We've done this ever since we first met in college, it was our thing. I picked up the beer (two sets, one was for drinking, while the other was for the cookout), burgers, brats, hot dogs, veggie burgers, corn, cheese (Original, Colby, Colby-Jack, Pepper Jack, Swiss, Baby Swiss, Mozzarella, Gouda, and even Muenster), ketchup, mustard, honey mustard, mayo, pickles, lettuce, onions, potatoes (French Fries and chips), and soda for the kids.<br /><br />As I was bringing the stuff to the checkout, the lady there had given me this unsettling look. I would have just went to a different aisle, but they were all full or not opened, and I had to get back so we could do this, so I decided to just "grin & bear it".<br /><br />When the beer was scanned, she asked me for my ID, and I gave it to her.<br /><br />She looked at it and frowned. No. That wasn't it. She scowled. <br /><br />"Is this some kind if a joke?!," she asked of me in a rude and snotty fashion.<br /><br />"Excuse me?!," I said back to her.<br /><br />"Do you really expect me to believe, that you are old enough to drink alcohol?!"<br /><br />I tried to explain it to her, but she would have none of it. She had the nerve, THE NERVE, to call security on me.<br /><br />Luckily I was able to explain to him my situation, that I was old enough to buy alcohol, but I just had a condition, that made me look younger. I even had my mother, father, and girlfriend vouch for me.<br /><br />I don't think I'll live this incident down. <br /><br />It's funny, because she looked to be about forty-five or fifty, and I would expect this from some teenager, not from some broad who should have known better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-78453776711669083952015-10-05T21:50:19.773-04:002015-10-05T21:50:19.773-04:00Alright, so this was a very interesting read. I ac...Alright, so this was a very interesting read. I actually found this, when I typed into google "most common age of main characters in fiction", as in what age is used the most for a main character in a story? It's amazing how search engines could never find what I'm looking for. Even when I'm being specific.<br /><br />With that being said, this is an interesting read. Now I am a writer myself, and I must say, that you have very good points on what constitutes for conveying a characters age, without being blatant and outright saying, "My name John. I'm sixteen." Or something to that effect.<br /><br />Now I'm actually going to give out four snippets, and I'll see just how many people can figure them all out.<br /><br />Snippet #1<br /><br />I walked through the familiar halls once again. Colorful characters and happy fruits and vegetables adorned the walls and doors. I put my backpack in the little cubby, there were countless little kids running about. Of course, some were my height. Or rather I was there height... again. I decided to go inside and sit down, so that I could get this over and done with. When I get back to the lab and to the device they better have that million on them. Then when I get back to my wife, we can have more than enough money to take her on that cruise she's been wanting to go on for the past twenty-five years. Now normally, I would have just worked hard and saved up, until I could pay for the cruise for her. I just didn't want to wait until we were both old and grey, before I finally could. I also would have never done such a radical and new (and possibly untested) experiment. I mean what if I'm stuck like this forever? Would I be able to grow back up? Or would I be stuck? But hey, it's an easy mil and I want my wife to feel pleased so we can go on that cruise. But as I sit down on the chair, I can't help but think "did they really have to put me in this humiliating Bob the Builder T-Shirt?"<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-12021942091424808882014-02-14T17:02:45.867-05:002014-02-14T17:02:45.867-05:00thanks. That's what I think too!thanks. That's what I think too!Carol Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10444182118975929045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-72684640189353367722014-02-14T15:29:36.826-05:002014-02-14T15:29:36.826-05:00I could see it going either way. This is one examp...I could see it going either way. This is one example where more context would make it clear, and a reader would certainly have that. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-29305146736166641612014-02-14T15:17:46.343-05:002014-02-14T15:17:46.343-05:00Hmmm…I know what you mean about "Daddy" ...Hmmm…I know what you mean about "Daddy" being typically younger. Although given the historical context (1950) I think I'm safe. I sent you the entire first page for Real life Diagnostics so you can have a bigger context. My 30+ year old step-children still call their father, Daddy, to this day! I think the relationship matters too. Character is actually 16. Carol Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10444182118975929045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-6356198390006291462014-02-14T13:10:53.185-05:002014-02-14T13:10:53.185-05:00Good tip. Even if the reader doesn't know the ...Good tip. Even if the reader doesn't know the reference, they'd know "high school" and that suggests adult. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-70420266103300629062014-02-14T13:09:56.362-05:002014-02-14T13:09:56.362-05:00I'd guess 12 or so, because of the "Daddy...I'd guess 12 or so, because of the "Daddy." Though the focus on college could make her older. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-46073953035070381532014-02-14T13:08:12.806-05:002014-02-14T13:08:12.806-05:00I'd guess 25-30 as well. Old enough to be read...I'd guess 25-30 as well. Old enough to be ready for this step, young enough to still have that touch of fear. Nice!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-72796915380544219612014-02-14T13:07:04.683-05:002014-02-14T13:07:04.683-05:00Nice! I love the voice in this. Totally seeing a 1...Nice! I love the voice in this. Totally seeing a 12 year old, first thought is boy. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-73243998465820602872014-02-14T13:05:59.333-05:002014-02-14T13:05:59.333-05:00Thanks, glad you found it helpful.Thanks, glad you found it helpful.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-18614815829056911902014-02-14T13:05:44.043-05:002014-02-14T13:05:44.043-05:00Hopefully this gave you some ideas :)Hopefully this gave you some ideas :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.com