Age Barrier - Page 13 - Writers Forum

killned3 · 03-07-2007, 12:08 AM

You're welcome, Kane.

Hell's Angel · 03-13-2007, 01:03 PM

The answer would be a huge HELL YEAH but, like the others said, it depends on your influences--in both literature and reality.

I actually believe your "maturity" level will eventually show up in your work. I'm talking about what has shaped you, what major event in your life has made you stronger and more prepared. Usually, this shows up in what some call the teen angst section. Don't fall into this scat unless you're planning to not ramble about how he/she doesn't love me cos her/his hormones are acting up elsewhere. Then again, this is coming from a person who started reading Irvine Welsh when others were discovering the wonderfully bitchy world of Gossip Girl. Sorry, mate, can't relate to that shit. Which is weird, sorta--I connect more with junkies, lowlives and antiheroes than girls my age just being spoiled-ass girls. I'm more Spud or Sick Boy/Girl (yeah, it's in my humor at times) than It Girl.

Oh, try finding Anarkos's Karl and Joe (is that it? It's been a while)--it's nice stuff.

soundandfury · 03-13-2007, 07:08 PM

I don't think it's so much about age as about what you've been through. You probably won't get reading about feelings you haven't experienced. But with your situation, I think you could do some seriously good writing. How many books/short stories/whatever else it is you do written by 13-year-olds are any good? Not many, I can tell you that. But if you're an avid reader, and intelligent at that, I'd say you could probably come up with some stuff that would blow most adult's minds. Because, really, once you pass a certain point, you can't always relate to the feelings of people younger than you.

Don't try to write about things you don't really understand. If you want to, write about them from your perspective. We all know what it feels like for an adult to fall in love. . . why don't you tell us what it feels like to be a 13-year-old falling in love? That might be something people are willing to read. Like I said, the mind of someone your age is a complete mystery to most adults. I'm still young enough that I remember (kind of), but it's slipping away already.

So, I guess this has been a really long way of saying: write what you know, not over your own head.

I hope that made sense.

elephianeco · 03-13-2007, 09:58 PM

i jsut recently read a book written by a 13 year old and it was really good. i was a young adult type novelmbut still really well done. i think that age has nothign to do with it. she wrote a good book, better then some 40 year olds for example. its jsut do you have the imagination, information,creativity to do it. are you gonna keep at it. its all a personal matter with yourself. you don't have to be mature to write a book. at least thats my opinion.

Hell's Angel · 03-14-2007, 03:27 PM

Quote:

i jsut recently read a book written by a 13 year old and it was really good.

Would this happen to be Amelia Atwater-Rhodes?

Shawn · 03-14-2007, 04:39 PM

Let this thread down... it's had its run. No more to talk about.

Kane · 03-14-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elephianeco

i jsut recently read a book written by a 13 year old and it was really good. i was a young adult type novelmbut still really well done. i think that age has nothign to do with it. she wrote a good book, better then some 40 year olds for example. its jsut do you have the imagination, information,creativity to do it. are you gonna keep at it. its all a personal matter with yourself. you don't have to be mature to write a book. at least thats my opinion.

Nobody said you had to be mature to write a book. The argument is that you need to be older/mature in order to write an older, more mature book.

AdrienneW · 03-15-2007, 10:02 AM

In the Children's and Writer's guide I believe there is a section of publishers that specialize in books written by younger people. I just skimmed through it, so don't hold me to that.

Ah...to be 15 again, a time when I thought I had the world figured out and life conqured, then I was 20 and looked back at my self and laughed, how naive I was, then I was 25, life was good, I understood it all then, yeah, I had it all figured out, then I was thirty and rolling my eyes at how I was at 25.....now...looking back at 30...how little I did know...