Small Town Teenagers - Writers Forum

EmuJenkins · 07-12-2005, 08:58 PM

I am writing a story about small town teenagers, but it is difficult to really know what they do when I haven't experienced it myself. I know a lot of small town teenagers are bored, so they drink a lot, but there's gotta be more. If anybody is a teenager in a small town or grew up in a small town, I'd like to hear what it was like.

EmuJenkins · 07-12-2005, 08:59 PM

Oh yeah, one more thing. Can anybody recommend any small town teenager books?

Kaku-Ryu · 07-12-2005, 09:30 PM

I am 14 and live in a town so small that it's called a Village. >.<
lol! I don't really understand what your asking though, what do you need to know? (you can PM me if ya want)

journyman161 · 07-12-2005, 11:04 PM

My experience was long ago, and in Oz, but a common factor is they have less reliance on manufactured entertainment.

The guys go hunting or fishing when young, they have more experience with the basics of life, such as killing animals & preparing them for food.

Mostly in a country area, if a kid wants money, he has to go work for it. Mum & Dad rarely have cash to spare. There are some well-off people in the rural areas, but even among them, most are asset wealthy, not money wealthy.

They quite often get their initial sex ed from watching animals, most pick up fairly good mechanical skills from needing to fix things when well away from a service centre & the local sports team is a focus of many.

My experience over the years is country kids are more aware of the world they live in, & quite often perform well when removed to the city, but often city kids brought to the country need an extended adjustment period.
City kids tend to be better with strangers, & in Oz at least, have a better grasp of political situations and the world outside Oz.

Of course, people being just plain folks, there are exceptions everywhere. What I'm talking of here is generalities & there will be all mixes & types in each location.

For anything more specific, I'd need to know more about the town you're thinking of.

lisajane · 07-13-2005, 06:45 AM

And journyman accurately explains why I'd go absolutely mental living in the country.

Barr · 07-13-2005, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaku-Ryu

I am 14 and live in a town so small that it's called a Village. >.<
lol! I don't really understand what your asking though, what do you need to know? (you can PM me if ya want)

God bless the village.....620people in my village...

mammamaia · 07-13-2005, 09:25 AM

at 14, i lived in a village, too [valhalla, ny]... but that was 52 years ago, so i don't think my experiences will help you much, unless you're setting your story in the 'dark ages'...

hugs, maia

thedarkboots · 07-13-2005, 09:36 AM

Think about the relationships they have with friends, teachers and their parents. Do they know their boundaries?
Friendships is an important part of being a teenager in my opinion., how they talk, dress etc. How are they influenced by each other. What lengths will they go to to impress each other. Think about your characters behaviour and what they want then go from there.
Hope this helpp.

EmuJenkins · 07-13-2005, 12:28 PM

Thanks for replying.
To be more specific, the town is in Ontario (it's loosely based on Southampton, which is on Lake Huron).
What I was really wondering is what do you do if you live in a small town? Such as on the weekend or during the summer.
Also, what are big events in small towns? I could see Canada Day being one (I'm at the cottage right now, and went into the local small town for their Canada Day fireworks) but anything else?

Barr · 07-13-2005, 01:03 PM

Southampton??

now you're in my neck of the woods...

Small town festivals.... July 1 parties are big of course, and each town has it's own little festival...Port Elgin has Pumpkinfest in October(old car show, pumpkin weight off), Kincardine has a big Scottish Festival, Lucknow has StrawberryFest

Small town in this area of course have strong rural roots, so clubs like Junior Farmers and 4-H have ties. Going to hockey games in the winter of course, being Junior C in Kincardine, Hanover, Wingham, and Senior A in Lucknow, Ripley, Wingham, Goderich, Mildmay etc...

Since you grow up and know everyone, there is usually a stag and doe or a wedding going on somewhere for someone you know.. Even if you don't know them, most people go.."just to support them", this is why I love small towns so much, we look after each other. Things like benifit dances for people who lost something....mainly an excuse to get together and drink.

