The adult, as written by the teenager
Dec. 10th, 2007 01:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valis2I'm always fascinated by fics written by teenagers that portray adults. Certainly there are many teen writers with a lot of skill who draw convincing portraits of adults. But then there's that wish fulfillment fantasy writing--a teen writing about herself as an adult, or what she imagines would be a "cool" life as an adult.
Ages ago, I read a story (HP story) by a teen whose protagonist drove an "old" car; worked as a bartender--but was so good at is she only had to work three days a month; kept only the money she needed to live on and donated the rest (retirement? huh?); wore clothing/makeup that wasn't so great, but anyone who looked at her knew she would be gorgeous if she spent a moment on it; could speak Russian fluently; had lots of dangerous enemies; had an apartment with some sort of homemade security system; and didn't bother with a man because she didn't need one. There are a lot of details I've forgotten by this point, but you get the picture.
On the surface, it sounds intriguing, but as written it was choppy and odd, which I'm sure was due mostly to the writer's inexperience. What is special about it is the adult trappings the teen has provided, and how she's imagined this character.
The ideals of childhood, let loose in a fic; it's pretty thrilling to imagine what it would be like to live on your own terms. To do what you want, exactly how you want to. It's a common theme in teen fics, I would say; I've read several versions of stories like this, and they're all very into world-building--no, I should call it adult-building, honestly. All of them want to create the adult they'd like to be, and they do it in style. It's fascinating to see the ideal adult that they build, and how they picture the life this ideal adult will lead.
Certainly pop culture plays into all of this--so many kids create Ninja/Assassin/Secret Agent fantasies, or tie in the age-old fantasy of These Aren't Really My Parents--My Real Parents Are Voldemort And Galadriel, or any number of movie/book/TV/you name it images. But the biggest source is imagination, fueled by the culture they've experienced.
I mean, eventually RL just squashes a lot of this, or, if she continues, forces her to be a lot more reasonable about things. Having a horse that can speak is one thing; having a horse that can speak, create violent sparkling rainbows from beating his wings, and has the wisdom of Buddha and the charisma of James Dean is another thing. At some point I think all developing writers start to cut back on the crazy details and instead try to find more realistic, believable plot elements. I think that one day you look back at your own writing and you can see exactly why you wrote that gorgeous guy into the story as your boyfriend.
That's what interests me--and also, conversely, sometimes turns me off when I read stories like that. When I can see the why of the author poking through, it's jarring. When I see that the writer really wants a Ducati motorbike, so the main character zips around on one in Seattle as his main transportation and never seems to have raingear, I can see the why. When I see that the writer has made Harry Potter into a girl so that she can hang out with her OFC and giggle over their latest Hot Topic gear, I can see the why.
It's when I can't see the why that I really get into a story--when I'm so into the believability of the scenario, the delicious depth and breadth of a fic, that it almost has an occluding effect on the writer's personality--that I'm most impressed. When the whys disappear and all that's left is story and breathing characters--that's when I squee and clap my hands as I read.
It's difficult to do this, though. I have my own agenda, and my own thoughts and hopes. Don't you always want to play a little bit? I always want to stick scenes in where the characters are pushed into something I've always wanted to do, or when I am tempted to give them a cool car or a poetry gig.
I think it comes down to either resisting the urge, or doing it--but doing it well, and plausibly. Plausible has become my keyword over the last four years in fandom. But plausibility changes from person to person--some people will believe a giant radioactive lizard is wrecking Tokyo, while others won't believe a diner serves lasagna. We all have different limits. Trying to make it plausible to everyone--trying to retain the imagination that fuels the fantasy, but then channel it into the story--that's the challenge.
In the interest of oversharing, here is teen!valis's idea of wish-fulfillment-adult!valis: dark tan & lighter hair (because valis moved to California directly after graduation); two poetry books published (but not selling too terrifically); worked as translator; lost weight because a health club owner liked her poetry and gave her a free membership; rode motorcycle as primary means of transportation; lost her fiancée in tragic accident six months prior to story's beginning; moonlighted in an amazing rock band called Leviathan. lol.
Ages ago, I read a story (HP story) by a teen whose protagonist drove an "old" car; worked as a bartender--but was so good at is she only had to work three days a month; kept only the money she needed to live on and donated the rest (retirement? huh?); wore clothing/makeup that wasn't so great, but anyone who looked at her knew she would be gorgeous if she spent a moment on it; could speak Russian fluently; had lots of dangerous enemies; had an apartment with some sort of homemade security system; and didn't bother with a man because she didn't need one. There are a lot of details I've forgotten by this point, but you get the picture.
