Is a year in High School enough of a plot?

Wavy_Blue · Jan 16, 2010

Hi there, fellow YA writers! I'm here with a new question for y'all. So I've got my characters all nice and worked out for my current WIP, which is contemporary YA. Part of the premise is that these characters are seniors in high school, but that's just it--I feel like I only have part of a premise.

So, my question to you is this: is these characters living out their final year of high school enough of a plot to carry the story? Or should there be something else tying it all together? IE, a school play, a character dealing with a serious, life-altering event, a school club, etc.

Let me know your thoughts. I'm very interested to see what everyone thinks.

charlotte49ers · Jan 16, 2010

I think you need something definitive or you will end up with a whole slew of storylines that will get confusing, but if you have very strong characters you can pull it off, I'd think.

Phoebe · Jan 16, 2010

You should have something else tying the whole thing together that builds up over the course of the entire year.

Otherwise, it's "just" school, and that doesn't sound too interesting, does it?

Claudia Gray · Jan 16, 2010

Honestly, probably not. With an extraordinarily compelling MC and narrative voice, you might just possibly get away with something like this, but even then it would be a very hard sell. As Phoebe says, most people are not reading to relive high school but in some way to reimagine it.

Mac H. · Jan 16, 2010

It sounds like you have the characters and setting worked out.

But that isn't a plot. You want a goal - something that the reader WANTS to happen, but won't happen unless your characters do certain actions.

Mac

Wavy_Blue · Jan 16, 2010

Hmm, this definitely makes me want to give these characters something interesting to do.

There is a teensy glimmer of a plot in that there's a love story, but I still don't think that love story in high school is enough of a plot.

misterjuvenille · Jan 16, 2010

one of my WIPs is also in the senior year, but the story takes place from the first day of school to a few days past homecoming.

A string of storylines/events unrelated to each other, but "only" belong together because it's senior year is not really a story, if that makes sense.

nayner · Jan 17, 2010

maybe you could just start writing and the characters will get themselves into trouble for you. might be a fun exercise.

Stunted · Jan 17, 2010

I like the idea of a plot that unfolds over the course of senior year, but I feel like just senior year isn't enough. I mean, I feel like most people's senior years are sort of suck.

bethany · Jan 17, 2010

agreeing with everyone else. I also think that using all the highschool milestones (homecoming, prom, graduation) as transitional elements in the book... has been done a bunch, and needs to be pretty fresh not to seem cliche'.

Just saying.

AryaT92 · Jan 17, 2010

...Absolutely.

Wavy_Blue · Jan 17, 2010

Okay, I'm really glad I asked this question instead of just starting the novel with nothing to guide it along. Thanks, guys! This is very helpful.

Now, off to the drawing board...maybe I'll visit the sandbox and let you all help me come up with some ideas there. You know you want to!

Is a year in High School enough of a plot?

Wavy_Blue

Adventure is out there!

charlotte49ers

let it snow

Phoebe

Claudia Gray

Mac H.

Board Visitor

Wavy_Blue

Adventure is out there!

misterjuvenille

nayner

Needs more sleep.

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

bethany

:)

AryaT92

Wavy_Blue

Adventure is out there!