Evolution

Posted by Mychael Black, 12/20/07 02:00 PM

No, not the scientific version. I’m talking about character evolution, and not just through the timeline of a story. I’m also referring to the evolution of character types throughout a writer’s career.

When I first started writing, several years ago, my men were young—sometimes experienced, sometimes not. They looked young, they acted young—just like you’d expect guys in their early twenties to act. Over time, however, I’ve seen my men grow older. It’s been a slow, inevitable change—from randy twenty-somethings, to grounded men in their thirties and forties.

I’ve also noticed that this evolution follows my own personal idea of male perfection. (And when I say perfection, I mean figuratively—not literally.) Used to be, I only looked at young men—mostly with long hair, usually bare chests, thin. Now, though? I lust after men with mileage, men who look older, act older. They tend to have a bit more hair, creases in the corners of their eyes, short hair or none at all—even a touch of gray or more. They’re muscular and exude confidence, like they’ve been through trials of life and made it out, scars or not.

Those are the men I find myself writing about now, many years after I started down this career path. And those are the men I find the most perfect.

Category: | 12/20/07 02:00 PM
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Comments: [6]

  1. 1 Carolan Ivey

    Any more, I’m reluctant to pin a specific age on my characters. They are who they are, and act/react the way they’re supposed to in the story. People can act mature or immature, make good or bad decisions at any age.

    As I get older, I’m less inclined to write a lead character in their 20s. I guess I could if I wanted to, but I just don’t wanna. :) In general, people in their 20s just aren’t as fully rounded or as interesting to me as those who have lived a little longer. I’m sure there are exceptions, but to me it’s more believable that a 34-year-old character can carry a full-length novel on his or her back better than a 24-year-old one.

    Comment by Carolan Ivey · Dec 20, 02:20 PM
  2. 2 Mychael Black

    Exactly.

    Not to say they’re any less, but at this point, they seem to have more depth of character. :)

    Comment by Mychael Black · Dec 20, 02:24 PM
  3. 3 Liz Kreger

    I agree … I like characters with some mileage on them. I never did write about 20-somethings. The maturity level just isn’t there. I prefer to keep my hero and heroine in their thirties or forties. There is a richness of experience that appeals to me.

    Then again, I know plenty of men and women in their 40s and older who have yet to achieve the maturity of a good character. LOL.

    Comment by Liz Kreger · Dec 20, 03:13 PM
  4. 4 Mychael Black

    chuckles So very true, Liz.

    Comment by Mychael Black · Dec 20, 03:18 PM
  5. 5 Lyn Mangold

    Really Great Post!

    As a twenty something, I have to admit that there are a lot of people in my age group who aren’t very mature. :)

    However, one of the things that I find interesting about writing and reading about characters in their twenties is watching them develop into a mature man or woman. Seeing them explore and discover who they will be/want to be is exciting.

    Lyn Mangold :)

    Comment by Lyn Mangold · Dec 21, 08:52 AM
  6. 6 Mychael Black

    Thanks, and I totally agree.

    Character growth within a story (or a series) is what reading is all about. I love watching the development, and I love writing it. :)

    Comment by Mychael Black · Dec 21, 08:58 AM

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