Two things have or are happening to inspire this months topic. One is that it's my birthday next month and I'll be leaving my 20s behind. The other is that I've discovered Wattpad, or more specifically what is popular on Wattpad and that just happens to be One Direction fan fiction.
In the last few years I feel like I've become more detached to youth culture and as a result it has influenced how much I enjoy some of the more popular YA books out there. Sometimes it's as though I'm the only one who doesn't "get" how awesome a much hyped new YA release is. This makes me worry that the ripples of my maturing state of mind is going to flow into my writing and I'll get the most dreaded of review comments saying that it's clear I'm not a teenager.
I guess aging in inevitable though and I can only hope that there are others out there like me who will forever be teenagers at heart!
Well, I'll be leaving my 20s behind in less than 2 years, so I'm feeling it myself. You're not alone in keeping up with YA--it seems that NA is capturing the attention more nowadays than YA. When it comes to writing, growing up doesn't instantly change your writing. You can still tap into being a teenager. :)
ReplyDeleteHope you have an amazing birthday.
ReplyDeleteI believe staying young at heart is the key to truly enjoying life no matter how old you get.
Happy birthday!!
ReplyDeleteIf you're worried your young voice won't shine through the words, find a test reader who is a young adult and get feedback.
Hey, I've never aged a day past 16. (And never will.)
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday next month, and welcome to the next decade bracket. It's not such a bad one. ;)
I'm new to your blog, but I love your header!
Hi and happy birthday :)
ReplyDeleteI think so many people who write YA are over the YA age, so I think it's a lot more about being able to put yourself back in that position. Where so many things are new; there are these firsts etc. Also, don't think you're the only one who isn't into all those hyped-up books. I think sometimes people are just scared to say anything negative. Hope you have a great week!!
Ninja Girl
Happy early birthday girlie. I'll occasionally get on wattpad and read some of the stories I find that some of them are really good.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! I had one too this week. I remember my Big 3Oh. My friends conspired to make it the best ever. And don't worry about the exciting new YA releases. You are normal for anyone not in their teens. I just read books as they come to me, have some favourite writers and read some on recommendation. And of course, there's the CBCA shortlist. I tend to roll my eyes when some blogger goes, "OMG, this is such a great book, can't WAIT to read it, look at the cover!" But those bloggers are generally VERY young. Doesn't mean you can't go right on enjoying YA fiction, you're just pickier and don't require it to be about some girl, see, who meets this gorgeous pair of boys who fight over her and one is a vampire/prince/vampire prince... ;-) My teen student writers discovered Wattpad when their old source of online writing dried up. They love the fact you can choose a cover and get crit from others on the site. Er- One Direction FAN FICTION?
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! I personally haven't felt the effect of aging, haha.
ReplyDeletewww.modernworld4.blogspot.com
I'll never grow out of my teenagery-ness, I'm sure. I'm 37 and I still haven't yet! But, some people do mature and find they like different things as they age. If you do end up doing that, then just go with it. You can't help the phases you pass through in your life anymore than you can help the ones you don't ever seem to pass out of when you should.
ReplyDeleteI really wish I were 30 again. That is a really fantastic age to be! I only wish I had been in better health. You're neither so young, you're stupid nor too old to be useful anymore and everyone is still gorgeous at that age. Ah... good times. :D
Happy Birthday..I'm only 24, but I get what you mean about the ya books that tend to be a bit too teeny...Sometimes I have to take a break from them. There's only so much angst I can take at once, which is when I jump on over to UF (speaking of...your post about not liking Magic Slays is totally understandable. I didnt like it nearly as much as the others though I still loved it....but Magic Rises...OMG!!! you really should give it a try and see how you like it. That was my second fav of all of them, because a certain character plays a huge part in it all, and Kate becomes even more badass...but I digress) I've recently determined, that I can't read any YA Books where the MC is 15 or younger. I just can't anymore. Thay're too young and I can't relate no matter how hard I try.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday! I don't usually read YA fiction but some of it gets me going, remembering those years is easy. Then again, I also remember why the best thing about adolescence is that it'll come to an end... Then I go back to Stephen king =)
ReplyDeleteHappy early birthday??? I'm close to leaving my twenties too. God, just saying that makes me feel so old. lol. I think that no matter the age, we'll all be enjoying the YA genre. Like others, I usually can't read anything where the MC is younger than 16. I've now gravitated towards the New Adult genre, which sadly seems to be a repeat of the usual sad sob stories where the main characters are emotionally damaged. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Lan! While I don't think I'll ever grow out of the YA genre as a whole, there are definitely types of YA that I've started steering away from as I get older--generally the ones where the MC just feels young and immature and everything is omg this and lol that.
ReplyDeleteYou know, hype is just a subjective thing. I don't think it has all that much to do with age. :-)
ReplyDeleteNew follower here. Best of luck feeling your YA self. I'm so glad to find a new writing friend. I look forward to visiting again.
ReplyDeleteSylvia
http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/