Hello everyone,
It has been quite awhile since I've posted and you can chalk all that up to life. However, with the Summer finally here I find myself reinvigorated and ready to embark on a rather lengthy and difficult writing quest that may or may not rid me of my remaining sanity.
I experienced an untold of amount of productivity during National Novel Writing Month and instead of 1,667 words a day I wrote 5,000 words a day and had hit my deadline 10 days into the month. I wondered how this could have happened, especially since I was very busy at the time with other pursuits, including tech week for a musical. Anyone who has ever experienced tech week, knows how difficult and long rehearsals can be. I decided that this is because I work well under pressure. Specifically, I work well under deadlines.
So since I'm not doing much this summer outside of a lot of reading and anime watching, I decided to invent my own, "National Novel Writing" event which I am probably the only one insane enough to participate in. I call it "National Novel Writing Season" or "NaNoWriSe". The perimeters are as follows:
- I will write two novel rough drafts each month in the months of June, July and August
- I will edit one previously completed rough draft each month
- I will not completely lose my mind.
Best case scenario, I leave the summer armed with six new rough drafts and three polished novels so that I can pick and choose based on the market which I should try to query. Worst case I will only have three new rough drafts and one polished novel. I will not allow myself to leave the summer with less than that.
Am I crazy? Absolutely. But, I am determined to be held accountable so I turn to you, my loyal readers (If I have any that is) for help. I shall be reporting on my progress throughout the summer and I will blog every day, if possible.
Wish me luck... and let NaNoWriSe begin!
Showing posts with label trends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trends. Show all posts
Monday, June 10, 2013
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
YA Urban Fantasy Stereotypes (Particularly of the romance variety)
Once upon a time, most fantasy took place in an imaginary, medieval set world. Then it started branching out to futuristic societies, post apocalyptic worlds and sci-fi. And then, not too long ago, a new genre caught on. Urban fantasy, in which a paranormal or fantasy element is put into our modern day world.
I love urban fantasy. I really do. I think mixing the fantastical with our world allows for really unique possibilities. In a way, Harry Potter was one of the first to do this in the Young Adult genre because it did take place in our world and it did have issues with muggles. It wasn't really urban fantasy because most of it did take place in a world of its own (The wizarding world. Really, dealing with muggles was more of a passing inconvenience). I do believe that Harry Potter started the trend of YA fantasy taking place in our modern world.
Then a new trend was created. A romance trend. And I think we all know what book started that explosion (Here's a hint. It has sparkles.) Sure there was romance in urban fantasy before Twilight but this little "vampire meets human" novel started the avalanche of paranormal romantic shlock.
And there's the problem. It seems like everything in the young adult genre these days involves three things: A hot boy who isn't human (Or just a hot boy), a mostly normal girl (who may have an ability of some sort) and an unbelievably unrealistic romance based almost solely on attraction.
Now whenever people hear the term: YA Urban Fantasy, they kind of expect the plot to be mostly romance. And it annoys me to no end.
YA romance is almost always idealized, especially in urban fantasy when the male love interest is just the most attractive thing on the face of the planet, always supports and protects the main heroine and is usually the strong one in the relationship.
Have any of these writers met teenage boys? Honestly, they are not any of those things. They can be protective but they're also easily jealous and insecure about how their girlfriend and others see them. They still make poor choices. Sometimes they're selfish. Teenage boys and girls who are "in love" fight a lot and have a lot of disagreements.
Girls, likewise, are easily annoyed by the jealousy of their boyfriend but will also sometimes over react when he talks to another girl. They over analyze relationships. They are also insecure about how others see them. And in Urban fantasy, these issues are often neglected. The guy is just perfect and the girl is just so lucky to have him. True love.
Barf.
When I pick up Urban fantasy I expect to read something kick ass and intense, not a two paragraph description of the love interest's eyes. I expect that from romance. Urban Fantasy and romance are not the same thing. Everyone just seems to think they are.
-Authoress Anonymous
PS: I'll be continuing on this rant for the next few posts. I have more points to make on YA romance but I don't want to ramble on too long in one setting.
I love urban fantasy. I really do. I think mixing the fantastical with our world allows for really unique possibilities. In a way, Harry Potter was one of the first to do this in the Young Adult genre because it did take place in our world and it did have issues with muggles. It wasn't really urban fantasy because most of it did take place in a world of its own (The wizarding world. Really, dealing with muggles was more of a passing inconvenience). I do believe that Harry Potter started the trend of YA fantasy taking place in our modern world.
Then a new trend was created. A romance trend. And I think we all know what book started that explosion (Here's a hint. It has sparkles.) Sure there was romance in urban fantasy before Twilight but this little "vampire meets human" novel started the avalanche of paranormal romantic shlock.
And there's the problem. It seems like everything in the young adult genre these days involves three things: A hot boy who isn't human (Or just a hot boy), a mostly normal girl (who may have an ability of some sort) and an unbelievably unrealistic romance based almost solely on attraction.
Now whenever people hear the term: YA Urban Fantasy, they kind of expect the plot to be mostly romance. And it annoys me to no end.
YA romance is almost always idealized, especially in urban fantasy when the male love interest is just the most attractive thing on the face of the planet, always supports and protects the main heroine and is usually the strong one in the relationship.
Have any of these writers met teenage boys? Honestly, they are not any of those things. They can be protective but they're also easily jealous and insecure about how their girlfriend and others see them. They still make poor choices. Sometimes they're selfish. Teenage boys and girls who are "in love" fight a lot and have a lot of disagreements.
Girls, likewise, are easily annoyed by the jealousy of their boyfriend but will also sometimes over react when he talks to another girl. They over analyze relationships. They are also insecure about how others see them. And in Urban fantasy, these issues are often neglected. The guy is just perfect and the girl is just so lucky to have him. True love.
Barf.
When I pick up Urban fantasy I expect to read something kick ass and intense, not a two paragraph description of the love interest's eyes. I expect that from romance. Urban Fantasy and romance are not the same thing. Everyone just seems to think they are.
-Authoress Anonymous
PS: I'll be continuing on this rant for the next few posts. I have more points to make on YA romance but I don't want to ramble on too long in one setting.
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