young protagonisy as MC in mystery story

panda · 09-26-2009, 02:11 AM

****sorry meant young protagonist in title, but i can't edit it***

...would you read it as a mystery fan, or is it too scooby doo, lol.

what if the tone was more adult, what if the protag is an older teen or early twenties? thoughts?

heyjude · 09-26-2009, 04:33 PM

No. But a lot of people would. Write a good book. People will read it.

alleycat · 09-26-2009, 04:52 PM

I would probably prefer an older teen, or someone in their twenties, but it would depend a lot on the story.

If it was a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys type story, then no, I probably wouldn't be interested. If it was a more-or-less an adult story that happened to have a teen as the MC, then I might. That's just my own personal preference.

If I were you, I'd write the story I wanted to write, then worry about where it fit. If it turned out to be a YA story (or possibly even a MG), that might work as well as it being a more adult mystery. A lot of people have enjoyed Nancy Drew and those types of stories over the years.

panda · 09-26-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

No. But a lot of people would. Write a good book.

I'm trying lol.

Quote:

People will read it.

Hopefully.

Quote:

If it was a more-or-less an adult story that happened to have a teen as the MC, then I might. That's just my own personal preference.

Yeah, that's what it is right now. A seventeen year old kid who goes about solving a murder. It's just the way I'm writing it as of now, I'm just now sure i it would fall under ya, though the protag is young. IT would I guess be more edgy ya, maybe not.

murder mystery + ya seems to go together like two gross-tasting things go together, sorry i'm a bit braindead and can't come up with a simile lol. but you get my meaning.

imagoodgurl4 · 09-28-2009, 06:27 AM

They might. If it's good they will. I'm a big fan of mystery/suspense books, TV, and movies. A favorite of mine was Veronica Mars which has the MC as a teenager. I believe the series starts off with her at 16. And, though this wasn't quite a mystery, John Grisham's "The Client" has the MC as an 11 year-old kid and Grisham's writing is aimed at adults and I'm not a Grisham fan myself, but that was an excellent book. So it is possible. If that's what your story calls for, then write it.

steampunkette · 09-29-2009, 03:17 AM

I wouldn't read it unless the voice was quite grown-up. If it was written from the limited point-of-view of the seventeen-year-old, I would think it would be more of a YA mystery than an adult mystery.

On the other hand, many books have young protags but are written for adults. A fine example of this is "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by J Safran Foer. It's not a mystery exactly but it's quite brilliant.

May I ask how old you are? I don't want to be nosy, but if you are close to the age of your 17 year old protag you might find it challenging (and unnatural) writing for an adult audience. If so, why not write a YA mystery? YA is a huge market, and you've got years to write adult-audience novels later.

Just my thoughts. Enjoy your writing

lostjoyfound · 10-07-2009, 07:26 AM

My protagonist is 15...but it is a YA Mystery. I agree, just write your story, and worry about who will read it later.

cyberwraith · 10-26-2009, 09:13 AM

The protagonist in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is eleven and it isn't a children's book. It is, in fact, an excellent read. It just depends on whether your character can carry the story. So go for it!

09-26-2009, 02:11 AM	#1
panda its harders sto type withh paaws Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 282	young protagonisy as MC in mystery story **sorry meant young protagonist in title, but i can't edit it* ...would you read it as a mystery fan, or is it too scooby doo, lol. what if the tone was more adult, what if the protag is an older teen or early twenties? thoughts? Last edited by panda; 09-26-2009 at 04:05 AM.

09-26-2009, 04:33 PM	#2
heyjude Making my own sunshine AW Mod Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gulf coast of FL Posts: 1,560	No. But a lot of people would. Write a good book. People will read it. __________________ Christian Vegetarian Association www.all-creatures.org/cva/default.htm

09-26-2009, 04:52 PM	#3
alleycat Be good, for goodness sake. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 14,778	I would probably prefer an older teen, or someone in their twenties, but it would depend a lot on the story. If it was a Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys type story, then no, I probably wouldn't be interested. If it was a more-or-less an adult story that happened to have a teen as the MC, then I might. That's just my own personal preference. If I were you, I'd write the story I wanted to write, then worry about where it fit. If it turned out to be a YA story (or possibly even a MG), that might work as well as it being a more adult mystery. A lot of people have enjoyed Nancy Drew and those types of stories over the years. __________________ . "For me, a page of good prose is where one hears the rain [and] the noise of battle." -John Cheever

09-28-2009, 06:27 AM	#5
imagoodgurl4 Ice cream! Mom, give me a money! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, MA. Posts: 239	They might. If it's good they will. I'm a big fan of mystery/suspense books, TV, and movies. A favorite of mine was Veronica Mars which has the MC as a teenager. I believe the series starts off with her at 16. And, though this wasn't quite a mystery, John Grisham's "The Client" has the MC as an 11 year-old kid and Grisham's writing is aimed at adults and I'm not a Grisham fan myself, but that was an excellent book. So it is possible. If that's what your story calls for, then write it. __________________ R.I.P. Coco: 7/25/94 - 9/5/07. You are missed. "Ma'am, what are you doing?" "Hey, listen, you're allowed to eat people when your plane goes down. I didn't know how long I was gonna have to survive out here." "Survive? Ma'am, you're plane went down 3 minutes ago. You were flying from Chicago to Nashville. You can see the f*cking IHOP from here. What is your problem?" I creep with the grace of an ice cream truck.

09-29-2009, 03:17 AM	#6
steampunkette artistic (learner) licence Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: in the land of the caffeine fairies Posts: 768	I wouldn't read it unless the voice was quite grown-up. If it was written from the limited point-of-view of the seventeen-year-old, I would think it would be more of a YA mystery than an adult mystery. On the other hand, many books have young protags but are written for adults. A fine example of this is "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by J Safran Foer. It's not a mystery exactly but it's quite brilliant. May I ask how old you are? I don't want to be nosy, but if you are close to the age of your 17 year old protag you might find it challenging (and unnatural) writing for an adult audience. If so, why not write a YA mystery? YA is a huge market, and you've got years to write adult-audience novels later. Just my thoughts. Enjoy your writing __________________ Steampunkette Historical Mystery - Gothic Thriller - Victorianoir

10-07-2009, 07:26 AM	#7
lostjoyfound New kid, be gentle! Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 8	My protagonist is 15...but it is a YA Mystery. I agree, just write your story, and worry about who will read it later.

10-26-2009, 09:13 AM	#8
cyberwraith Mumbling darkly Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: One mile from Maple View Dairy Posts: 120	The protagonist in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is eleven and it isn't a children's book. It is, in fact, an excellent read. It just depends on whether your character can carry the story. So go for it! __________________ If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. Vincent Van Gogh

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