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Recently, I picked up a YA novel that I had every intention of thoroughly enjoying without question or second thought. I knew the basics of the plot, and loved the prologue and the narrator's voice. (And, I have extreme fondness for the author--who is not on my flist.) It wasn't until sometime into the first chapter that I began to mentally compare the dialogue (in this case, of the teenagers interacting without adults present) to a novel I'd been listening to, for free, from podiocast.com. I love podiocast.com but that's not what this post is about.
I live with teenagers. They just...talk a certain way. In fact, they talk in a way that even I, who am exposed constantly to it, can't completely capture. So when I see dialogue that is supposed to be teen-talk but written by an adult, my judgment is an instant one--yes, this author's got it! Yay! Or...oh man, cry, this author...mmmmm...he/she needs to come sit in my living room for a few hours surrounded by The Real Thing. I think it is very hard to fake teen-talk, to make it up, to imagine what it sounds like. It is unimaginable. It is...WEIRD. There are so many inside jokes and sayings and expressions etc. that all teens (who all talk to each other now via Facebook so they all talk the same, I swear) know. That they won't tell me about anymore. Pout.
Although, I am sure I could get my daughter to fess up, if she knew I was writing a book about teens. Except, I don't want to write a book about teens.
In any case, I will not name the Oh Noes* book mentioned above, as I will continue to read it, because I believe in the author and have hope.
The other author who I am enjoying and loving his dialogue is Matthew Wayne Selznick. If you like listening to books like I do, check out his Brave Men Run on itunes, or via www.podiobooks.com. It is fun! And...I love the way his teens talk. It is real.
C
*Doctor Who reference
I live with teenagers. They just...talk a certain way. In fact, they talk in a way that even I, who am exposed constantly to it, can't completely capture. So when I see dialogue that is supposed to be teen-talk but written by an adult, my judgment is an instant one--yes, this author's got it! Yay! Or...oh man, cry, this author...mmmmm...he/she needs to come sit in my living room for a few hours surrounded by The Real Thing. I think it is very hard to fake teen-talk, to make it up, to imagine what it sounds like. It is unimaginable. It is...WEIRD. There are so many inside jokes and sayings and expressions etc. that all teens (who all talk to each other now via Facebook so they all talk the same, I swear) know. That they won't tell me about anymore. Pout.
Although, I am sure I could get my daughter to fess up, if she knew I was writing a book about teens. Except, I don't want to write a book about teens.
In any case, I will not name the Oh Noes* book mentioned above, as I will continue to read it, because I believe in the author and have hope.
The other author who I am enjoying and loving his dialogue is Matthew Wayne Selznick. If you like listening to books like I do, check out his Brave Men Run on itunes, or via www.podiobooks.com. It is fun! And...I love the way his teens talk. It is real.
C
*Doctor Who reference
