Wednesday, May 27, 2009

What Teens are Writing (or The After-Effects of Uglies)

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In January and February, my library runs a writing contest for teens in our town. This year we had 119 entries in both junior and senior divisions and the prose and poetry categories! I didn't have time to read all of the entries, but I did read the first place, second place, and honorable mention winners'. And do you know what the overwhelming theme was for the prose?

Science fiction!

Jet-powered sneakers, feuding interplanetary colonies, illegal children being reclaimed by the government -- intense futuristic/dystopian stuff!

Is this a sign of the next Big Trend to come in YA when vamps, wolves, and faeries slow down? I'm not sure, but it does seem that the teens must like reading these stories if that's what they're writing! Too bad I don't have one waiting in the wings....

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

6 comments:

Elana Johnson said...

Very cool! I love sci fi, and have written a sci fi. Yay that teens are writing it too!

Anonymous said...

*sigh* My heart lies with realism.
I've read and enjoyed more science fiction and fantasy this year than ever before, but still--there's something special about a story where everyone has to rely on the knowledge and abilities we have now, and deal with the world we have now.

Kristina Springer said...

Very interesting Deena! I love when you post about what trends you see coming our way.

Christina Farley said...

This is interesting! I've also heard that Borders is expanding their children's section and YA.

Rhonda Helms said...

I love it! That is SO stinking cool...

Emily Marshall said...

I love teen writing contests. So cool. And I only like some science fiction, so I'm not sure if I'd get on board if that was the new trend. But I do think certain booksare cool, and I did enjoy Uglies.