Fess Up Friday: Gender In YA

In light of this post, I decided to tackle the same issue for Fess Up Friday.

Here goes: Do boy protagonists in YA novels interest you more when there's a romantic element in their story? Or do you prefer them dealing with other issues, such as identity/family/evilwarlockfromHades?

Sound off below!

P. S. I dig boy characters, in any way they're presented to me. As long as I care about the boy and about what happens to him, I'll read the whole book. Even if not a single page deals with him falling in love or getting the girl.

Go All Out, Or Don't Go At All

I talked about The Big Idea earlier this week. Now I wanna talk about what it takes to tackle The Big Idea.

Balls.

How do writers get them? Why are they so easy to find for some and super tough for others?

*shrugs* Don't ask me.

But I recently read a book in which a character says this: "Go all out, or don't go at all."

Writers. Athletes. Scientists. Everyone has goals, small or big, that they're dying to achieve. 2k a day. A Super Bowl championship ring. The cure for cancer. Doesn't matter what it is, only that it drives us forward.

In a way, I don't think people have balls until they want something. Sure, some leap before they look, but most gather courage after identifying what it is that fulfills them. And I invite you to do the same.

Go all out. Your future will thank you for it. *fist pump*

Now back to that WIP...

You vs. The Big Idea

My little brother recently informed me that our diva dog is in love.

With a male three times her size.

And a very loud bark.

*face palm*

Naturally, I likened my diva dog's infatuation to writing. I'm currently working on a manuscript that's challenging me in more ways than one. The genre isn't my forte, the voice is too dark for my funny bone, etc. Why am I writing it, you ask?

Because I wanted to take on The Big Idea.

Let me explain. The Big Idea is that project you can't stop thinking about, but prefer to leave behind for a much more comfortable story. Let's say you write contemporary YA, but a dystopian slips through your mind's cracks and won't let go. You think it's out of your league. It is the toughest thing you will ever plot in your life. Everyone always says to write what you know, anyway. Because of this, you convince yourself you can't pull it off. Only Cormac McCarthy and Suzanne Collins can do it, but not you. You're not as talented as they are.

But The Big Idea looks so good in your head. All those scenes would be great on paper. To you, they're the very definition of awesome. You're just not up to par with it.

Here's a tip: you're wrong.

If you can dream it, you can do it. The Big Idea is in your head, and only you can write it. Literature is not about being safe. What's it about, then? Way too many things to mention here, but one of those things is balls.

Yep. I said it. Writers need balls.

And apparently, chocolate. But that's for another post.

I encourage every writer out there to be like my diva dog--stop comparing and start embracing. Trust me, she'd embrace the heck out of that T-Rex if I let her, and the threat of being eaten by him doesn't faze her in the slightest.

So tell me, have you ever had The Big Idea? Did you put it aside, or did you face it with your head held high?

Confession: I Like Fake Men. A Lot.

Just in case I haven't made myself clear, Jensen Ackles is my husband:

I am Mrs. Jensen Ackles. Not anyone else. Period.

But even though I am committed to my stud muffin, there are times when my eyes wander. A LOT. And it seems as though I can't control myself. The power of male hotness is too strong for me to fight.

Male hotness = 50 points.

My will = zero.

Male hotness takes the championship. *face palm*

But here's the kicker: I am unfaithful with guys who don't exist.

*double face palm*

TV characters. YA bad boys. YA good boys.

I am a pile of schoolgirl mush whenever the Fake Other Ones appear.

The more I travel the blogosphere, the more readers I find spilling details about their unfaithfulness. It's as if everyone has that one stud muffin (or stud muffiness) they come home to, but there's THAT FAKE OTHER ONE their main squeeze doesn't know about. Well, in some cases, they do know, and it can actually make the relationship more tense.

Just ask this guy--he knows what I'm talking about.

Anyway, that Fake Other One makes you squee whenever he comes up on TV, or when you turn the page and he spews an awesome one-liner. He blurs the line between your adult self and that fifteen-year-old you thought you'd gotten rid of. Forget till death do us part--the Fake Other One swoops in as soon as your main squeeze turns the corner. Why, oh, why is the Fake Other One torturing you?!

Help me out here: is this normal? Do you crush on guys who don't exist? If so, what about them makes you swoon so much?

Fess Up Friday!

I'd like to take a moment to give a GINORMOUS HUG to my new followers, and to those who loved my Rob Pattz post!!! I never thought it would actually be funny! Or that YA Highway would share the link so other people could read it! *brain explodes*

Okay. Back to Fess Up Friday.

This week's trend question: Are you digging fallen angels?

Confession: I've read two fallen angel books, both YA. With one of them, I enjoyed the plot, but hated the characters. With the other, I hated the plot, but enjoyed the characters. Who said I was difficult?

I know these books will continue to get published, and I'm all for them. As long as writers remember to keep a healthy balance between story and character, I'm down.

Now it's your turn, buddies. Love 'em or hate 'em?

Slang In YA... and why I like it

Last week, I promised to tackle an issue regarding adult authors choosing to write for teens.

What issue, you ask? Slang.

Wikipedia defines slang as: the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's dialect or language. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo (see euphemism). It is also used to identify with one's peers.

Many readers complain about the overuse of slang in YA novels. I get it--it's annoying. It looks forced and a tad cliche. The author's attempt to capture teen speak can fall flat with the intended audience, but it can also be a bummer for adults reading YA, too. They won't relate to the characters or the dialogue. In some cases, people put books down because of this.

Confession: I would never do that.

I'd finish that slang infested book even if it costs me my sanity.

Oh, wait... I don't think I have any left...

Anyway, back to the point. Slang doesn't have to be used all over the place, but it is important to show the reader who the main character hangs out with, what he/she does in their spare time, and how he/she sees the world. Some authors illustrate this through the way their character describes setting and emotions. And sometimes, slang fits right in with those descriptions. Think about it: most teens don't talk to their parents the same way they talk to their best friend. Some do, of course. I don't believe in absolutes. But the truth can't be ignored--young adult lit should capture... wait for it... the young adult spirit. OMGs included.

A YA book shouldn't be bashed because it's slang infested. The same thing can't be said if the book talks down to its teen audience, or if it tries to teach them a lesson in an obvious way ("and the moral of the story is..."). Authors should simply be careful with how much slang means to a certain character in the books. Not everyone should be a fan of OMG. That would be a bit unrealistic, don't you think?

So. Slang in YA. I like it. I would read an entire book with it, but only if it adds to the characterization. Using it just because that's what you think teens like to read is a mistake. Just saying.

What say you, blogging buddies? Is slang your cup of tea?

Fess Up Friday!

This book review got me thinking about something that's been criticized lately. I promise to delve deeper next week, but for now, I'll only give you a taste.

This week's trend question: How do you feel about authors who write for adults choosing to write for teens?

Me? The only author I've read who writes for both audiences is Kim Harrison. I haven't read her adult books, but I enjoy her Madison Avery novels. Guess it just goes to show you: talent is talent. If you can capture the audience's voice, go for it. But nobody should write a YA book just because it's hot right now. Young readers can spot a fake from miles away, and they won't be too keen on buying your next book if the first one didn't do it for them.

What say you, peeps?