How old are you?

jhill · Apr 9, 2009

I was curious as to what the range of ages are here. Being 27 kind of makes me think I have an advantage in that I'm nearer to YA in terms of language, likes/dislikes, etc. However at a disadvantage to those older and more established.
Thanks,

kikilynn · Apr 9, 2009

Im twenty five. With a 12 year old soon to be step son. He's got a mouth on him like you wouldn't believe, helps me write characters his age.

Shady Lane · Apr 9, 2009

I'll be eighteen on Sunday.

fairy86 · Apr 9, 2009

I'm 23. I have a 14 year old sister, though. I try to talk to her daily to get a feel for teen talk.

Stephanie

Terri · Apr 9, 2009

I'm fifteen, but I'm a total goody-goody. If I wrote the way I talk in real life eveyone would think I was sixty.

jhill · Apr 9, 2009

wow... these are all a lot younger than I would've imagined. Although I definitely recommend keeping at it while you have such a wealth of free time.

wandergirl · Apr 9, 2009

Twenty-five.

If I wrote the way I talk in real life eveyone would think I was sixty.

If I wrote the way I talk in real life, everyone would think I was a sixteen-year-old with a big vocabulary. I think it's because I'm from Southern California.... we tend to sound a little silly.

YAwriter72 · Apr 9, 2009

36, but my agent said I have nailed the voice in my books. I read that to mean I never grew up? LOL

Fade · Apr 9, 2009

I'm fourteen. I'd agree with jhill that disadvantages outweigh advantages, especially at this age.

Terri · Apr 9, 2009

wandergirl said:
If I wrote the way I talk in real life, everyone would think I was a sixteen-year-old with a big vocabulary. I think it's because I'm from Southern California.... we tend to sound a little silly.

Haha. All the kids I know talk like high-school kids. I can't hold up a decent conversation without being asked to define 'ramification' or 'subsequent.'

I fail.

Shady Lane · Apr 9, 2009

jhill said:
wow... these are all a lot younger than I would've imagined. Although I definitely recommend keeping at it while you have such a wealth of free time.

ha.

Zipotes · Apr 9, 2009

Man, I feel like an old bag now at 32

But, I don't look or act my age at all. I think I'm in a time warp and forever trapped at 16.

wandergirl · Apr 9, 2009

Terri said:
~~I fail.~~ I win.

Fixed that for you.

lm728 · Apr 9, 2009

I'm 13. 14 on the 28th. Been writing for...3 years now?

This is great for my YA voice. But then my parents doubt me. They go, "You don't have enough life experience!" Uh-huh, uh-huh. I don't think you can have it both ways: voice and experience.

Though I think I have an advantage over my school friends, who don't know what "redundant" means. Those poor, sad souls.

Vandal · Apr 9, 2009

49

Do I win a prize? (nothing too crunchy, hard to chew wiff no teef)

YAwriter72 · Apr 9, 2009

Wow, I can't believe how many young writers there are. Its SO awesome to see that! My 16 year old stepson writes, he is looking to major in Creative Writing when he starts early college classes next year.

wandergirl · Apr 9, 2009

tilt190 said:
This is great for my YA voice. But then my parents doubt me. They go, "You don't have enough life experience!" Uh-huh, uh-huh. I don't think you can have it both ways: voice and experience.

Aw, c'mon, yes you can. That's like saying no existing YA books have YA voice except for the handful actually written by teens.

Smish · Apr 9, 2009

jhill said:
wow... these are all a lot younger than I would've imagined. Although I definitely recommend keeping at it while you have such a wealth of free time.

I'm 27, and I have to say, this may be the first year of my life that I DO have a bit of free time (because I'm finally finished with school!).

In fact, it could be argued that I was busier in high school than any other time in my life (including the four years I worked full-time as a paralegal and went to law school at night...). It's important when writing YA, I think, to remember just how full the average high school student's day is. With school, after school/weekend jobs, extracurricular activities and practices, family obligations, and some sort of social life, there's not a lot of free time left...

lm728 · Apr 9, 2009

wandergirl said:
Aw, c'mon, yes you can. That's like saying no existing YA books have YA voice except for the handful actually written by teens.

Well, then, I'm supremely jealous. According to my parents, no teen can write a good, believable realistic book. And sometimes, when I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, when I don't fare so well on creativity, I actually believe them.

YAwriter72 · Apr 9, 2009

Smish said:
I'm 27, and I have to say, this may be the first year of my life that I DO have a bit of free time (because I'm finally finished with school!).

In fact, it could be argued that I was busier in high school than any other time in my life (including the four years I worked full-time as a paralegal and went to law school at night...). It's important when writing YA, I think, to remember just how full the average high school student's day is. With school, after school/weekend jobs, extracurricular activities and practices, family obligations, and some sort of social life, there's not a lot of free time left...

I am in awe, I hardly had time to sleep in High School! This is actually the first time in my life I have some time to write (And I work a day job, am married and have 2 young boys!)

kaitlin008 · Apr 9, 2009

I'm 23.

I used to think age mattered with your ability to write certain things, but I don't anymore. It's all about awareness. Even if you're a teen, all your characters aren't going to be clones of you, so you still are going to have to put in an effort to make sure they're distinct and realistic.

Fade · Apr 9, 2009

tilt190 said:
Well, then, I'm supremely jealous. According to my parents, no teen can write a good, believable realistic book. And sometimes, when I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, when I don't fare so well on creativity, I actually believe them.

I'm so sorry. :Hug2:

I'm lucky. My parents always encourage me, read my stuff, and look up stuff about the publishing industry so they understand what I'm talking about.

jhill · Apr 9, 2009

Smish said:
I'm 27, and I have to say, this may be the first year of my life that I DO have a bit of free time (because I'm finally finished with school!).

In fact, it could be argued that I was busier in high school than any other time in my life (including the four years I worked full-time as a paralegal and went to law school at night...). It's important when writing YA, I think, to remember just how full the average high school student's day is. With school, after school/weekend jobs, extracurricular activities and practices, family obligations, and some sort of social life, there's not a lot of free time left...

good point. Though it's different for everyone; and the only reason I had time to write a book was b/c I won 25K from Dr. Pepper. If that hadn't happened, no book. School or no.

What kind of law are you are you looking to get into?

off topic. Is there a place around here that I can get my query letter criticized and mocked? Thanks

lm728 · Apr 9, 2009

Share Your Work forums are a good place to start. Look under "Query Letters & Synopses".

fairy86 · Apr 9, 2009

Jhill, if you look under the Share Your Work subforum, there's a section to share your letter. HTH

Stephanie

How old are you?

Age

below 20

20-25

26-30

31-35

36-40

41-45

46+

You can find me on occasion.

my name is hannah

Loose on the internet!

stand-back-up

~kirsten hubbard

someone let me off this crazy ride

The Captain of My Soul

stand-back-up

my name is hannah

~kirsten hubbard

i'm baaaacccckkkkkk

In the Center of things

someone let me off this crazy ride

~kirsten hubbard

Reads more than she writes.

i'm baaaacccckkkkkk

someone let me off this crazy ride

Seeing newness all the time

The Captain of My Soul

i'm baaaacccckkkkkk

Loose on the internet!