Is this driving anyone else insane??!!!?

Question

Every time I read a story on Y!A, it's like I'm reading Stephenie Meyer's work, cliches and all.

Not only do all the teenage girls support this type of writing, but they write some of their own. Does it annoy anyone else that, of all the writing styles to copy, they're choosing Stephenie Meyer's? Don't get me wrong, I hate all types of copying. But I'd rather have them trying to copy Daphne du Maurier or Jane Austen.

Basically, I read a hundred paragraphs that sound just like this:

I looked into his sapphire eyes, and he stared back at me. Sigh. He was so amazing, it took my breath away. "I love you. So much," I said dreamily. Sigh. The way his brown hair flowed made my heart melt. If only we could have forever together. Sigh.

Sound familiar? Is anyone else perturbed by the fact that future writers who might once have written well are being misguided into thinking that the above is good writing? It drives me up the wall when I hear people complement that sort of writing.

Answer 1

I know what you mean, but at least they are giving writing a try!

Answer 2

Yes, it does. Hopefully, they'll grow out of it. But imitating writing style is something writers do (I'm thinking Stephen King) until they develop their own style. I'd prefer seeing some fellow teens imitating George Orwell's style than Stephenie Meyer's.

By the way, that imitation was so right!

Answer 3

Sadly, a lot of teenage girls think that Twilight is the best book ever written and are driven at the fact that they can have a fairy tale ending. Although, on the other hand, a lot of teenage girls read the book and know that there are much better books out in the world, but read it for pleasure.

Answer 4

i think kids will grow out of it soon..ppl do get older and more mature

Answer 5

Not really. Hey---they're just kids. Let them write love stories that make their hearts flutter.

I'm not supporting or errrr (How do I say this?)...'not supporting' you either.

I'm a Twilight fan but not a HUGE ONE.

But...I have to admit I am a SUPER HUGE Harry Potter fan.

Anyway, back to your point. We can't stop this because the more we ask questions like this...not that I ever had.....the more it encourages them.

I mean if I was a SUPER HUGE twilight fan, and people all around me was like "I hate Twilight Twinkies" (That's funny)

I would actually go out of my way to make these people annoyed with like a million Twilight questions.

Answer 6

Hahaha, I really enjoyed your parody paragraph. Because you're right on the nose with it.  (*Sigh*)

xD

Answer 7

Well I'm a teen and at first I though SM was a good writer until I saw the light and discovered it was *****y. Anyways they'll grow out of it and that just shows the good writers from the bad. Good writers find their own style. Mine is kind of sarcastic and sort of lets people feel like the story is actually being told to them by the character. At least that's what I strive for....anyways the bad writers copy other peoples styles. I bet half the girls who write those stories never wanted to pick up a pen and paper before reading Twilight. I've been wanting to write since 3rd grade. I'm in 10th now. Anyways just let them write and if they're real about writing then they will learn and grown.

Edit: And besides. Why stop them? Writing is a lost art and so is reading. Why not have more people join in on the fun? I'm quite sure a lot of writer's started out with a copied style before they gradually got better and learned their own.

Answer 8

Right now I'm reading Heinlein and Rutherfurd (Princes of Ireland), but I'll put Stephenie Meyer on my autumn reading list.

Answer 9

I agree, and don't agree. On the one hand, it is annoying, I was reading this amazing story written by a young writer on the Young Writer's Society a few weeks back, and it began with this strong description of a young girl on the back of a pickup truck (at twilight, yes, but nothing to do with the book as of yet), and I could really picture this scene the author was portraying.

Then, the character (who was running away from home with friends) got in the truck and it drove off... and suddenly dialogue kicked in and the characters became drunken yobs, who sounded like their words were written by a teenager who had watched a little too much One Tree Hill rather than actually experience this herself (probably because a girl like that had written it!)

Then, too make it worse, the car crashed and a VAMPIRE appeared! UGH! Vampires drive me crazy now, and I used to love Buffy!

Anyway, so I agree that it is annoying in that respect, but at the same time I do think it is probably a phase. Most of my stories from when I was younger could easily be mistaken for a Brian Jacques novel, or an excerpt from an R. L. Stein book. It doesn't mean I still write that way.

So, vent all you like, but don't worry too much about it, it just means the competition for the rest of us aspiring writers is way down for the time being!

Answer 10

"That's funny," I typed quickly. "You got Meyer's writing style correct. Not that it was hard to copy to begin with." I sighed. "I completely agree. Most of the stories on YA are all about vampires."

I stopped and thought about vampires, their pale skin, their cold hands, their liquid topaz eyes. My breath caught in my throat. I sighed. "The reason I don't read the stories posted on YA is because I rarely come across one that isn't about vampires," I murmured this as I typed it down. "And these stories about vampires are direct descendants of Meyer's vampires. They don't even try to hide the fact that she was their inspiration."

I sighed and stared into my screen, my computer's bright screen, pulling me in, making me dizzy. I realized I wasn't breathing. I sighed, my heart still racing. "It annoys me to no end. It's not that they copy her writing style that makes me mad; it's that it's all about vampires. They could simply imitate her needless description filled writing style and syrupy dialogue, but make it about something else entirely, so there's SOME sort of originality. Don't they realize that originality counts for a lot in the writing world?"

Shaking my head, I typed. "It's just a fad. A phase that will disappear within a year. Then everyone will stop imitating her style of writing. Teenagers have to start realizing that just because a book is on the best selling list, it doesn't make it good writing and the latter is more important in getting published, because most aspiring authors aren't going to be as lucky as Meyer was. Most are going to have a struggle getting an agent and finding someone who will publish their work. They have to realize that and then maybe they'll put a little more effort into their writing." I realized the truth of my own words.

I typed with chagrin. "Just yesterday, every question was filled with chat-speak, today it's all about vampires. Tomorrow they'll be copying the works of great authors! We just have to stay hopeful and the sane side has to remain strong." I sighed. My words were so full of hope, so full of passion I wanted to cry. "And besides, everyone's noticing the writing style now that Breaking Dawn has come and they're unhappy."