I'm from a small town called Ripley myself and every 10 years we have a reunion, anyone that grew up here or went to school here all come back to see old friends...it's quite a party.....see link on my tag line... It is in a couple of weeks. The way it works out there is usually one everyyear, Lucknow, Ripley, Kincardine, Formosa, Walkerton, hanover...wherever. That is another thing about small town rural ontario people.....we get out and travel around and see stuff. I have friend that I went to college with in Sarnia that have never been out of Sarnia, that's sad.... Ontario is a beautiful province people...get out and see it people!!

Of course there is always "the bar", cause each town really only has one "dance" bar in each town, The Bruce in Kincardine, The Queen's or Straussers in Port Elgin, I'm not to sure about Southampton, but I'd imagine they go to Port Elgin.

In the summer, the beach is always the hot spot. When I was younger we would always go on a "gravel run" or a "crop tour" when bascially you fill a car with your buddies and a case of beer and tour all the back sideroads....it always sucked being the driver (they don't drink)..you listen to loud music, drank beer and tryed to see who could come up with the best insult to someone's mother...

I wouldn't trade my life for anything in the world, I was rasied on a farm and will stay here till I die. I learned the value of a honest days work, the "due onto others.." and I learned the true importance of friends and family.

Anything else??

Barr

EmuJenkins · 07-13-2005, 01:18 PM

I PM you, Barr before I read this post. There's more than enough here. I didn't know anything about the reunions or the wedding stuff. I haven't included much on the farming roots in my story, but I definately will.

Lately I've been wishing I grew up in the rural environment. Everybody I tell this to tells me it's stupid. The city is awesome, but I don't use it all that much. I usually just hang out at friend's houses and drink and get stonned. The city is good for the occasional concert and to buy stuff, but it is so much more impersonal. Small towns seem like somewhere where you'd have more wild adventures... I don't really know. I guess it's longing for the simple life.

Thanks, Barr.

Barr · 07-13-2005, 01:54 PM

Yes, there is something to be said for small town business, a lot of times I have forgot my wallet when I buy something, and the person will just tell me to come in the next day and pay. Mind you it took me 25 years to build that trust!!

As for the city having all the stuff....I'd trade it in a second for a night of no horns or cars flying by. Sitting on my lawn at night staring at the stars listening to the silence is worth it's weight in gold. If I want to go see a concert that bad, I drive to Toronto...it just takes a little more planning that's all... As for buying stuff....EBAY!!

I don't wear the newest clothing styles, but hey, no one else around here does either, so I don't feel out of place. I can find out the newest music in Toronto at the click of a mouse and I personally don't care if I am seen in the newest and hottest club in Toronto.

I pay $425/ month for a two bedroom house, would that get you a room in Toronto? I have a large front and back yard with large red maple trees and a big patio. Hell my monthly bills would probably be less then someone's rent in Toronto haha....

Anyway....I'm not knocking the city, it is fun when I'm there, I just like the peace and quiet of home...

Hope I helped you out..

Barr

EmuJenkins · 07-13-2005, 06:22 PM

$425 a month for a place?! Holy crap! I live near Parkdale in Toronto, and Parkdale is one of the rougher sides of the city. The cheapest rent there is about $600 a month. I'm very fond of my neighbourhood though. It has a kind of small town feel. You're guaranteed to run into a few people you know by walking along the main street and you can do all your shopping there. Both small town and big city have their pluses...I'd miss the city if I lived somewhere else.

Kikster · 07-13-2005, 06:41 PM

if the village is on the lake boating, fishing and swimming are good summer activities.

if there is a pier or a dock, watching boats is something that I used to do when I was vacationing (and bored) in some small town on a lake.

we also used to climb trees, TALK A LOT, smoke cigarettes... pretty much the usual teenage stuff.

when it was raining we played backgammon, cards, or read old magazines (no money to buy new ones).

we went camping and hicking sometimes, and we rode our bikes a lot, trying to find "cool spots"....

girls like to sit around and talk, try make up on each other, do their nails (while they keep talking of course), talk about guys.

anything else that you need?

Merforga · 07-14-2005, 04:33 AM

hmm small town teens might be thinking of a away out of their current location .They might desire to move on to something better then what they have in snoresville. oh and by "small town" do u mean like hick village or something??