What would you like to see in YA Paranormal?

[kaitiepaige17]

I mainly right YA paranormal or romance or both. Right now, I think my current MS is pretty unique, at least the paranormal aspect.

For fans of this genre, what new ideas would you like to see? What new ideas have you come up with? Angels are getting big, but I already feel like they're overdone. The days of vampires are gone! A new era is coming :)

[elindsen]

I think things need to be original. There are so many of the same book by 10 authors. Cant tell how many twilight rip offs ive seen. I say think outside the box. whether its a totally new or a new spin on an old idea I think the box needs to be broken

[shaldna]

in terms of the creatures?

hmm. i'd like to see a couple more gory werewolf books, maybe a mermaid novel, some lesser known/used creatures, a wendigo maybe, or something with black dogs.

I'd like a really good book about possession

[amlptj]

you can look into local urban ledgens... those always bring up some messed up paranormal stuff... Put your own little twist to the rumors and stories or just grab some ideas form a bunch of different ones and you got yourself a pretty cool book.

[amlptj]

oh and dolls and clowns are creppy... i use them alot because they scare the crap out of me.

[jennifer williams]

oh and dolls and clowns are creppy... i use them alot because they scare the crap out of me.

I agree with that! Especially clown dolls *shivers*

[kaitlin008]

I'd like a really good book about possession

Me too, on this one. (And if anyone knows of one that's out, tell me!)

Basically with paranormal/romance/any genre, I like to see something I can't predict. I will give anything a try, so long as the writing is good and the plot and characters keep me interested.

eta: the second I find a porcelain doll or a clown in something it's highly likely I will throw it as far from myself as possible and not pick it up again haha.

[Mayfield]

creepy imaginary friend

[kaitiepaige17]

AGH! The doll and clown ideas sound more like a paranormal horror! I think I would scare myself writing something like that....

[kaitiepaige17]

creepy imaginary friend

Hmm, I like that idea. I did start a MS about a girl who's imaginary friend was a dead boy from the Depression. I'm saving that one for a rainy day.

[amlptj]

eta: the second I find a porcelain doll or a clown in something it's highly likely I will throw it as far from myself as possible and not pick it up again haha.

See that's why it makes for a good book because almost everyone is afraid of one of the two. Hell i'd pay anything to read something that actually scared me to the point i was afraid to go to sleep. (My "horror" nerves are completely shot)

[PoppysInARow]

I want something with heavy christian mythology. Demons, angels, devils, the apocolypse, yada yada. Like really get into the mythology part of christianity without going into the religion part.

If that makes sense.

[Stunted]

I want original, sexy, meta, sureality with strong characters, beautiful writing, and a solid ending.

[KimJo]

I'd like a really good book about possession

My book Connection doesn't *quite* have possession, but it's pretty darn close... The main characters have to banish a demon before it completely possesses the most popular girl at their high school. One of the main characters practices energy healing and channeling, which I think is pretty unusual in YA...

I agree that weres and vamps are overdone. So, in my opinion, is Greek mythology and the fae. I'd love to see something based on mythologies other than Greek, though.

[Sean Wills]

I'd like to see a paranormal YA with a male protagonist. The 'default' gender of paranormal protagonists seems to be female, and (from what I've read) they tend to be written with a female readership in mind. It would be interesting to flip that on its head.

(Needless to say, anyone who knows of a book like that should tell me what it's called immediately.)

[kaitiepaige17]

I'd like to see a paranormal YA with a male protagonist. The 'default' gender of paranormal protagonists seems to be female, and (from what I've read) they tend to be written with a female readership in mind. It would be interesting to flip that on its head.

(Needless to say, anyone who knows of a book like that should tell me what it's called immediately.)

In the process of writing one :D I'll make sure to send you a copy when I get published ;)

[Mayfield]

I'd like to see a paranormal YA with a male protagonist. The 'default' gender of paranormal protagonists seems to be female, and (from what I've read) they tend to be written with a female readership in mind. It would be interesting to flip that on its head.

(Needless to say, anyone who knows of a book like that should tell me what it's called immediately.)