On the surface, it sounds intriguing, but as written it was choppy and odd, which I'm sure was due mostly to the writer's inexperience. What is special about it is the adult trappings the teen has provided, and how she's imagined this character.
The ideals of childhood, let loose in a fic; it's pretty thrilling to imagine what it would be like to live on your own terms. To do what you want, exactly how you want to. It's a common theme in teen fics, I would say; I've read several versions of stories like this, and they're all very into world-building--no, I should call it adult-building, honestly. All of them want to create the adult they'd like to be, and they do it in style. It's fascinating to see the ideal adult that they build, and how they picture the life this ideal adult will lead.
Certainly pop culture plays into all of this--so many kids create Ninja/Assassin/Secret Agent fantasies, or tie in the age-old fantasy of These Aren't Really My Parents--My Real Parents Are Voldemort And Galadriel, or any number of movie/book/TV/you name it images. But the biggest source is imagination, fueled by the culture they've experienced.
I mean, eventually RL just squashes a lot of this, or, if she continues, forces her to be a lot more reasonable about things. Having a horse that can speak is one thing; having a horse that can speak, create violent sparkling rainbows from beating his wings, and has the wisdom of Buddha and the charisma of James Dean is another thing. At some point I think all developing writers start to cut back on the crazy details and instead try to find more realistic, believable plot elements. I think that one day you look back at your own writing and you can see exactly why you wrote that gorgeous guy into the story as your boyfriend.
That's what interests me--and also, conversely, sometimes turns me off when I read stories like that. When I can see the why of the author poking through, it's jarring. When I see that the writer really wants a Ducati motorbike, so the main character zips around on one in Seattle as his main transportation and never seems to have raingear, I can see the why. When I see that the writer has made Harry Potter into a girl so that she can hang out with her OFC and giggle over their latest Hot Topic gear, I can see the why.
It's when I can't see the why that I really get into a story--when I'm so into the believability of the scenario, the delicious depth and breadth of a fic, that it almost has an occluding effect on the writer's personality--that I'm most impressed. When the whys disappear and all that's left is story and breathing characters--that's when I squee and clap my hands as I read.
It's difficult to do this, though. I have my own agenda, and my own thoughts and hopes. Don't you always want to play a little bit? I always want to stick scenes in where the characters are pushed into something I've always wanted to do, or when I am tempted to give them a cool car or a poetry gig.
I think it comes down to either resisting the urge, or doing it--but doing it well, and plausibly. Plausible has become my keyword over the last four years in fandom. But plausibility changes from person to person--some people will believe a giant radioactive lizard is wrecking Tokyo, while others won't believe a diner serves lasagna. We all have different limits. Trying to make it plausible to everyone--trying to retain the imagination that fuels the fantasy, but then channel it into the story--that's the challenge.
In the interest of oversharing, here is teen!valis's idea of wish-fulfillment-adult!valis: dark tan & lighter hair (because valis moved to California directly after graduation); two poetry books published (but not selling too terrifically); worked as translator; lost weight because a health club owner liked her poetry and gave her a free membership; rode motorcycle as primary means of transportation; lost her fiancée in tragic accident six months prior to story's beginning; moonlighted in an amazing rock band called Leviathan. lol.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-10 07:59 pm (UTC)That is fascinating--I wonder if sometimes the difference is the level of real commitment the author is giving to her fantasy? Like if the "reason" behind it is something trivial like wanting to giggle over stuff at Hot Pocket, then the writing is. But somebody trying to work something out from the heart or really imagine something they want will make it work more. So even stuff like the bartender, it's ridiculous because it's so divorced from reality, but you can see how some of this stuff means something to the person--that they want to have a life of freedom, but also give to charity, they want to be attractive, but they don't want to be vain etc.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-12-10 08:09 pm (UTC)She was a lot of fun, lol. You should read her story--on second thought, no one should read that story, ha!
you can see how some of this stuff means something to the person--that they want to have a life of freedom, but also give to charity, they want to be attractive, but they don't want to be vain etc.
EXACTLY! Sometimes you can extrapolate the girl from her avatar--it's really a unique blueprint to the issues the girl has, or the dreams the girl has. That's what interests me about all of this.