We all have ex-boyfriends, ex-girlfriends, ex-somethings. We loved them, laughed with them, left them (because, of course, they never left us. No sir). They shaped the way we view the world. They even contributed to the people we are today whether we admit it or not. :)
So, it makes perfect sense that exes show up in our writing, especially in the land of YA. At seventeen, all I wanted was a boyfriend. All the popular girls had boyfriends. All the popular guys had girlfriends. I needed in on that! It was the best of times...for a while. Then came the worst of times. Major heartbreak occured and left me and all of my friends (bless them) in a wallowing pit of ice cream-laden misery. I believe the concept of peanut butter pancakes with chocolate and marshmallow syrup came into existence over a break-up.
And the world is better because of it.
So, how do exes shape your story? Do they pine for your MC? Is there vicious hate going on? How about a best friend hooking up with an MC's ex? Oh, the possibilities! And all of them make for a dramatic, earth-shattering plot twist. Those only-too-real happenings keep me coming back to YA over and over, remembering my own experiences and wishing I had another chance to do it all again. :)
-Marie
4 comments:
This is something that's been on my mind a lot lately because I'm about to do it in my newest WIP. I've used ex's before, but never to this extent. It all depends on how the relationship ended, though. Usually, the ex doesn't fare well in the story, and I, er, my MC, gets to say to them all the things I couldn't in real life ^_^
I think exes in YA always brings an interesting dynamic to the story, whether it's an ex "lover" or ex-best friend. I always like to play around with the idea of what happened to this relatiionship--it definitely helps with the tension! :)
Pondering the "one that got away" is a good cause for confilct. So far, there are none--alive, that is--in either of my WIPs. We'll just have to see.
I haven't really used an ex because I write MG, but it's an intriguing thought :) I have an idea for a YA and I'm sure some of them will show up if I ever write it!
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