Get your hands on some of the old Dark Forces series. "The Ashton Horror" was a favorite of mine (a very Lovecraftian teens-meet-role-playing game tale). That was a male protagonist, and there were others. One was about a guy who gets recruited to a traveling team of gymnast vampires.

Eh, maybe they qualified more as "YA horror" than "paranormal," but I'm not sure where that line is drawn. I loved them, though, and have a couple stashed away in my many boxes of books.

Dan Simmons's "Summer of Night" might qualify, although I think it's marketed as an adult novel. Same with Robert McCammon's "Boy's Life," and Peter Straub's "Shadowland." All more adult skewed, but about adolescent boys and the paranormal.

[JamieB]

Beautiful Creatures - Male POV

[oblivo]

I think mermaids and witches are a bit undercooked... not that I'm about to start writing about either.

[Sean Wills]

In the process of writing one :D I'll make sure to send you a copy when I get published ;)

I'll be looking forward to it!

Thanks to others for the suggestions, I'll have to check those out. I didn't realise Beautiful Creatures had a male POV.

[yttar]

I want something with heavy christian mythology. Demons, angels, devils, the apocolypse, yada yada. Like really get into the mythology part of christianity without going into the religion part.

If that makes sense.

I have a story that's kind of like that. It's about angels and demons and the impending apocalypse. There aren't many, if any, human characters. And it's based off my Christian world view. But currently it's only a short story.

Yttar

[JamieB]

I didn't realise Beautiful Creatures had a male POV.

Neither did I. It was a nice surprise! :)

[dragonjax]

I'd like to see a paranormal YA with a male protagonist. The 'default' gender of paranormal protagonists seems to be female, and (from what I've read) they tend to be written with a female readership in mind. It would be interesting to flip that on its head.

(Needless to say, anyone who knows of a book like that should tell me what it's called immediately.)

The third book in my YA series has a male protag. I'm in the middle of writing it now. Rah! :)

[kaitiepaige17]

I hope YA Paranormals (especially romances) with male protags will become more popular. I think that's why I'm starting to get bored with the genre (besides my own :D)

[ceenindee]

in terms of the creatures?

hmm. i'd like to see a couple more gory werewolf books

Ditto! I'm working on one now. The werewolves that are getting to be popular these days (Blood and Chocolate, True Blood, and Shiver come to mind) are a little too wimpy for my taste.

Thirsty, by M.T. Anderson, and Peeps, by Scott Westerfeld, have male protagonists, for those looking for them. Both vampire books.

I haven't gotten sick of vampires or werewolves yet, just the cookie-cutter romance that comes with them. I like it better when everyone is terrified.

[Cholisose]

I wouldn't mind seeing authors come up with entirely new things in terms of paranormal elements.
I've always thought a shape-shifting high school protagonist would be not only a lot of fun, but also fitting metaphorically for teenage years and whatnot. I just like the idea of a kid having to pretend to be everyone else at school for some reason... Maybe I'll just have to write this one, if I ever get a good idea for it.

I think something pretty funny would be a story about good-natured vampires and werewolves, but there are sinister humans lurking about... and perhaps some mysterious, dangerous romantic tension with a human. =P This may have been done already by now though.

Greek mythology has been tapped into lately, but there's a slew of other cultures to draw upon. For example, Hinduism has an entire world of interesting elements and clever, ancient stories that would provide fresh and interesting material for paranormal YA.

[MissKris]

Nancy Holder's POSSESSIONS is about . . . possessions, lol. Creeped me out, but then I have a very low horror tolerance.

What I would like to see in a Para YA is not a new creature or setting, but new VOICE. For example, I'd like to see something along the veins of Gail Carriger's SOULLESS for YA. Or Austenian voice. I feel like Para YA's become formulaic with the same voice, same MC, same love interest and just a roll of the die to see which new creature is inserted into the story.

Maybe I'm jaded, lol. But I read Kiersten White's PARANORMALCY over the weekend and loved it! If you've read Ally Carter's stuff and liked it, you'll like this one. Fun, light voice. :) And different.

