Hello!! Rookie-writer here!! And, as a rookie, I need the opinion of some more experiences writers about this issue. See, would it be too bold to directly feature themes like modern homophobia, rooted homphobia, repressed sexuality and racism in a YA/NA book? I think this are real issues IRL and many people finds themselves affected by them in one way or the other, but they aren't adressed properly in most books or at least not in the most realistic and relatable way. I would like to change that. And some of those aspects (specifically, rooted homophobia and repressed sexuality) are pretty much essential in a character-redemption-arc that I have in mind for one of my main characters but I don't know if adressing them directly would be too... hardcore, sort to speak What do you guys think? If you need more details about what I have in mind for my story for better answer, just ask! Thanks in advance for your advices, bye!!
Not at all. In fact, there is more of a hunger for themes such as these so long as they are pulled off well.
What the heck is the difference between Modern and Traditional Homophobia? I have neither, but I think putting Modern in front of it, doesn't make a difference.
Uh... It's more like saying current homophobia. As in, the homophobia that we see nowadays. It's not the same thing as it was in past years. While I'm grateful to say that homophobia is been decreasing, the remainings are as agressive and vulgar as ever. I want to address that problem in a way that is as realistic as possible, in a way that people can feel that it's present and that it has to be stopped...
I think if you're going to write about these things as a self proclaimed rookie, choose one issue for a story and delve deep into it. Really the only way to join racism and homophobia in a story is to have the main couple interracial and at this point in time I think a positive outlook on the interracial aspect is more in need than combining racism and homophobia.
just a word of caution from your friendly neighborhood moderator - this is a plot development thread, we are not in the debate room. Therefore please stick to the question rather than your views about the validity or otherwise of homophobia or racism
I didn't say I was going to write the book as a rookie writer. On my introduction forum post, I said that I'm planning on writing a book one day in the future but that I haven't reached the level to try that out yet. And, just for the record, yes. I'm planning on making the main couple interracial.
I would first suggest you to read around the topic and do some research because you should know this all ready is you read YA/NA. It's been covered quite a bit. I think they are good subjects to focus on because they are real issues in the world and it baffles me. I know there is some contradiction on what "theme" is but I've always seen it as the question explored the subject - not the subject itself. So, War might the be subject but the theme is "can you keep your humanity during a war?". It's a good subject. But definitely look at what's been done before and read some of those novels. All the best
You're still going to be a rookie writer when you write it though. Experience makes the master and if you're planning on it being one of your first books to write then you're going to be a rookie. You're touching on a very serious and complex issue with this story. YA may not be the best medium to bring it forward but it also creates representation in the genre which is a good thing. Thing is, lots of people are writing this sort of thing now. So your issue isn't if the idea is too bold, which it isn't, but if you can put a spin on it that makes it stand out from the rest. The formula I see the most is that they start off by keeping the relationship a secret, then one of them wants to tell people and the other disagrees and that creates the rift or conflict in their relationship. Then they stop being intimate so one cheats or there's an implication that one is cheating when they aren't and nobody actually clarifies the issue and then the minority race person is the one to retreat from the relationship and call it quits because of pressure from outside forces and the fact that they can't get past the internalised stigma against their own relationship. Then every one gets sad, one of them acts out and in the end they get back together at the expense of the minorities other relationships. The sacrifice is always on the minorities side, is my point if my rambling wasn't clear. How will you make your story different?
Overall i'd suggest that there are plenty of YA/NA books with adult themes so you should be fine. The key is to call them out in the blurb/synopsis so that the reader (or Agent) know what they are getting - however that is getting ahead of ourselves since the book is as yet unwritten. My advice overall would be to write the book you want to write and worry about classification afterwards - if it turns out to have too much adult content to be saleable in the Ya/NA cat you can sell it as a book for adults instead
Thanks for your advices!! I think they are pretty helpful and you helped me put some things on perspective, I really appreciate it! I think that you're right, perhaps I'm worrying about the classification too early considering that I haven't even written the book yet, and we all know that several aspects of a book can change a lot in the process of creating it, so I think I should write the ideas as they come to me and then let creativity to do its magic until I have to worry about the technical details...
Thank you so much for your advice!! You really made me to think and put tons of things on perspective!! Your example about theme and subject is extraordinary and inspiring, I'm gonna try get some ideas from it! Thank you so much again! Bye!!
