What I’m Hearing: YA May 14, 2008
1. There is a real shortage of books about teen subcultures and I’m not talking about obvious ones (Goth, skater, etc)
2. Many of the manuscripts Editors are reading lack a teen voice i.e. , you can totally hear the adult narrating.
3. Everyone is bored with fluff reads and want “real” characters.
4. Big lack in books for boys.
Sidebar: Best upcoming YA I’ve read thusfar ? DIARY OF A CHAV by Grace Dent without a doubt . Subculture+ Teen talk+Real protagonist+ Hi-larious! It’s a UK import and getting well deserved pre-BEA buzz. Pick it up when it comes out!
I was at a writers’ workshop recently where one of the participants asked how to obtain a teen voice. One of the other participants said something to the effect of, “Oh, just be sure your characters text each other and say, ‘like’ and ‘OMG’ a lot.”
When I realized they weren’t kidding, it made me, like, so totally, like, you know…OMG! I left.
Thank goodness! Return to real. It’s called teen for a reason. I think people think nobody will want to market/sell/go for your book if it’s actually geared towards who it’s supposed to be geared towards. If you start making the language less then genuine (unless your character talks in a certain way for whatever reason), you’re giving up some integrity.
“Many of the manuscripts Editors are reading lack a teen voice i.e. you can totally hear the adult narrating”
Well, I suppose that should be one case where my youth (I’m 21) would be a gift rather than a curse.
But as a young person who reads YA books (shock, horror), “adult-speak” coming out of the mouths of teens where it sounds really wrong is enough to bring me out of a book.