The Contemps discussion

Hello!

Just curious as to why we've never had any discussions in this group? Let's start a few! :-)

- Julie

Perhaps we can start talking about why we write contemporary. What makes being "real" so real for you?

okay, i'll bite. i write contemporary YA because i want to take the reader through all the adventures that happen to them each and every day. and when you're a teenager, almost anything can be an adventure, be it a first date, or walking down the hall with a new friend, or trying to talk to someone you're crushing on. these are adventures. and none of them require magic or spaceships or time travel. i love all that stuff, of course, but i'd rather write about the kind of adventures my readers will actually be doing.

so... that's the start of a discussion. anyone have thoughts on this? disagreements? subtle differences of thought?

I agree with C.I. but I'll add another reason I write contemporary: I'm lousy at world building. I don't want to develop and create a world and then have to describe it and bring it to life on the page. I want to do that with the characters. So, by writing contemporary, I can focus more on relationships and although setting is important it's not all-important. Does that make sense?

Amy wrote: "I agree with C.I. but I'll add another reason I write contemporary: I'm lousy at world building. I don't want to develop and create a world and then have to describe it and bring it to life on the..."

excellent points, amy, but I wouldn't say you're lousy at world building. i'd say you choose not to world build. and you've got good reasons.

and look at this! we've got ourselves a discussion! who's next?!?

Hi. I'm so glad I found you guys! I don't have many author/writing friends who write contemporary realism for YA. (Most write spec/sci-fi/fantasy.)

I write contemporary realism because I love to write it and read it. My stories show ordinary teens that they don't need super powers or magic to cope with their problems or do good in the world. My debut novel is Bird Face, in which the MC transitions from the end of eighth grade to the start of ninth grade. The sequel, which I hope will be published after it is completed, takes place in high school. I also completed a YA historical manuscript, but it may be a loner.

I just don't enjoy making up imaginary worlds, and some of the books I do try to read like that are starting to sound alike. Has anyone else had that experience?

It's hit or miss for me, Cynthia. Some imaginary worlds are awesome, some are lame. Personally, I think that if a writer's good enough, they could write about pretty much anything, imaginary or real, and it would be great.

Personally, I'm not sure I could write about imaginary worlds even if I wanted to. They don't really come into my mind like they do for some people. Which is fine, the contemporary world is interesting enough, I think. And sometimes these days, the contemporary world seems like the road less traveled.

I agree that the contemporary world is interesting (and sometimes scary/shocking) enough!

I'm afraid to admit to most of my friends that I rarely enjoy a story that's not contemporary. The closest would be a dystopian novel such as Hunger Games because it's believable for the near future.

Good to meet you, C.I.

Hello to everyone and yay for this conversation. Contemporary young adult/new adult...life's hard enough without being locked in a fortress, right?

We build our own walls, metaphorical but very real, and I think writing about these walls and the lucky people who help us break them down, both major and minor characters, is more empowering than the fantasy world. Of course, this could be that because like C.I., I don't see imaginary worlds well. When someone else writes them, I'm all up in it, even though it's not my genre of choice. Amanda Hocking, JK Rowling, Suzanne Collins, all amazing. I write what I know (to an extent:)) and I know real life, it's hardships, and everything in between. "Truth is stranger than fiction..." yeah?

BTW, I'm glad I found you all, too. I don't have author friends, mostly because I constantly forget to check my social sites and I don't allow my phone to beep at me, so know that if I don't engage, I'm not ignoring, I'm just in that LIFE we all write about:)

Hi, Kristen! Nice to meet you.

My last book was about a girl whose life had kind of turned to crap and by the end, she'd turned things around and life was good again.
Now I'm writing a new book. So far everyone's unhappy with their life, but I haven't quite figured out how they're going to turn things around.
I guess this is part of why we enjoy writing. Trying to figure out where the story's supposed to go.

Hi Cynthia! C.I. I understand your dilemma. I am in the midst of brainstorming and hashing out scenes for my new novel as well, and my characters are forming slowly. As individuals, I see them, it's together that I'm wondering how they will interact. A lot like life, yeah?

And when we get to the end of the book, when it's completely edited and done, we'll say "It was all so easy! How could the story have been any other way?"

I've had my head inside a manuscript and just getting around to replying to my invitation to join the group. I feel so at home...at last. There are so many fantasy books out that I was beginning to feel like the last contemporary writer on the planet. So glad I'm not.

I write contemporary/realistic stories because I love to delve into real issues that young people face and show a character working through them. To me, it seems a way to shine a light for someone struggling and feeling alone in that struggle.

Thank you for inviting me!

Welcome! Our names feel strangely similar. C.I. and C Lee. Separated at birth, perhaps?