Pick up a book anywhere these days, and you’ll likely find a story about a young protagonist, or at least someone far younger than yourself. In an effort to reach the millennial generation, most publishers and filmmakers tend to feature younger characters.

Where does that leave older readers and viewers?

A recent study by Gransnet, an online community for grandparents, finds that ageism really does exist in fiction. In its survey of 1,000 women over the age of 40, roughly 47% said there aren’t enough books on the market about middle-aged or older women.

Further, over half (51%) felt older women in fiction were portrayed in clichéd roles, such as being technology-phobic (not true) or not having interests outside of the home.  

Most important, two-thirds of surveyed women (67%) said they want to read about characters they can identify with, specifically physically active women (56%) and working in satisfying careers (41%).

The publishing industry is beginning to take notice. Some publishers are more open to reviewing manuscripts featuring older adults. While the path isn’t wide open, it’s certainly an improvement from days past when publishers automatically dismissed a story because of an aged protagonist.

For examples of these types of stories, here’s a list of books I’ve read that feature older protagonists (late 40s and older).

* The Little French Bistro by Nina George
* The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
* The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick
* The Children Act by Ian McEwan
* A Man Called Ove by Frederick Bachman
* Still Alice by Lisa Genova
* Olive Kittridge by Elizabeth Strout
* The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
* Open House by Elizabeth Berg
 
Why do these stories work? Because they feature clearly drawn characters with extensive life experiences and some emotional baggage, which makes them relatable. Their backstories are based on modern realities, such as career shifts, love gained and lost, and personal challenges. They also bring emotional maturity. Even though they’re older, they still face difficulties, such as fear of aging, fear of being alone and struggling to trust again.

The truth is, people don’t stop living – or loving – once they turn 45.

“Older characters show us what it’s like to be human,” said Jeannie Moon, Your Author Mom, in a recent webinar for the Contemporary Romance Writers (CRW). While her session focused on romance novels, I think her suggestions can be applied to any genre or literary fiction.

Stories about characters over 45, Moon added, “focus not only on romantic relationships but also on personal journeys of growth and reinvention. Themes of second chances, overcoming life’s hardships, and rediscovering love are common, adding to the emotional resonance of these stories.”

To best capture these literary journeys, writers can adapt the traditional fiction tropes so they reflect the challenges and opportunities of middle-aged characters. For example:

* Friends to lovers – You might have the lead characters meet through a mutual friend or at a social occasion, like a wedding. Maybe they go to the same health club or share the same hobby, like bird watching, or meet at a cooking class.

* Forbidden love – Something about their budding relationship might be forbidden. The most common obstacle is age difference or perhaps they live in separate cities so the distance might prevent them from being close.

* Second chance – This trope is common for older characters. Imagine them meeting at a class reunion (I have friends who met that way and later married!) or meet at the funeral of a mutual acquaintance after not seeing each other for years.

* Rebuilding after loss – Older characters suffer through losses, but also find the strength to move forward with their lives. Losing a spouse, a job, or a home are common experiences for older adults.

* Forced proximity – Seasoned characters might have their own businesses. In this trope, try pitting two business owners against one another on opposite sides of an issue concerning their town.

You get the idea.

There’s plenty of room on library and bookstore shelves for stories about mature adults. The key is to create characters that are authentic and believable. Show them as vulnerable people struggling to make sense of their world as they grow older.

As readers age out of younger protagonist-led stories, they will appreciate being able to find novels with older characters.