Things You'd Like To See in YA

More mythology!!

But not until my WIP comes out and makes it a craze.

No not a craze. But hot.

Legionsynch said:

Oh, and my favorite cliche. "I didn't think there'd be so much blood." I've seen it dozens of times lately, in books and movies. Just for once, I'd love to see someone say "Huh. I'd have thought there'd be more blood" while hyperventilating about the scene in front of them.

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Kind of reminds me about what I'm drawing in a webcomic now -- the MC is hemophobic, and while the rest of the world is going to have an unrealistically high gore level, he's going to respond realistically. None of this "I didn't think there'd be so much blood" and then throwing up. And none of this sudden desensitation stuff. He's going to have to work for it, damn it.

I really wish for urban fantasy where "OMFG LUUUV" is less of a big deal and more of a big deal is deciding between this fantasyland stuff and an education. For some reason school romance and drama still keep the front in urban fantasy, while very, very normal things like "if I skip school I'll get suspension" seem to completely slip their minds, or wander to the background.

For this reason, I find it impossible to relate to the main characters of YA urban fantasy.

Westerns! More teen MCs with lassos and boots!
Yee Haw!

Haphazard said:

Kind of reminds me about what I'm drawing in a webcomic now -- the MC is hemophobic, and while the rest of the world is going to have an unrealistically high gore level, he's going to respond realistically. None of this "I didn't think there'd be so much blood" and then throwing up. And none of this sudden desensitation stuff. He's going to have to work for it, damn it.

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My MC in Sublime is a hemophiliac. Keep him away, haha.

You know what...I don't even know. Most of what I like is already out there.

I like books about heroin. Books about eating disorders. Books about religion. Books about fighting. Books about brothers. I know I know I know--there are TONS of these books out there (and I've read most of them.) But I can never get enough.

Now that I've had time to think about it, I'd like to see books about multicultural and multiethnic families without all the god damn angst.

I'm multiethnic. I angsted for about two months in elementary school and then I got over it. Please stop making us halfies sound like a bunch of whiny puss-pants.

Thank you.

Legionsynch said:

For me, I think I'd like to see a paranormal/urban fantasy romance (in the veins of Twilight) but with a gay or lesbian couple. Oh the pressures of high school, and burgeoning love, and oppression from parents. Oh yeah, and there's that pesky supernatural element.

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Wow, I totally wrote something like this. It's a guy at boarding school, weird stuff starts happening, there's another guy, there's some love, there's some supernatural violence, there's self-sacrifice. Probably my favorite book I've written...

I was actually thinking about rewriting the whole thing and removing the gay angle cause I thought no one would read it...but maybe I should revise, edit, and query??

Shady Lane said:

Books about religion. I know I know I know--there are TONS of these books out there (and I've read most of them.) But I can never get enough.

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Can you recommend some about religion...I feel like I'd like that and I don't think I've read any before.

Haphazard said:

I really wish for urban fantasy where "OMFG LUUUV" is less of a big deal and more of a big deal is deciding between this fantasyland stuff and an education. For some reason school romance and drama still keep the front in urban fantasy, while very, very normal things like "if I skip school I'll get suspension" seem to completely slip their minds, or wander to the background.

For this reason, I find it impossible to relate to the main characters of YA urban fantasy.

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True -- but to be fair, how many genre novels in any genre have characters conveniently not needing to be at work while they're caught up in a murder investigation/making contact with aliens/being swept off their feet by a South American cattle baron/whatever?

I agree it's a problem, but I really don't think that problem is unique to YA urban fantasy.

Hmm....

More YA historicals. They're my absolute all-time favorite. Growing up in a different era and having to deal with different things, and yet, having to deal with the same things we do now. Love it. Guess that's why I was so totally into the Dear America books when I was a wee lass.

I don't know. Less about school, I guess. I know when you're a teenager school is pretty much the biggest thing in your life, and everyone goes through it so everyone can relate to it, but, I get tired of it. There's only so many books I can read about cliques and crushes on a guy way out of your league and pranks and teachers with grudges trying to ruin your life. Some is okay (cuz yeah, everyone goes to school and it's a reality) but I'd like to see some YA focusing on other aspects of teen life. (But those might be... I don't know. That's up to you to decide, oh exalted writers of YA)


And yeah, westerns! I LOVE westerns! But maybe because I'm writing one right now. A western/modern/brothers story/comic book/prison camp/worldwide marketing conspiracy/survival kind of story.

Yeah. Let's see some more of those.

But wait 'til I get finished with mine first, please! (I'm with Danger Jane. I want to start the craze on this fantastic oh-so-catchy unexplored niche, thank you very much.)

And ancient Greece. With gods. I love that.

Esopha said:

Now that I've had time to think about it, I'd like to see books about multicultural and multiethnic families without all the god damn angst.

I'm multiethnic. I angsted for about two months in elementary school and then I got over it. Please stop making us halfies sound like a bunch of whiny puss-pants.

Thank you.

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I find this interesting because I'm writing about a Caucasian/African-American girl in my second WIP. I sure hope she doesn't sound whiny. lol. But, seriously, I want to avoid the stereotypes as much as possible, which is what authors writing about different races tend to worry about.

Legionsynch said:

My current WIP revolves around a kid that actually enjoys going to school. So getting into it, I know that a lot of my drama's going to involve him refusing to not skip school, and not skip his homework so he can go out and party and all that.