[cryaegm]

I like it better when everyone is terrified.
For a third book idea, I'm redoing the whole vampire thing. It's going to be Dracula/Clock Tower 3 (video game) atmosphere. Time to be afraid of them again. :)

[shaldna]

I'd also like to see some good celtic legends updated. we have loads, so it could be interesting.

[Sean Wills]

I'd also like to see some good celtic legends updated. we have loads, so it could be interesting.

Celtic legends updated without everything being aggressively 'Celtic-y' though, please. I've seen some people on the internet who seem to think that everything that's even remotely connected to Ireland has to be coated with leprechaun vomit.

(Incidentally, I've had ideas along this line before. None of them have ever taken off, but I'd like to try one or two of them again sometime.)

[Kats]

I think mermaids and witches are a bit undercooked... not that I'm about to start writing about either.

I would like to see some books with witches too, in the vein of the movie The Craft or The Secret Circle books by L J Smith.

[shaldna]

Celtic legends updated without everything being aggressively 'Celtic-y' though, please. I've seen some people on the internet who seem to think that everything that's even remotely connected to Ireland has to be coated with leprechaun vomit.

(Incidentally, I've had ideas along this line before. None of them have ever taken off, but I'd like to try one or two of them again sometime.)


yeah, i'd also like them to NOT be americanised. The movie of Tristan and Isolde infuriated me, mostly because half the actors couldn't pronouce Isolde properly.

[Poetoffire]

Can we please have more YA paranormal romances where the protagonist starts out aware of magic in the world? And where the female MC is "turned" before she's in love with the hero? Or her willingness to date a supernatural creature is treated as weird and possibly dangerous?

I'm tired of Everygirl! Everygirl isn't a good canidate for a supernatural boyfriend!

[shaldna]

Can we please have more YA paranormal romances where the protagonist starts out aware of magic in the world? And where the female MC is "turned" before she's in love with the hero? Or her willingness to date a supernatural creature is treated as weird and possibly dangerous?

I'm tired of Everygirl! Everygirl isn't a good canidate for a supernatural boyfriend!


me too.

I would like an aware girl and an everyguy

[PhoebeNorth]

I think mermaids and witches are a bit undercooked... not that I'm about to start writing about either.

Would a merman do the job? If so, I'll let you know when my current WIP is done. ;)

[Poetoffire]

I would like an aware girl and an everyguy

That would be okay, but I'd rather there was no everyanyone. If you're going to throw someone who is "normal" into a fantastic situation, their personality should make their choices interesting and original. I'm tired of those that are characterized by their normalness.

How can the main characters fall in love if one of them is only important because of how they're out of their depth and don't have anything interesting about their life? Let's have some quriky characters who have a life before their life is changed.

Or, better yet, how about we start after said change? It just seems like going through the whole "mystery leading to realization, then learning the rules and magic" thing doesn't need to happen in every single book.

[jscribbles]

I would like to see some books with witches too, in the vein of the movie The Craft or The Secret Circle books by L J Smith.

I LOVED The Secret Circle books!! I second this. More witchy books.

[ceenindee]

This'll sound weird, but I would also like to see more conformists. Is it just me, or are all these protags characterized as "guys who hate sports" and "girls who hate shopping" type of thing? I'm tired of outcasts who have nothing to lose from running off into a world full of monsters. Let's have Susan Soccer Star get bitten by the vampire for once.

[paralus]

This'll sound weird, but I would also like to see more conformists. Is it just me, or are all these protags characterized as "guys who hate sports" and "girls who hate shopping" type of thing? I'm tired of outcasts who have nothing to lose from running off into a world full of monsters. Let's have Susan Soccer Star get bitten by the vampire for once.

LOVE this. But then, I'd like to see more cool protags in general. Outcasts are so, so overdone.

I'd also love to see a good ghost story. Something nice and creepy. There's no overdoing ghosts, far as I'm concerned. :)

[Disdainful Soul]

I would like to see some books with witches too, in the vein of the movie The Craft or The Secret Circle books by L J Smith.

