Readers of all ages fall in love with a good coming-of-age story. From growing up with Harry through the Harry Potter series to Delia Owens’ novel, Where the Crawdads Sing, there’s just something special about watching a character grow up.
There are many ways to write a coming-of-age story. Your audience, specific area of expertise, and author goals all play a part in determining how you write the story. Additionally, it’s vital to keep in mind the theme of your story and what you want your audiences to take away.
The film Ladybird is a much different type of coming-of-age story than the book The Catcher in the Rye. So how do you write your own story in a way that captivates your readers? Learn everything you need to know to write a compelling coming-of-age story in this post.
Coming-of-age story: what you learn
- How do you describe a coming-of-age story?
- What are the key elements of a coming-of-age story?
- What is an example of coming-of-age?
- How to write a coming-of-age arc?
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How do you describe a coming-of-age story?
A coming-of-age story is a literary sub-genre that follows the life of a protagonist as they enter adulthood. This type of story is all about character development, but the development of your main character can take a variety of forms.
For example, the characterization of Harry throughout Harry Potter is much different than Kya’s in Where the Crawdads Sing. Both books are considered a coming-of-age story but focus on different elements.
The German term bildungsroman, a term creative writers began using in the 1800s, means “novel of education” or “novel of formation.” A coming-of-age story is a journey in which the protagonist is formed from a child into an adult via a specific set of circumstances.
The specifics of these circumstances vary character to character and from author to author. However, there are several key circumstances ,or elements, most writers can rely on as a starting point. What exactly are these circumstances? Let’s take a closer look at how to write coming-of-age stories and the various elements you can use.
What are the key elements of a coming-of-age story?
When considering how to write your coming-of-age story, it’s important to consider the following elements: betrayal, identity, and a change in perspective. To help you achieve your own writer success story as a coming-of-age novelist, I’ve shared examples of each below. Since we are discussing the entirety of a character’s arc, there will be spoilers!
Betrayal
To stick with one of our above examples, Where the Crawdads Sing is a fantastic coming-of-age story centered around the element of betrayal. Kya is slowly betrayed by her family until she resides in the marsh all alone.
Furthermore, she is betrayed by Chase and Tate, the two men she finally chooses to trust. Her story is one of resilience in the face of remarkable betrayal, as well as an ode to the impact of nature in her journey to healing.
Identity
Popular books in this sub-genre often focus on the role of forming an identity as one grows. Harry Potter in the series by the same name stands as an iconic example of an identity-focused, coming-of-age story.
Harry begins his journey as a young orphan, unloved, abused, and neglected. However, when he discovers he is a wizard he spends the rest of his growing up years attempting to live into this identity. Ultimately, he claims his role as a powerful wizard and frees the world from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Change in perspective
Character archetypes often portray protagonists who experience a dramatic shift in perspective. You frequently see this change in romantic fiction, where the hero starts out cynical of love and ends in a happily-ever-after romance.
However, as it pertains to coming-of-age stories, this change in perspective can be quite profound. In fact, it can play a big role in learning how to get your book noticed by your ideal readership.
For example, To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic coming-of-age story. In this work, Scout, the young protagonist, learns to see the world in a new way. While she experiences elements of betrayal and identity throughout the novel, in the end, her perspective has broadened as she has grown.
How to write a coming-of-age arc?
Writing your coming-of-age arc starts with determining where your protagonist starts and where you want them to complete their arc. For instance, Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower starts with its protagonist, Charlie, beginning his freshman year of high school.
Throughout the story, Charlie shares his inner processes and outward struggles as he deals with the chaos of entering high school, as well as the trauma of his past. However, by the end of the year (and the novel), Charlie has emerged on the other side with a renewed perspective on life.
We can all aspire to the successful storytelling of Stephen Chbosky, but how do we endeavor to write compelling characters as he did? Try incorporating these specific character arc points into your story. Think of them as plot points for your character.
1. Clearly state where you protagonist begins
Whether you write to discover your story or start with a detailed outline, your coming-of-age story should clearly articulate where your character starts on their journey. A book coach can help you pinpoint your character’s starting point, but you can also look to other titles as inspiration.
Consider Tara Westover’s book, Educated. This memoir shares her coming-of-age journey by clearly sharing her origins in an abusive family.
For a fictional example, consider C.S. Lewis’s beloved The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Lucy, the youngest member of the Pevensie family, begins her journey when she and her 3 siblings seek safety from the bombings in London. Be clear where your protagonist’s starting point is so your readers can look back and see exactly what they had to overcome.
2. Showcase your protagonist’s turning point
The point at which your character begins to make a shift is crucial to your coming-of-age story. You may want to consider thinking of your characters as actors auditioning for a role in a film. Actors often try to include a “turn” in their reels or self-tapes. A turn is simply a shift in emotional direction. They may start angry and end sad, or begin happy and end confused.
In Mildred D. Taylor’s Role of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Cassie Logan faces a turning point when she decides to dig a trench as a prank on the school bus full of kids who regularly make fun of her. While Cassie’s character started the story dealing with being a young girl of color in Mississippi, she makes a turn when she decides to fight back.
3. Spotlight your protagonist’s epiphany
Not every novel (or memoir) needs to have a lightbulb moment, but it can help your readers if you choose to showcase the end result of your character’s arc. What is a way you can show their ultimate change?
On the last page of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Charlie’s character sums up his arc in a simple yet profound line: “This one moment when you know you’re not a sad story, you are alive.”
Despite his trauma, he made it through his freshman year of high school, both literally and figuratively, and no longer accepts his identity as a “sad story.”
You can also use a more subtle form for revealing a character’s arc. An iconic example of character arc can be found in the Netflix miniseries, The Queen’s Gambit, based on the novel by the same name.
At the end of the series, Beth Harmon emerges in a full white costume, as if to signal that after all her years studying chess, she herself has emerged as the White Queen.
What is an example of coming-of-age?
There are many examples of coming of age, but one of the classics is Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Alcott shares her literary genius by writing a coming-of-age story for each March daughter, a feat in and of itself. This is a great book to study the subtle nuances of character development.
Take notes on each of the four sisters, and consider asking the following questions:
- How does Meg’s desire for love impact her as a young girl?
- How does Jo’s creativity in writing influence her journey to womanhood?
- What does Amy learn about herself through her artistry, and how does it set the stage for life as an adult?
- How does Beth’s interest in music contribute to her much shorter character arc?
Of course, if you’re short on time, watch Greta Gerwig’s film adaptation of the novel, or the older film!
When you decide to write your own coming-of-age story, be sure to show individuality. No one, real or imagined, experiences life the same way. The fun of writing coming-of-age is highlighting these differences.
Coming-of-age story: take your next step
Now that you have a plethora of coming-of-age stories, characters, and books and even films to choose from, it’s time to generate your own outline. Carefully choose your protagonist and then commit to sharing their journey.
Remember that every story is different, and like Louisa May Alcott, you can include several types of characters arcs in one book. To help you get started, use our free Book Outline Generator!
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