Why Authenticity Is Key: Exploring the Importance of Genuine Coming of Age Stories
- Ingrid Rivera
- Jan 3, 2024
- 8 min read
If the title above was not a dead giveaway, this month's Typewriter Tip is all about Authenticity. As this is our first Typewriter Tip, let's explain what this is all about. Here at The Book Hive, we want to be a space where book lovers come together to explore the fantastic world of literature and foster connections over a mutual love of books. However, we also want to recognize that we wouldn't have the books we love and treasure without the hard work, dedication, and time authors put into crafting these beautiful narratives. And so this series is all about just that. We are shining a spotlight on authors and providing helpful tips and tricks for those just starting. Whether for hobby or work, we want to encourage, assist, and educate. As many accomplished authors are sure to agree, you are never too old or experienced to learn something new.
Now that we have the introductions, let's get down to the nitty-gritty of the coming of age stories we all know and love. For those who missed our previous post, where we looked at what makes the coming of age genre so compelling, you can read more here: Book of the Month: The power of a second chance. And while you're there, consider joining our Busy Bee Book Club to follow along with our monthly pics and get in on the discussions. Now, back to the coming of age genre. Coming of Age stories are those who, at their core, follow the protagonist through the pivotal change in their lives as they mature. For most, the words 'coming of age' have become synonymous with the young adult genre. And while we are not here to disagree, we will add that it is much more than just that. It is no secret that the bulk of coming of age stories currently in circulation focus on a youthful protagonist who is typically facing the transition between teenager and young adult. But that is only a fraction of the genre.
Anyone would agree that transitioning from teenager to young adult is one of the most challenging times in any person's life. The ages of 17 to 24 tend to be years during which the average person will face many challenges as they become independent and start discovering who they are. And it is this feature of that stage in our lives that makes this a prime target for coming of age stories which, as you may know by heart at this point, are all about change.
Beyond Young Adult
Coming of age is the lemon of literary genres. If that statement makes sense to you, then you are well on your way to understanding the true core of the genre. For those who read that and thought, "What?" I want to elaborate. Lemons are one of the most versatile fruits ever to grace the face of the planet. Lemons are known to be one of the healthiest fruits, used in medicinal practices and to improve or maintain health. They can also be consumed independently for those who enjoy a sour or tart snack or turned into lemonade for those with a sweet tooth. The uses and integration of lemons span a grand list, as do those of the coming of age genre. The coming of age story arc can be implemented in nearly every other genre, and it will undoubtedly make the story a greater success (I'm looking at you, strawberry lemonade). Moreover, it will fit in seamlessly without drawing attention from the primary genre or the grander story because when you break it down to its foundations, regardless of age or what else may be taking place, everyone is constantly growing.
More than the typically attributed transition from youth to adulthood, coming of age stories are about discovering who we are and growing into that person. As many can affirm, it is not always the case that we know who we are at the ripe old age of 25. The journey of self-discovery spans our entire lives, and if we should be so lucky, one that we will complete before we reach the end. And that is what coming of age is all about. It is about the journey. It is about transition and change, events that occur at all stages of our lives---especially that good ol' mid-life crisis---and force us to re-evaluate and pivot. That is what makes compelling storytelling when you can cut through to the genre's essence. The parallelism to reality and the hard light of the truth that readers will connect with and see reflected in the world around them. No one cares if Johnny is said to be broke. But everyone will care if Johnny is fresh out of high school, kicked out of home by his parents for being gay and struggling to survive without a single penny to his name. Why? Because that is a raw, unfiltered human reality. It is a truth that so many have had to experience. It is a story that will connect. Similarly, Susan might be moving back in with her parents, but that is just a statement of fact. However, did you know that Susan is a mother of two in her mid-forties and was forced to move back into her childhood home with two young kids after coming home to discover her husband sleeping with her best friend? As a human, my heart aches for Susan because, like so many who have had a similar experience, the emotions brought on are real; they are piercing and true.
So, you see, change is all about perspective. Transitions happen in all stages of our lives. You may be in your late teens, like Johnny, just starting on your journey of self-discovery. Or you might be Susan in your mid-forties and finding yourself at a crossroads, forced to re-evaluate if the life you've led to this point is the one you are meant to lead, and more importantly, where do you go from here? What about Sally and Dave, who, decades after their summer fling fizzled out, are thrown back together in their late seventies by a twist of fate and face a brand new love story? Regardless of what character you find yourself closer to, the one thing that rings true is that authenticity is key.