Fortunately Cate Tiernan's Sweep series and Balefire quartet are being reprinted in bind-ups, but I'd still love to see a lot more witches out there.

Been a long time since The Craft and Charmed etc. :/

[Heatherwebb_writes]

How can the main characters fall in love if one of them is only important because of how they're out of their depth and don't have anything interesting about their life? Let's have some quriky characters who have a life before their life is changed.

Or, better yet, how about we start after said change? It just seems like going through the whole "mystery leading to realization, then learning the rules and magic" thing doesn't need to happen in every single book.

NICE. Well said

[Stunted]

Or her willingness to date a supernatural creature is treated as weird and possibly dangerous?

Writing it.


I think something pretty funny would be a story about good-natured vampires and werewolves, but there are sinister humans lurking about... and perhaps some mysterious, dangerous romantic tension with a human. =P This may have been done already by now though.

Sounds awesome!

Greek mythology has been tapped into lately

Really? Which books?

Hinduism has an entire world of interesting elements and clever, ancient stories that would provide fresh and interesting material for paranormal YA.

YES!

[elindsen]

I like new twists and resurrecting classics...my WIP does this. Check it out in syw...Legends Amoung Us....I did harpies new zombies and such. Different twists are awwesome.

[cryaegm]

Celtic legends updated without everything being aggressively 'Celtic-y' though, please. I've seen some people on the internet who seem to think that everything that's even remotely connected to Ireland has to be coated with leprechaun vomit.

(Incidentally, I've had ideas along this line before. None of them have ever taken off, but I'd like to try one or two of them again sometime.)
Mine is located in Ireland, but it doesn't have leprechauns. o__O

[shaldna]

see, I would like a really strongly celtic novel. something dark and brutal, just like celt history and attitudes. strong in superstition and light on the sparkles.

[LadyLiterature]

At this point in time, the paranormal genre is becoming a bit of a cliche', and is riddled with boring, uninteresting books(Twilight, anyone?) that all(basically) have the same plot. I'd suggest having a male protagonist who is-how do I put this- um, a normal teenager? Not one who's totally alienated, not one who's too popular, just a happy medium, you know? Good luck!

[Elizabeth May]

I don't think the type of creature matters right now. Paranormal itself is saturated. The entire story needs to be unique, whether it's about vampires or angels or things that are "overdone".

Personally, I want to see strong (not just physically strong, but mentally capable, a la Claire from Morganville Vampires), intelligent females (don't tell me they are intelligent; show me they are intelligent). I want to see heroes who are less self-involved and brooding and angsty.

And I want to see a bit more inner conflict in books, not starry-eyed romances.

[Kitty27]

How about the granddaughter of Marie Laveau and the myths/legends of voodoo? That's what my series is about.
I love Celtic myths. I'd like to see African and Native American legends brought to life in a YA paranormal.

I would like to see a popular and pretty girl with powers of her own kicking ass. I am quite tired of girls who are so co-dependent that they cannot wipe their behind without the male MC/LI there to give them the tissue. I also don't like characters who are obviously pretty pretending that they are plain.

[Glenakin]

How about ... wait ... sorry. I thought you meant what "wouldn't" I like to see in Paranormal YA, cos I think everything is in paranormal YA. Except mermaids. You guys can do mermaids

[kaitlin008]

How about the granddaughter of Marie Laveau and the myths/legends of voodoo? That's what my series is about.


I think your series sounds awesome :D I would read something like that for sure.

[cspradbery]

How about ... wait ... sorry. I thought you meant what "wouldn't" I like to see in Paranormal YA, cos I think everything is in paranormal YA. Except mermaids. You guys can do mermaids

My first novel is not about mermaids but about selkies, a celtic folklore about sea creatures. They are at war with the sirens. When I first started it there was nothing and I mean NOTHING like this out there. I also hardly ever saw anything on these boards like it. Recently I have seen more and more posts about people writing these sorts of books and have seen a couple of things coming out on Amazon (there is a book called Siren just about to be launched). I'm just hoping the agent with my revised MS gets back to me soon (hopefully with a yes) before the market gets too bogged down!