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I'm going to post this here instead of over in the Research room, because I know a lot of teens hang out over here. Okay, I'm starting my first YA paranormal. My agent LOVES the idea, because it's really different. I think I have a handle on my lead's personality, but I don't want to screw up and make him sound too "old."
My MC is Isaac Thomas, a 17-year old Junior, African-American, who's a high school running back. He's All-State and popular, but isn't full of himself. He struggles with school (primarily English Comp. and Math,) has a decent younger sister who winds up helping him out in the clutch during the plot, two parents who are upper middle class (thought about the mother as either a lawyer or doctor, which would make the push for him to go to college stronger than just going straight to the NFL.)
Now, all that said---is this realistic for a mid-sized town? Not being African-American myself, I want to give him a background that I can write easily, while not making it too urban jungle. But, I DO want to describe a typical party in the first chapter that winds up getting out of hand. It needs to turn into something of a gang brawl where the MC gets shot. He winds up dying and then comes back (hence the paranormal angle.)
I'm setting the opening on the last day of school, and his buddies talk him into going to a party at someone's house---one of those "friend of a friend" kind where they don't really know anyone.
Would appreciate hints about what the party should look like, slang currently used at mid-sized high schools and such. Some things NEVER change, so I probably won't have any problem with the sexual tension or drug aspects---because there's always that. Has anyone wound up at a party that went wrong? How did it start and what did people do?
Thanks! Naturally offering your real/board name on the acknowledgment page!
My MC is Isaac Thomas, a 17-year old Junior, African-American, who's a high school running back. He's All-State and popular, but isn't full of himself. He struggles with school (primarily English Comp. and Math,) has a decent younger sister who winds up helping him out in the clutch during the plot, two parents who are upper middle class (thought about the mother as either a lawyer or doctor, which would make the push for him to go to college stronger than just going straight to the NFL.)
Now, all that said---is this realistic for a mid-sized town? Not being African-American myself, I want to give him a background that I can write easily, while not making it too urban jungle. But, I DO want to describe a typical party in the first chapter that winds up getting out of hand. It needs to turn into something of a gang brawl where the MC gets shot. He winds up dying and then comes back (hence the paranormal angle.)
I'm setting the opening on the last day of school, and his buddies talk him into going to a party at someone's house---one of those "friend of a friend" kind where they don't really know anyone.
Would appreciate hints about what the party should look like, slang currently used at mid-sized high schools and such. Some things NEVER change, so I probably won't have any problem with the sexual tension or drug aspects---because there's always that. Has anyone wound up at a party that went wrong? How did it start and what did people do?
Thanks! Naturally offering your real/board name on the acknowledgment page!