My Teenage Voice

Undercover · May 15, 2011

Apparently, I have this "teenage voice" within me enough to connect with my agent. She said that's what she loves most about my novel she's representing. Even though I got a few rejections, they mentioned it in their comments too. An "engaging voice" and all that jazz.

There's the thing. My teenage voice runs throughout my next YA novel, that my agent has yet to read. She may or may not like it, who knows. But I know the same kinda voice runs throughout the second one too.

Questions...

Is this a good thing? Or would that be too similar?
Out of all the genres why would this be my strongest?
Can you figure out your strongest voice and know why?
And the whole question is, what makes it sound that way? What things do I write that makes it like that? Seriously, I don't get it really.

My agents likes the MC's doubtfulness, she's always questioning things and trying to figure things out, always wondering and "pondering" which my agent loves to use. Yet she never really says directly, maybe I should ask?

Maybe it's because I hada bad teenage experience way back then and its still with me somehow?

Maybe it's because I have two teen kids now and I am constantly trying to talk to them at their level, so like they will understand the words coming outta my mouth, soda speak?

Anyways...for the older crowd that writes for teens, how do you harness your teen voice?

Okay, I like totally milked this thread...and if there's another thread on this, sorry. Was just wonderin' how you guys feel about your teen character's voices. How do you really know you're on the right track?

Lydia Sharp · May 15, 2011

Lmc71775 said:
Anyways...for the older crowd that writes for teens, how do you harness your teen voice?

I'm a very immature adult.

Personally, the teen voice is the easiest for me to tap into (I write both YA and adult fiction).

But even so, I think "teen voice" is more about the viewpoint than anything else. You can have a so-called mature-sounding teenager, referring to their individual vocabulary/use of words, but their viewpoint is still going to be limited by their life experience. In fact, that's one of the main reasons I love Lauren Oliver's writing so much. Her narratives are not full of sarcasm and dry wit and "teen speak", but they have a definite teen feel to them. The naivety is so thick you can taste it.

thebloodfiend · May 15, 2011

Lydia Sharp said:
I'm a very immature adult. Personally, the teen voice is the easiest for me to tap into (I write both YA and adult fiction).

But even so, I think "teen voice" is more about the viewpoint than anything else. You can have a so-called mature-sounding teenager, referring to their individual vocabulary/use of words, but their viewpoint is still going to be limited by their life experience. In fact, that's one of the main reasons I love Lauren Oliver's writing so much. Her narratives are not full of sarcasm and dry wit and "teen speak", but they have a definite teen feel to them. The naivety is so thick you can taste it.

This right here. I am sick of constant snark filled narrators. While I liked The Duff, Bianca's voice got on my nerves after a while. "Teen Voice" is very subjective.

I think it's a good thing that your characters sound like teens. When I was reading Forbidden, I couldn't believe for once second that Maya and Lochan were actually teenagers. Granted, there are smart teens around, but people just don't talk like that. As long as the voice sounds natural, I don't think you'll have a problem.

I write how I talk on forums. I write how my characters talk in my manuscripts. Some curse a lot, others are pretentious jerks. If it works and it sounds natural for the character, go for it. But never force a voice. I know I'm on the right track when I'm able to here the character's voice in my head. Yes, that makes me sound crazy, but it works.

Slang isn't all it's made out to be with teen voices. Granted, a teen would never use the term necking for making out. But sometimes using basic language instead of 'soda speak' works just fine. Anyway, good luck.

whacko · May 15, 2011

Hey Lmc,

Having a teenage voice is only a good thing.

I went from puberty, straight to middle age.

Regards

Whacko

KimJo · May 15, 2011

Add me to the list of immature adults, I guess. LOL. I'm pretty far from my teen years; in fact, I have two teens of my own! But I've worked with teenagers quite a bit, and I tap into that to create the characters in my YA fiction. I write romance and erotic romance under a different name from my YA (both names are in my signature here, though), and unquestionably my YA voice is stronger than my romance voice, with one or two exceptions. I don't know why; it just is.

Like thebloodfiend said, when I hear my characters dictating to me, I know I'm doing it right. All my YA tends to be first person, which means I have a heck of a lot of teenagers rambling on in my head. Some are very teenagerish; one talks like someone much older, but that's part of the character. (And he's my readers' favorite so far, so apparently his overly mature speech doesn't bother anyone...) When I'm really in doubt, I have one of my daughters or one of their friends read the scene to make sure I'm "teening" enough.

Lisa, if your teen voice runs through your YA fiction, that's good. You want that. As long as your characters don't sound identical to one another, you should be fine. As for how and why your voice comes across as it does... I think that's one of those unanswerable questions. It just does.

Undercover · May 15, 2011

Thanks guys! That's an excellent point about the "immature voice." I believe I have that too. It has something to do with a mix of doubtful thoughts, trying to figure things out on your own kinda thing (like in coming-of-age) and wondering...(for me at least)

For my two YA novels, the MCs both sound very similar, but definitely not identical. They are there own entities.

It's really cool what you guys think of it, I enjoyed everyone's viewpoints. Thanks!

Pebbles · May 15, 2011

For me it depends what I read. If I spend a whole day reading Emily Bronte or Louisa May Alcott my writing ages....lol.

Becca C. · May 15, 2011

I think I write a decent teenage voice because I still am a teenage (for another four months, anyway). Even though I'm technically an adult, been out of high school for two years, I'm still so steeped in the naivety of adolescence. I don't think I could ever write anything other than YA because that sense of discovery and confusion and newness is so important to what I write. I could never write for a grown-up audience, for people who already know what they're doing XD

Tuuli · May 15, 2011

I'm another writer who struggles with writing in an adult voice. But that's because I'm emotional like a teen, which is a huge benefit (despite what my husband might think

) when it comes to writing for this age group.

YA comes more naturally to me, and I can write in a range of voices (within my author voice). I write snarky and non-snarky, and the one I choose depends on my character. But if I write snarky, it's not heavy or throughout the novel. The snarkiness only comes out when appropriate for the character.

Undercover · May 16, 2011

Yes, all the above. I think maybe, (and this is just my opinion) it's the kind of person you are and how you perceive things. Some teens can write awesome as an adult, cause maybe they've had a hard life and had to grow up early.

Where as some adults are still children at heart. Maybe having that vulnerably is a good thing in certain aspects? I don't know...just thinking out loud here.

I love everyone's comments, it shows the depth that really goes into a character's voice and where it actually stems from.

My Teenage Voice

Undercover

I got it covered

Lydia Sharp

for the love of love

thebloodfiend

Cory

whacko

Keeping up with the class

KimJo

Outside the box, with the werewolves

Undercover

I got it covered

Pebbles

Becca C.

Tuuli

Research Addict

Undercover

I got it covered