On immortal teenagers (and how to make them believable)

Just my thoughts on immortal teenagers, the implications, problems, and what writers can do to make them more believable.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• writing
• twilight
• evermore
• immortality
• teenagers
• fiction
• paranormal romance
• urban fantasy
• science fiction
• immortals
• vampires
• angels.

[jofdw]

Hey ashley,

I can give you the "perfect" example of a movie that adresses your current subject: "Birth", where Nicole Kidman is on the verge of a second marriage, when a young boy claimes to be her first (deceased) husband. Although there is a degree of religion in the theme (depends on how you see the movie..), I think it's still an interesting angle to answers your vid. I know it's not fantasy, but when looking for a theme, you can't choose the genre.

I love your thoughts!! thx

[childofthemoor]

@jofdw

Woah, I've never heard of this and it sounds so very, very creepy. Thanks, I'll check it out!

[DemonicRemption]

Your question on whether immortal teen characters should act 17 because they look that age, reminds of my question concern teen narrative. In my story "Princess Of The Damned," the protagonist begins her story as a 16 year old demon girl, as such she sounds like one in her narration, and acts like one in the story, though she's actually 116 years old due to spending a century in Hell as a baby.

[childofthemoor]

@DemonicRemption That makes a lot more sense! If you were raised as a baby for a long time in a society of long-lived creatures, of course you would have the mentality of someone who is the equivalent age in the mortal world.

[widowspeekfreak]

The book you mentioned in this video sounded very interesting. Could you tell the the title? I couldn't really hear it.

Also, great video. It touched on a lot of points that many don't think about. Looking forward to more videos from you. :)

[childofthemoor]

@widowspeekfreak

Of course. A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb. :) Thanks for watching, er...listening.

[thespiritcoyote]

I have similar issues with say; a 999yr-old Dragon, or 120yr old Elf being expressed in terms of "human maturity" ... even if it is young for the race it is hardly something that can equate son neatly into a human experience.

very good points!

[mavarek666]

They should be experienced and wiser than teens.

[DemonicRemption]

@jofdw Yep. That's how I executed it. She was still an infant when she first arrived on Earth. Her 104th year she carried the mentality of a 4 year old human child. And despised her advanced age, her mentality progressed that a human's would. I don't think a lot of people are gonna get it unless magic's involved.

[jofdw]

@DemonicRemption I was just wondering... if your protagonist was a baby from the day of birth untill the 100 years in hell, wouldn't she still be a baby the first day she got out of hell? I'm probably misreading your comment because you forgot to mention something (or I am criticizing details here) And since it takes 1 century for a demon to grow into childhood, when she is 116 years old, wouldn't she still be a child of say 4 years old in human years? I'm just wondering how it's in your story:)