But for the most part, I don't know many teenagers that are all gung ho about going to school in the first place. If something crazy started happening to them, they'd be more than happy to drop school like a bad habit.

Until Mom and Dad find out, of course.

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That sounds very interesting! Does your MC have a troubled home life and school is his sanctuary?

Legionsynch said:

My current WIP revolves around a kid that actually enjoys going to school. So getting into it, I know that a lot of my drama's going to involve him refusing to not skip school, and not skip his homework so he can go out and party and all that.

But for the most part, I don't know many teenagers that are all gung ho about going to school in the first place. If something crazy started happening to them, they'd be more than happy to drop school like a bad habit.

Until Mom and Dad find out, of course.

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I don't know too many teenagers who are gung-ho about going to school either. In fact, I hate school. I hate it with a burning passion. But do you know why I go?

Because I have a future, or at least I'd like to believe I do. I'm working towards grades, college, and eventually a career that I'll actually enjoy rather than being stuck doing something that I'll hate myself for the rest of my life for doing. I am absolutely determined to do this, so that is why I go to school, not because I enjoy it.

And I see very few YA protagonists that think this way, which frankly disturbs me. Everyone is either a slacker that hates school and wouldn't think twice about skipping, or an uber-nerd that loves school and hates the very idea.The vast majority of students don't fall into either of those categories, especially those who are college-bound.

As a Freshman, I was sick for two months, but I went to school anyway, but only skipped maybe three or four days. That still took a HUGE chunk out of my grades because it took an eternity to catch up. The way most advanced classes are set up pound you into the ground if you miss ONE DAY, and Lord have mercy on your soul if that day happened to be a test day. I spent weeks making up the work and I honestly believe that's why I got a B+ on my final project, even though it was months before I presented, no matter how much advocates tell me that it was because the teachers didn't understand what satire was (though that may be a part of it).

I hate school, I'm not going to lie. It's much more work than it's worth, but if I was wrapped up in some paranormal things, I wouldn't skip school without a tough fight of principle.

[/rant]

Lady Esther said:

I find this interesting because I'm writing about a Caucasian/African-American girl in my second WIP. I sure hope she doesn't sound whiny. lol. But, seriously, I want to avoid the stereotypes as much as possible, which is what authors writing about different races tend to worry about.

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Eh...there can be some angst about her skin color, because I'm conscious of it as well. It's only this year that I've seen 'multiracial' on a standardized form. I never used to fill in the race/ethnicity information on school booklets, either, and none of the teachers pushed me to it.

Also, tons of people ask if I was adopted. Usually it's on the street, when I'm with my dad. It's annoying. I don't go on an angry tirade, I just say, "No, I wasn't. My mom's asian." They usually give me a look.

I can give you some more fun tidbits if you like. Some of them are headdesk inducing.

Haphazard,
I can remember being in high school and counting the days before I could leave. I think you are right. And I seriously hope you will enjoy college! I found it to be more fun, especially once I got all the GE classes finished and could focus on what I loved.. English.

It would be interesting if you could find a way to represent the majority of HS students by coming up with a story where your MC experiences the challenges outside of school (peers, parents or paranormal) overcomes it, and still graduates.

Legionsynch said:

Oh, and my favorite cliche. "I didn't think there'd be so much blood." I've seen it dozens of times lately, in books and movies. Just for once, I'd love to see someone say "Huh. I'd have thought there'd be more blood" while hyperventilating about the scene in front of them.

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There's actually a scene in my WIP where that line would work perfectly. Mind if I use it?

Esopha said:

Eh...there can be some angst about her skin color, because I'm conscious of it as well. It's only this year that I've seen 'multiracial' on a standardized form. I never used to fill in the race/ethnicity information on school booklets, either, and none of the teachers pushed me to it.

Also, tons of people ask if I was adopted. Usually it's on the street, when I'm with my dad. It's annoying. I don't go on an angry tirade, I just say, "No, I wasn't. My mom's asian." They usually give me a look.

I can give you some more fun tidbits if you like. Some of them are headdesk inducing.

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Ok, thanks. My sister's baby girl is African-American, Mexican, and Native-American and people ALWAYS ask my sister what ethnicity her child is, but when the child is with her Mexican father, people assume she's just Mexican. Do people frequently ask you about your ethnicity? Maybe we should PM.

Lady Esther said:

Ok, thanks. My sister's baby girl is African-American, Mexican, and Native-American and people ALWAYS ask my sister what ethnicity her child is, but when the child is with her Mexican father, people assume she's just Mexican. Do people frequently ask you about your ethnicity? Maybe we should PM.

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I don't care either way.

I look very asian, so people don't ask. My friends enjoy grabbing 'new people' and bringing them over to me. Then the ask them what ethnicity they think I am. None of them ever guess that I'm multiracial.

My mom's friend, who married an asian man, was actually stopped on the street. The woman who stopped her said, "That's not your baby, is it?" like it was some kind of crime... She just said, "It is my baby, good-bye," and removed herself from the situation.

That's what I find is the best thing to do. Just walk away, because if they don't get that it's possible for two people of different skin colors to get married, they're not going to understand no matter how slowly you speak.

I like to read about boyfriend/girlfriend relationships that are mature. Something that is more than hooking up. It can give teens something to dream about that's more than the crap that's on MTV's NEXT. It may not be realistic, but what dreams are?