Boy Talk
There is that tiny paragraph when you first open a book that says " The characters portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author." I have writer friends who have said as much themselves, that their characters come only from their imaginations. I'm here to tell you that my male characters don't. Not entirely anyway. See, girls are easier for me to write because (duh) I am one. But when it comes to my teen boys, I need someone to start with. He has to remind me of someone, a look I can work with, a fun personality. Left entirely to my own devices, I make the guys too good. You know the type, the really deep boys who get the girl that make you swoon, that make you wish you had them, that could talk forever about your dreams and feelings with the desire of getting into your pants being secondary at best. Don't get me wrong, we all need the swoon, but back in h.s. did any of us know guys like that? Sure, I had good guy friends who I talked on the phone with forever, who I dissected movies with....who I later found out had bigger (read: romantic) plans for me than just deep thinking convos. I want the teen boys I create to have the deep thoughts and the romance but I need a starting point and that's where dudes I've known come in. If an ex read my book, he may be able to say, "Oh, yeah, I used to do that" but that's only one facet of the guy's personality. And, hey, you're not the only one who played hackey sack and ultimate frisbee. Below is a list of things that have made it into my books or stories or will. If you were me, wouldn't you include them too?
1. Camp Counselor Guy I: You were quirky, kind of immature, liked The Dead (although innocent, pre-college me thought they were just dancing bears and found you cuter for wearing those shirts). I used your laid-back attitude for my YA boy. He might even have your hair.
2. Camp Counselor Guy II: You wore a yarmulke, were going to Jewish College, all up in the religion. But had a thing for making out in back seats and not committing yourself to just one girl (I guess like the men in the bible who had more than one woman in their tents). My sister dated an older version of you. She said guys like that weren't sleazy, "just ahead of their time." It's now called "Friends with Benefits." I'm waiting for the chapter that will be the best fit for you.
3. Camp Counselor Guy III--(I guess I needed something to keep me busy during my summers)--Lopsided smile and too cool attitude made the cut
4. College Party Hook Up Boy--Tried to get me to sleep with you by saying "It will only take a minute." How can that line not make it in?
5. College BF--Broke up with me by saying, "When I said you were my girlfriend, I meant, you know, girl who's a friend, and when I said we were going out, I meant out of your house." True story, people.
There are other guys too--like the ex who wrote poems and read books with me (like Joey and Pacey) or my husband whose amazing math skills inspired me to write one of my female MCs. And when I feel my teen boy is becoming too much of a player, I reel him in with the some "good guy" characteristics. But the bad ones are just much more fun. :-)
1. Camp Counselor Guy I: You were quirky, kind of immature, liked The Dead (although innocent, pre-college me thought they were just dancing bears and found you cuter for wearing those shirts). I used your laid-back attitude for my YA boy. He might even have your hair.
2. Camp Counselor Guy II: You wore a yarmulke, were going to Jewish College, all up in the religion. But had a thing for making out in back seats and not committing yourself to just one girl (I guess like the men in the bible who had more than one woman in their tents). My sister dated an older version of you. She said guys like that weren't sleazy, "just ahead of their time." It's now called "Friends with Benefits." I'm waiting for the chapter that will be the best fit for you.
3. Camp Counselor Guy III--(I guess I needed something to keep me busy during my summers)--Lopsided smile and too cool attitude made the cut
4. College Party Hook Up Boy--Tried to get me to sleep with you by saying "It will only take a minute." How can that line not make it in?
5. College BF--Broke up with me by saying, "When I said you were my girlfriend, I meant, you know, girl who's a friend, and when I said we were going out, I meant out of your house." True story, people.
There are other guys too--like the ex who wrote poems and read books with me (like Joey and Pacey) or my husband whose amazing math skills inspired me to write one of my female MCs. And when I feel my teen boy is becoming too much of a player, I reel him in with the some "good guy" characteristics. But the bad ones are just much more fun. :-)