Is it just me or.....

I once wrote a novel-length story in which I - hormonal teenager and all - included every possible cliche. Oh god, that thing was awful. And I loved every minute of it.

I also recall writing stories about talking worms.

BeautyBlitz wrote:

I am reminded of one of the stories I was working on in my younger years. Mary and Sue were best friends. Mary was going out with Gary, but Gary and Sue were in love. Gary fakes his death to be with Sue but Mary finds out.

That is as far as the plot development ever got. I was like 11 or 12 I think.

I think most girls have written a story like that at one point of their lives. I used to base my writings off of my imaginary adventures. I used to play with these stuffed animals and they all had their own personalities and families and every time I played it with my sister, each different scenario was an episode. We had the stuffed animals stranded on an island trying to survive, gone back in time during the ice age, and be sheriffs in the wild west with Green Puppy (yes, he was green. original name isn't it?) and Red Puppy (they're brothers) who fall in love with a girl and get into a fight. One of them dies. Back then, everything we played was so vivid we actually cried. I miss my imagination... We also reenacted Once Upon A Marigold. I used to love that book.

I am reminded of one of the stories I was working on in my younger years. Mary and Sue were best friends. Mary was going out with Gary, but Gary and Sue were in love. Gary fakes his death to be with Sue but Mary finds out.

That is as far as the plot development ever got. I was like 11 or 12 I think.

Talkatoast wrote:

I have no issues with people writing about vampires. Write what you want to write. Those kids are just getting practice, and we all had to start somewhere. Most of them are preteens anyway. Doesn't mean we should go easy on them, but think back to the days when you were a preteen. I'm sure most of the stuff you wrote wasn't original either.

You do have a point there. I can't even remember much about my first story but I can still remember a little about it being a lot like Lion King. This was back in the first grade. I just don't like fantasy in general but I suppose I'd rather read a preteen's story about a vampire than another love story about some kids in high school.

I have no issues with people writing about vampires. Write what you want to write. Those kids are just getting practice, and we all had to start somewhere. Most of them are preteens anyway. Doesn't mean we should go easy on them, but think back to the days when you were a preteen. I'm sure most of the stuff you wrote wasn't original either.

I think that reading something like Twilight has gotten these girls to want to write. But since they love Twilight so much, they subconsciously include it in everything. I don't think they do it on purpose, but it is unavoidable, since more often than not, Twilight is one of the only books they've been exposed to.

denizenofevil wrote:

I've noticed that too. Blame it on the Twilight craze and yes, most of the stories are incredibly similar and cliched. The worst part of it is how the stories have increasingly bad grammar and spelling. I don't know much about fantasy but after the many stories I've read on Y!A, I don't think I want to get into it or for that matter EVER read another fantasy story ever again. Did you guys also notice that the stories are mostly vampire romances?

You're right; and all of them say "Well, my story's about vampires BUT IT'S NOT LIKE TWILIGHT."

But it always is.

I've noticed that too. Blame it on the Twilight craze and yes, most of the stories are incredibly similar and cliched. The worst part of it is how the stories have increasingly bad grammar and spelling. I don't know much about fantasy but after the many stories I've read on Y!A, I don't think I want to get into it or for that matter EVER read another fantasy story ever again. Did you guys also notice that the stories are mostly vampire romances?

Yes, maybe I have been too harsh there. Of course the sort of things as you mentioned will show, but only to people who are familiar with swords and horses. The things of everyday life, such as details about actual places, or the way institutions work, that is what I meant more specifically. I wouldn't know about swords, so I wouldn't notice that, but I would frown immediately if someone were to tell me that you can get from Hamburg to Bremen by direct flight...

Edit: Come to think of it, dedicated fantasy readers WOULD know these things.

Solveig wrote:

Well, I suppose fantasy is en vogue. I have always thought it relatively easy to write fantasy, since you can make everything up and don't have to actually KNOW stuff about the world that surrounds you in real life.

I don't necessarily agree with that. If you are going to put swords in your book and you know nothing about swordplay, or even the basic termanology, it will show.

If you are going to put epic journeys in your book and know nothing about how long a horse can really run before it dies, it will show.

There are many things that should be researched right from basic weather patterns and geography to archery (if necessary) and other things.

Well, I suppose fantasy is en vogue. I have always thought it relatively easy to write fantasy, since you can make everything up and don't have to actually KNOW stuff about the world that surrounds you in real life. Also, to some people fantasy characters appear so very special in themselves that they don't think it necessary to allow them any form of depth or development. That is somewhat difficult to write, so people grab a nice vampire/werewolf/banana king and that's it.

Come to think of it, there are few fantasy novels I know that actually feature well-rounded characters. Harry Potter does, I believe - especially since Rowling does not do this nasty black-white painting (not a single character in the book is ONLY evil, except perhaps Voldemort, and even he has his reasons). Twilight doesn't, obviously. Alice in Wonderland doesn't have them, either, but I don't really find it necessary there - the main focus is on language and interaction with strange dreamland creatures, after all. Anne Rice does it, of course.

Hmmm. Must read more fantasy, to be able to produce a more satisfying answer. ^^

Is it just me or is everyone really writing stories that either have vampires or stories about people with magical superpowers that don't know they have superpowers.

Almost everytime I read someone's story excerpt on B&A it seems that the majority of them are all the same. Once in a while someone posts a good idea but then I immediatly warn them of internet theft and suggest they remove the question lest their good idea get stolen.

It would be nice to see people come up with their own storylines, even after certain books have inspired them to write. Just because a book about vampires inspires you does not mean you must write a book about vampires.

I just find it annoying that 9 1/2 ideas out of 10 on there are relatively similar.