Authenticity at the Core
Think back to the last time you met someone new, and make sure it is the last total stranger you met, not just a classmate or coworker you interacted with for the first time after years of working together. Find that stranger and ask yourself how long it took to decide whether they were authentic after the first introduction. It is a popular fact amongst the scientific community that within the first seven seconds of meeting someone new, we have formulated and cemented our opinion of a stranger. Of course, we do so primarily visually, such as what they are wearing, who they are with, where they are, their posture, their expression, their appearance, and the sound of their voice. All of the previously listed things we do not have when meeting a fictional character for the first time.
Now, like you did before, please think of your favorite fictional character---from a book. I love a good movie as much as the next person, but all those visual cues listed above would apply in this sense. Ask yourself why they are your favorite. Was it the way the author described their appearance? Maybe it was the first line of dialogue and what or to whom they said it? Could it have been their personality? Did the setting depicted influence your opinion of them? You will find that just as easily as the visual cues we use to judge a person within the first seven seconds of meeting them, we can do the same for fictional characters.
It is the power of authenticity. We will measure characters by the degree to which their morals and beliefs coincide with their actions and decisions. And now, an exercise. If you've made it this far, I will assume that you are interested in honing your skills. So, let's put you to the test. Write a quick opening paragraph for a book of any concept that introduces your character authentically. See our example below for guidance.
The scream tore through the field and right down to Emma's core. The first month back in school had gone by in a haze of schoolwork, getting lost in hallways and saving her best friend Paul from Henry, the school's quarterback, on at least three separate instances. Emma thought this year would be different as her tormentor, Ana, Henry's elder sister, had graduated and would no longer be around. She had sworn that she would never let any of her friends experience what Ana had put her through last year when she had driven Emma to the end of her rope. As Emma stalked across the field to where Henry had Paul pinned against the side of a dumpster, she knew without a shadow of a doubt what she had to do. Emma came up beside Henry, smiled, and threw a solid punch directly at the center of his face. Henry released a shriek, Paul released a gasp, and Emma had just begun to smile when, down the same path she had just taken, she spotted Mr. George, their principal, who had seemed to have a vendetta out against Emma for the past three years and would undoubtedly be calling Ellie. But as Emma watched the scowl dig deeper into Mr. George's forehead, she felt confident that if Ellie had not sent her back to the orphanage in the last three years, this surely wouldn't be what did it. Right?
If you feel a connection with Emma, I have done my job. In just the short paragraph above, I have planted the seeds for a cast of characters that will be expanded upon and humanized Emma. She is an orphan who has been the target of bullying for three years and has developed a protectiveness over her friends that would bring her to do whatever is necessary to keep them from the same fate. Even, as it would seem, stalking up to someone much larger and stronger than her and sucker punching them in the face. It's about finding the human traits in Emma that bring her character to life. Orphan, victim, protector, student. And all of this in just a single paragraph. Just like the first seven seconds of meeting a stranger in real life, the first introduction of a character will cement how a ready will connect and attribute the character in their minds. Of course, there is some truth to first impressions not being entirely accurate---they are formed in just seven seconds. Even so, they are the strongest impression of a person we experience and are generally difficult to overlook. Even if we change our opinion, when the other shoe eventually drops, as we will silently convince ourselves we are waiting for it, we will usually find that the first impression is more accurate than we may have thought.
All of this is to say that you must know your character. You must know who they are, what they believe in, what they fear, what they enjoy, their values, their hopes and dreams, their desires, what makes them tick, and why they become anxious. Never forget that you are building a human from scratch with all the complexities and intricacies that make us who we are. Connection and empathy are at the core of what makes us human. We are social creatures if the last few years of living through a pandemic have taught us anything, and we need those connections, whether real or fictional. So treat your characters like a work of art. Give them the time and space that they deserve. Discover who they are, and then sit down and write how they become that person. And that is the secret to a successful coming of age story or arc.
I leave you with this quote from English Poet W. H. Auden: "Some writers confuse authenticity, which they ought always to aim at, with originality, which they should never bother about."
IF YOU COMPLETED OUR EXERCISE, VISIT THE QUEEN'S CORNER TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS AND SHARE YOUR WORK WITH OTHERS LIKE YOU!
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