5 Tips on Writing Teenage Characters
Is your WIP have teen characters but don’t know how to write them? Well here some tips on how to write them.
1.Give them an real reason to be an angsty teen
¨But isn’t every — ¨ NO. Not every teen is some angsty jerk listening to the emo trifecta(Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Panic! at the Disco), nor do they just hate their parents just cause. In fact, most real-world teens are barely like that. Give a clear and complex reason for their dysfunctional relationships with family. For example, In the game ¨LIfe is strange: before the storm¨ Chloe despises her new stepfather due to the fact she sees him as an jerk. While personally, I think that what was shown of him her hatred is barely justified but it gives a fairly reasonable depiction to her character.
2. Depict Teenagers in a time appropriate matter
Don’t write like the only thing you know about teens is what you watch on CW’s ‘Riverdale’. We don’t have drag races and the in a world where Game of Thrones is the most popular show on right now and the MCU can make billion dollar movies no way in hell there’s still a “Jock” or “nerd” social dynamic.
Why? Cause they watch superhero movies that’s why! The slang, clothes, and things they need to be reflective of the time you’re writing in. So in other words, teens don’t use words like “heater” or “chucking darn” in 2019. They just don’t.
3. How old are you?
I made my peace that you can be in your mid-20s and still play a teenager on TV and in Movies, However, at some point, you might wanna look past writing about young characters. This connects with tip #2 as different generations experience things. I’m sure 25-year-old can kinda say they have the same experiences as an current day 16-year-old, what about a 40-year-old? Or 50? You’ll show your real quick depending on what you’re writing.
4. Think in the mindset of a teen
I HATE when Shows, Movies, or any other media treat and child characters like spoiled brats for good fucking reason. Why? First off, parents are responsible for making their kids to be respectable humans. Second of all, parents aren’t always right. Neither is the kid but “I’m grown” or “It’s my house and my rules” doesn’t cancel out anything. Goofy Movie shows this very well.
5. Inexperience does not equal stupidity
Being a teen or young adult means you have to learn and mature. What it doesn’t mean is act like an fucking idiot and do stupid things just for the sake of being teens. Like just no.
