How to Age Your Characters

Don't Default to the Sad Old Man

As a time travel writer, I have struggled with writing the same character at different ages. What are they like in their twenties? What are they like in their sixties? And how can I show what happened in the intervening decades… without actually showing it?

As with anything, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do that.

Since I don’t expect you all to have read my books, let’s look at two high-profile examples from our friends in Hollywood: "Logan" and "The Last Jedi.”

Be Like Logan, Not Jake

Logan takes place several decades after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand and Wolverine is one of the last remaining mutants. He is centuries old thanks to his mutant healing factor. His powers are still present, but slowing down. That’s a problem. Not only is his body finally aging… he is dying of heavy metal poisoning thanks to his adamantium-coated skeleton.

This Wolverine is jaded, yes, but in a manner that resonates with the audience as a believable progression of his character. He is the m…