So we’re replacing the downstairs carpeting.
And we have a few really massive pieces of furniture.
The carpet company said it would move one of the biggest ones, but the rest were up to us.
My husband and I moved a few piddly things out of the room and closets, then we approached the (very large) sofa. My husband said, “Can you take one end?”
I did. And I couldn’t budge it. Not with my arms, hip, legs—the thing just refused to move.
My husband called out for our 13 year old son. “Honey,” I whispered to him as our son was thumping down the stairs, “there’s no way he can…”
And I watched as he and my husband moved the sofa right into another room. Followed by two other pieces I couldn’t budge.
It was the end of an era. My son is definitely stronger than I am. Much stronger. Yes, I’d noticed he’d gotten taller, yes, he’s beefed up a bit. Yes, his clothing budget is through the roof because he’s growing out of everything. But somehow, in my head, mamas are stronger than their children.
It was a very odd feeling. I felt proud of him. But I felt old and wimpy, too.
One of my protagonists, Myrtle Clover, gets a similar feeling quite a bit. Her son is trying to farm her out to a retirement home and she’s pushing back with plenty of resentment. This adds a little extra conflict to my stories as well as propels the plot—Myrtle’s son is a police chief and she gets involved in his cases to needle him.
What if you’ve got a character who suddenly retires when they’re used to being in charge in an office? Does this mean she’s suddenly redirecting her efforts to another area of her life (one where people maybe aren’t appreciative of it?)
These changing roles don’t have to be age-related.
Stress also comes when a character is suddenly thrust into a leadership role when they’re not used to taking one on.
Or a character who is very active could be forced to take more of a backseat role—like Jimmy Stewart’s character (laid up with a broken leg) in the Hitchcock movie Rear Window. His frustration and boredom drove the plot early in the film.
Maybe you’ve got a really outgoing character who is used to speaking his mind. He decides to run for office…and wins. Now he’s got to watch what he says.
I think these type of scenarios—where our characters change roles in life—can serve a couple of different purposes. For one they serve as additional conflict for the character to deal with. For another, they can help to propel the plot—particularly if the character is frustrated in some way.
Are any of your characters playing new and unfamiliar roles in your book?
Elizabeth – I know just how you feel! My almost-nineteen-year-old daughter baked lemon bars for my husband and me today… Used to be the other way around. It’s wonderful to watch them become their own people, but a little bittersweet, too…
About characters? I think it’s fascinating when they have to change roles. That’s what Ian Rankin does with his John Rebus character whenever Rebus gets himself suspended and has to rely on his protegee to help get the evidence for their cases. My own protag has to deal with that when he works with the police. He used to be a police detective, and now, other folks are doing that work. Change in role for him…
I’ve been thinking about just that with the serial I’m going to write next year. Not sure it’s going to be in the story (possibly a sequel) but it takes place during a war, a very long war, and there is some question of what happens with certain characters after the war.
It’s something the characters worry about, certainly. And if I get around to writing the sequel, I think the character people expect to adapt the least will adapt best.
(BTW, thanks, Margot for mentioning Rebus. I haven’t got around to reading that series yet, but I always love a detective who is prone to get suspended – and who doesn’t give up anyway.)
I’m not writing any characters like this right now, but I just began reading a Christopher Fowler book (Peculiar Crimes Unit), and his protagonists are at least septagenarians, if not older. The one I’m reading begins with a letter intent on ousting them for their age and age-related ways. So interesting that you wrote about this today!
Myrtle is quite an example of this. I’ve often wondered why you chose someone so much older than yourself about whome to write.
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
Changing roles is challenging and suspect. I fight the challenge at every turn and find the changing suspicious- like you’ll have to make me not move that big ole couch by myself. Then I hurt my back and the change occurs.
Changing roles is a good serial story. We change. We might kick and fight about it. We might might accept it. Characters must change too.
Thanks, Elizabeth.
I’m cutting and pasting this into my Elizabeth writing gems folder. And oh, honey, I so get it when you realize your son is no longer the little boy. Mine is 6’1 1/2″ tall. Just enjoy every single moment.
Karen
I’m 5’5″ and my 14 y.o. daughter at the beginning of the school year was an inch or so shorter than me. Now, she is nearly 3″ taller than me. I just took her to her first day of kindergarten (where I cried watching her walk in that school door with her little backpack) and suddenly she is in high school, has a boyfriend, and is looking at colleges.
Can you say Propel Plot five times fast?
Great post, as always.
It’s an odd experience, isn’t it, when our children demonstrate they’re just not little any more? My son (almost 16) is 6′ and is now used to me calling him to “Come and be tall” when I need something from the top shelf in a kitchen cupboard.
I haven’t put any character in a changed situation; but I shall certainly keep your thoughts in mind if I ever do.
Characters, smaracters! I’m playing a new and unfamiliar role in my life and adjusting me is proving almost as hard as adjusting characters. They usually tell me where they’re going but no one seems anxious to help me out here. :)
You have inspired me this morning–thanks so much for that! Characters beware! Me, not so much!
