theticklishpear:(Find the others in the things I want to see tag.) Things I Want To See More Of: P
theticklishpear: (Find the others in the things I want to see tag.) Things I Want To See More Of: Part Three Older protagonists: This one is probably an unpopular opinion, particularly on this site where the demographics are younger and folks want to–and find it easier to–write about people around their own age. It’s probably my own insecurities as I age, but I really love older protagonists. I don’t mean the 30-year-olds or even the 40-year-olds. I’m talking the 60-80 year olds who have such drive still in their lives, such history to inform them, and such stories to tell. Life doesn’t end at 40! Stories aren’t confined to the first half of our lives. The only stories available to folk over 35 are not infidelity, infertility, health scares, and family troubles. Adventure doesn’t favor the young–it favors the bold, remember? Some folk become boldest when they no longer care what the world has to say. Give them a chance. Be bold right along with them. Optimism and profound joy without naivety: Being happy-go-lucky refers to someone who is unconcerned, who trusts cheerfully to luck. This trait and any kind of perpetually cheerful outlook on the world or visible faith in life has come to be equated with naivety–that is, these kinds of characters are thought to be too simple or inexperienced to be able to see any danger they may be in or the realism of a situation. I hate that. Let characters be happy! Let them see things with eyes agleam, cheerfully backing a plan that they can absolutely see has flaws and the potential to go wrong, but they have faith in the universe and the people around them that things will work out. I want to see more characters who have deep-seated optimistic outlooks who aren’t “put in their place” by a big ol’ slap of reality and, “It serves them right!” Let them be. Characters with stories to tell and they want to tell them: Maybe I’m the only one out there who really loved all the bullshit stories that Gilderoy Lockhart told, but I adored when he would go on about having gotten rid of the Bandon Banshee and all the little details about where he’d supposedly been and seen. I know it was used to create a very specific kind of character, but the idea that a character might just be proud of where they’d been, or that their travels and previous adventures would color how they now relate to the world is an idea I love. We have so many characters who want to keep their pasts secret, or who are young enough that this may be their first adventure, but I want to see the characters who remember where they’ve been and love to talk about it. -- source link