I've kind of stolen someone else's question here, as its a comment on a previous question of mine, but it's a very good point - my leading character is a teenage girl, and I freely admit that if there is one person who utterly fails to understand the teenage girl, then that person is typing this question. Any previous attempts I have made at stories have featured someone I relate to - a young male - and all of them have been aborted. Does anyone else find themselves writing (and therefore immersing themselves in) a character who is fundamentally different to them? Or is it the same as, for example, writing about an assassin (which I don't) if you've never killed someone (which I haven't)?
Basically, can you create a believable, real, sympathetic character when you actually don't identify with them, or are even from the opposite sex?
Hi Mark,
I definitely think it's possible to create a believable character, even if they're of the opposite sex or even worse, a teenager ;) I've got a couple of teenage boys in my story and I'm not saying it's easy, but I've been drawing on personal experiences and just trying to trust my instincts when writing these characters. I really think believing in my abilities as a writer is half the battle :)
I've recently had this issue when writing in the persona of the friend of my main character (who is male).
I tend to base (very loosely) the female characters on traits of people I know and more and more recently since writing the book I have been paying more attention to how different people talk to one another - I spend a lot of time on the tube during rush hour.
I've also found that I have been able to use some experiences I used to have with girls when I was my characters age (15) which has helped me when dealing with interactions between the two.
My wife is currently reading my first draft and I've deliberately asked her to pay attention to the actions of the female characters tone, in case there is anything that jumps out as being odd.
I agree with Louise though teenagers don't make sense. :)