What should my character Casey be like since she's been isolated for years?

[Silver7]

In my story Breaking The Hour Glass, my character Casey hasn't had any friends for over 14 years. She is 30 years old and for all these years she hasn't been able to get employment after she left high school. She spends her days being isolated at home.

Now since I put my character Casey in that situation, what would be the effect a situation like that has on her?

Would she find it hard to feel motivated to do anything in life after living like that for so many years?

[NickRowler]

• Does she have access to the internet? Or television?
• Does she go into public places with other people (like a grocery store)?
• Is this just social isolation (hikikomori) or is she a full on hermit?

[BoomerZ]

You have a character looking for a story. That should be the other way around. What story are you trying to tell with her. That will determine how she should act so it can fit the story. A fish out of water would work if the story is about her entering back into society. Is it about her finding romance? Then being socially evolving to the dating world is the story. Realistically if you were a shut in for 14+ years with no friends, you would be socially damaged beyond repair as your reality would be set after about age 25. She has a lonely life of not being able to connect with people. But I'm sure that is not what you are writing as that would be extremely depressive.

[Silver7]

She hasn't had a television since she left high school but she does have access to the internet. She rarely goes out to the grocery store and yeah it is social isolation

[NickRowler]

It sounds like she's a hikikomori. I would recommend looking into that that is, they don't only exist in Japan. There are articles and videos about it.

A lot of these people tend to be very shy and anxious. There house is usually a mess. And sometimes they have a hobby that helps them cope, usually being something like video games or anime.

I met some shut in here in the US. I also notice when they do make friends, they get too scared to invite them over because their house is a mess. You could use that for a plot to a story.

[cherrystark]

I agree with @BoomerZ. You have a character without a story. She could be any way you want her to be. Unless she's Nell from the movie Nell, she's going to have human interaction whether it be online, family, or even a caretaker. If she doesn't have a job, she's going to need someone to pay for her housing and food costs. That means that someone has to deliver her items. Even Rapunzel had social interaction even if it was with Mother Gothel.

[moontokkym]

I have plenty of stories that started character first and then the character and the story evolved together. Hell, my current comic started with Alice and a question.

You don't have to start with the story first as long as you're fine tweaking the character to better fit the story if you realise they're incompatible in some areas. Some people find it easier to start character first, it's not a crime nor even a problem to have the person and then worldbuild around that person.