Giggles and Guns
My son has long been stronger and taller than I. It would be nice if he were around more so I didn’t have to drag out the stool to reach top shelves in the kitchen.
I like the nudge to have characters change roles. A great way to throw conflict and excitement into the story!
Helen
Straight From Hel
I laughed at this post. My son has known for ages that he is stronger than me, but at least my daughters think I am stronger than them – and I am not going to put them to the test before I have to :D
You could say that I am trying to put my difficult protagonist in new and unexpected situations, but she is not very willing to live up to her new role.
I can relate your experience. I still have some of those flashes and my daughter is 35!)
My protagonist had to accept a new role of taking charge of her own destiny after allowing others to control it for most of her life…but she didn’t do it willingly.
I remember the first time I noticed my teenage son actually had biceps. It was a strange feeling. This was a great post. I discovered your blog after reading this months Writer’s Digest. I’ll definitely be back for more.
Margot–Bittersweet is a good word for it!
Your protagonist is a perfect example…he’s now a college professor. How do his old buddies at the station view that? And view him?
The Daring Novelist–War would *definitely* cause people to change roles. I remember that during WWII women went to work in factories because the men had gone off to war…then afterwards they were expected to go back to their old roles. That might have been very hard for some of them to do.
And good point…some people rise to the occasion and surprise the readers! And that’s fun, too.
I’d forgotten about Rankin’s books! I like those type of novels, too.
Michele–Well, my grandmother was one of my favorite people ever. She was a writer too, had an acerbic sense of humor…was really clever and witty. It was very natural for me to write a protagonist like her. Also, I’m an easily-frustrated person and I pour that frustration into my character–just in a different way.
Lola–Ohhh…that makes me sad. I think the reason I was sad on the first day of kindergarten was the very reason you mentioned–they grow up too fast!
Propel plot–good tongue-twister!
Teresa–Ha! You’re so right. I was sore just *trying* to move that stupid sofa. Change happens…do we embrace it, reject it, ignore it? And how do our characters react to it?
Maribeth–I think your characters won’t know what hit them! Sounds like a great plan for the book, though. :)
Helen–And that’s sad because I know you’re tall, too!
Karen–Thanks! And…can I squoosh him back down again and make him little?
Jane–And the fact that she was forced into it brought in a lot of conflict to your book! Poor protagonist, but lucky reader. :)
Stephanie–That IS a strange feeling, isn’t it? Thanks so much for coming by to visit my blog today. :)
Silly me, I just realized that I am writing about EXACTLY this in my current W.I.P. It’s actually kinda the _point_ of it.
George, the hero, has quit his job as an international man of intrigue to look after this woman he rescued. So there they are living in a small quiet town in the midwest, and he has no idea how to transition to “normal” (since he has never experienced it). Since he has no rescues to accomplish, he’s basically just _guarding_ as the story begins.
Matter of fact, yes. The main character in my new novel starts out as a homeless bum and by the end of the book he is an international ambassador for a new coalition for peace and unity between warring religious nations. Quite the transtition, lol.
I really messed with one of my characters when he suddenly found himself a husband and father while finishing his last year of college. And it did change him!
Be proud of that boy of yours!
Oh, I feel for you with your son! My younger bean pole will eventually be the tallest person in our family (and strongest)–at the moment he just has the biggest feet, but he is almost caught up to my daughter in height (4 years younger–very hard).
I love how you’ve tossed this out on adding a layer of conflict, or explaining a certain behavior set through life changes and expected roles. I have a couple moms taking on jobs (different books) but I think these ‘thrust upon’ changes can have even bigger impact. Good food for thought!
I have a scene in my book where my main character is forced to make a life changing decision due to a change in status. Sorry, can’t say more as it would give away a big plot point!
Elspeth–I’m on the tall end of the spectrum, so I think it’ll be a while before he’s taller. I *think*…
Marvin–And *that’s* a role change!
Diane–Ooh..that would be tough. I would have been a really horrid college-age parent. I was much better at 26. :) Definitely some stress there for your character.
Dorte–Sometimes they’re uncooperative! Maybe hers will be a big, life-changer toward the end of the story?
Hart–The feet! Yes, their shoe size is ridiculous, isn’t it? I guess it’s like a puppy…you can tell the eventual size by its feet?
I’m all about looking for new ways to torture my characters. :)
The Daring Novelist–I like it! What’s normal for George isn’t normal for anyone else, and vice versa. Lots of room for conflict there.
Alex–Sounds good! Dickens did that kind of thing a lot, didn’t he–I loved “David Copperfield” where David’s fortunes changed throughout the book–and brought adjustments with it.
I’ve got awhile to go before my son does the whole passing me up sort of thing.
One of my characters will be going through a role change. I don’t know how well I’ll pull it off, but it’s essential to the overall plot.