Children

Posted on 20 October 2009

I am the proud father of two children.  The elder is about to turn four, the younger just turned two.  They are darling angels and vicious hellcats at the same time, and I love them with all my heart.  Because of this, whenever I see any other child in danger or in joyous rapture, it really affects me.  And while becoming a father did magnify it, I have always had this feeling.  It is a standard human feeling, really.  That paternal (or maternal) instinct is in all of us, part of being living creatures.  Authors know this too.

See, it is hard to read a serious book with there being some mention of children, even in passing.  They are part of our society, even if they are not typically set up to be prime actors in it.  And, to an author’s perverse joy, they are perfect for eliciting emotions out of us.  Want to show someone is kindhearted, have them help kids, or stop to admire them play.  Want to show someone is truly evil?  Have them hurt a child, or even kill one.

Want the reader to feel these more first hand?  Have one of your PoV characters be that child.  I remember back when I was reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, and a good section of the book is dedicated to the protagonist’s youth where he was ripped from his loving family, had to bury the bodies by himself, and then his wondering journey as an orphaned urchin in the streets of a giant city.  Let me tell you, he spared no punches.  I had to put the book down several times reading it for how gut wrenching this child’s life was, and even knowing it must eventually get better–the entire thing is a flash back from the protagonist in his mid-thirties–it was hard to read.

So, be mindful of children in stories.  They are there a reason.  They are part of our lives, part of our stories, and part of our hearts.  And, if you are a parent, do me a favor: hug your child extra tight tonight for me.