Hey everyone! I'm diving into some fiction writing and I want to create a believable young adult character who's a programmer. They started coding around ages 11-12 and began working part-time at a family tech company before turning 18. I'm from the microbiology field, so I'm struggling to get a handle on programming lingo, what's realistic in coding, and where to find good beginner resources. I've watched shows like How To Sell Drugs Online (Fast) for inspiration, but I want to ensure my character avoids the cliché 'Hollywood hacker' tropes. Any tips on how to nail this character's authenticity?
5 Answers
Honestly, real life programming isn't nearly as glamorous as the movies make it seem. It's a lot of routine stuff like meetings, debugging, and occasional bursts of excitement when you tackle a tricky feature. To help you get a feel for the profession, I recommend checking out Harvard's CS50 lectures. They give you a great overview of the lingo without getting too deep into the technical weeds.
You’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the details! Instead of focusing on precise technical elements, draw on interviews or stories from real programmers about what drives them in their work. That human experience can resonate more with your readers than getting the specifics spot on.
Thanks! I’ll look into that. I want her journey to reflect a more authentic and human side of programming.
Don't forget to consider your character's cultural background. Where do they come from? That'll shape their personality a lot. Young programmers these days are often diverse and have different motivations. Plus, the job isn’t just sitting in a dark room anymore; it's mostly structured hours with lots of interaction. Think about how these factors influence who your character is.
Great point! I hadn’t thought of that aspect much. Maybe I can explore their family dynamics and peer interactions as well.
It's fiction, so don't get too bogged down in technical accuracy. Think about how to make programming relatable through your character's challenges. The emotional journey of programming can be more engaging than the technical details. Also, give them some flaws; a 'genius' one moment and clueless the next makes for a more interesting character!
Definitely! I want to portray her learning, but I also want to show her struggles, particularly with teamwork.
When it comes to programming, focus less on the jargon and more on capturing the essence of how programmers think. Real coding involves a lot of problem-solving, searching for answers, and those exciting moments when everything finally clicks. If you're showing your character in team meetings, think about their mindset and the collaboration, rather than just coding terminology. Also, the possibilities in tech have expanded dramatically, so feel free to get creative with what your character can do!
That makes so much sense! It’s important to portray the realistic struggles too, right? Maybe some sections could show them hitting a wall with a project and then having that breakthrough moment.
Haha, true! I wouldn’t want to bore readers with too many technical details. I suppose I should keep the tech vague and relatable.