That age thing again

[carsonshepherd]

So what do you think? The main character looks young but is "older than he looks"; he's sometimes referred to as "the boy" because he refuses to give his name. This is a fantasy story, not in the present day. How soon do I need to drive home that yes, he's 18 or older thank you very much for Lit? Do I have to plug that in right away, or can the reader think for a chapter or two that he's *cough* you know.

 

[ms.read]

hmm, I wouldn't say that you have to come out and out with HES 18 dammit! in the first paragraph, but you might want to allude that he's doing something that only people of legal age can do, in the beginning of the story ( buying ciggarettes ?)

 

[carsonshepherd]

hmm, I wouldn't say that you have to come out and out with HES 18 dammit! in the first paragraph, but you might want to allude that he's doing something that only people of legal age can do, in the beginning of the story ( buying ciggarettes ?)

well, that's the thing. This is an alternate-universe fantasy deal. There is no such thing. And actually it's problematic to make him 18 anyway, because he got sold into slavery and I'm having trouble figuring out how his foster parents could sell him into slavery if he's of legal age. I do want to put it on Lit for the feedback, which is why I'm trying to decide how much I need to change to make him 18.

 

[impressive]

well, that's the thing. This is an alternate-universe fantasy deal. There is no such thing. And actually it's problematic to make him 18 anyway, because he got sold into slavery and I'm having trouble figuring out how his foster parents could sell him into slavery if he's of legal age. I do want to put it on Lit for the feedback, which is why I'm trying to decide how much I need to change to make him 18.

Make him 18 "turns" -- and the world's "year" can be shorter than Earth's.

 

[ms.read]

Okay, i haven't actually read your story, so here is an alternate plot line of what you could do.

Joe(from earth) is fostered out by the government to a certain couple from a different planet (humanoid) when his real scientific parents died exploring planet xyz

the maturity level differs on said planet so that 21 is the age of majority ( or any other number over 18 ) so he is still considered a kid.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Make him 18 "turns" -- and the world's "year" can be shorter than Earth's.

*snork* yeah, something like that. But, do I even have to mention 18, or can I just say "of legal age"? Grrrr.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Okay, i haven't actually read your story, so here is an alternate plot line of what you could do.

Joe(from earth) is fostered out by the government to a certain couple from a different planet (humanoid) when his real scientific parents died exploring planet xyz

the maturity level differs on said planet so that 21 is the age of majority ( or any other number over 18 ) so he is still considered a kid.

hahahahaha. No, it's not that kind of story. It's kind of an Ottoman Empire type of deal.

 

[Lalah]

I was about to say the same thing as ms.read. Make it so that while at 18 they are considered adults, they only achieve legal authonomy at a later age, like 21.

As for the character's age. If it look like he's minor they'll most likely reject the story and ask you to confirm he's major. What I'd do is put a disclaimer up at the start saying they're all major, that way you don't have to have the character blurt out "Hey! I'm eighteen!"

 

[Stella_Omega]

So what do you think? The main character looks young but is "older than he looks"; he's sometimes referred to as "the boy" because he refuses to give his name. This is a fantasy story, not in the present day. How soon do I need to drive home that yes, he's 18 or older thank you very much for Lit? Do I have to plug that in right away, or can the reader think for a chapter or two that he's *cough* you know.

You have to plug that right away, or Lit won't let your first chapter through.

 

[3113]

*snork* yeah, something like that. But, do I even have to mention 18, or can I just say "of legal age"? Grrrr.

I think this is a good idea. Implying that he's 18,even if YOU know he's not because 18 "turns" is really 15 of our years is a great way to have your cake and eat it, too.

Why, by the by, is 18 "legal" age on this world? Does it matter if a slave is of "legal" age? Just have him think, "18 turns. If I were free, I'd be considered a man, but since I'm a slave, I'm still thought of as a boy...!" Ta-da. You have it both ways

 

[carsonshepherd]

I think this is a good idea. Implying that he's 18,even if YOU know he's not because 18 "turns" is really 15 of our years is a great way to have your cake and eat it, too.

Why, by the by, is 18 "legal" age on this world? Does it matter if a slave is of "legal" age? Just have him think, "18 turns. If I were free, I'd be considered a man, but since I'm a slave, I'm still thought of as a boy...!" Ta-da. You have it both ways

Not a bad idea. Your ideas are always good. Can we graft your brilliant brain into mine? Maybe just a few neurons or something?

(The people who buy him think he's a boy, and are surprised to find that he's not as young as they think, or as innocent...)

 

[carsonshepherd]

You have to plug that right away, or Lit won't let your first chapter through.

Yeah. I especially thought so since the narrative keeps referring to him as "the boy" because he doesn't have a name in the story right away. Could get creepy...

 

[Stella_Omega]

Not a bad idea. Your ideas are always good. Can we graft your brilliant brain into mine? Maybe just a few neurons or something?

(The people who buy him think he's a boy, and are surprised to find that he's not as young as they think, or as innocent...)

Twiiiinks.. Iiiinnn... Spaaaace ace ace ace.....
*sticks out tongue and runs away*

 

[carsonshepherd]

Twiiiinks.. Iiiinnn... Spaaaace ace ace ace.....
*sticks out tongue and runs away*

*smacks*

It's NOT a space story!!!!

 

[Stella_Omega]

*smacks*

It's NOT a space story!!!!

Darn, because I thought that sounded great!

Seriously, Carson, I am so excited to have something new to read from you!

 

[carsonshepherd]

Darn, because I thought that sounded great!

Seriously, Carson, I am so excited to have something new to read from you!

LOL. It's my Emperor and Harem Boy story, except it's being completely redone. I had an epiphany.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I don't think I ever read the first version, so, I'm still excited.


(now you're going to tell me I left feedback on it, right?)

 

[carsonshepherd]

I don't think I ever read the first version, so, I'm still excited.


(now you're going to tell me I left feedback on it, right?)

It was on my LJ but I don't remember if you read it - it was quite awhile ago, like over a year. I never finished it because it wasn't working out. Now I've had a major idea and I think I can finish it easily, when I get the time.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

It was on my LJ but I don't remember if you read it - it was quite awhile ago, like over a year. I never finished it because it wasn't working out. Now I've had a major idea and I think I can finish it easily, when I get the time.

Yay, I loved that story. Please promise your next one will be Twinks In Space???

 

[3113]

Not a bad idea. Your ideas are always good. Can we graft your brilliant brain into mine? Maybe just a few neurons or something?

Yikes! Shades of Donovan's brain!

Twiiiinks.. Iiiinnn... Spaaaace ace ace ace....

*Sigh* No, Stella that's YOUR novel. And you need to get back to work on it! You promised me the first chapter and you've already missed your deadline!

Now I've had a major idea and I think I can finish it easily, when I get the time.

Well, hurry up! We need a CS fix!

 

[carsonshepherd]

Yay, I loved that story. Please promise your next one will be Twinks In Space???

No, that's your area.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

No, that's your area.

Gives a whole new meaning to naked raygun....

 

[galaxygoddess]

here's the thing, a lot of cultures even in this day and age still can sell out their child, even as old as 35. there are certain culutures to where the mother owns you til she's dead.

I'd point some out but my head hurts too mucht o think..


but here's one "indentured servant" >.>

 

[sr71plt]

If you want your character to appear to be underage at all, you've already gone the whole nine yards into countravention of the meaning of the ban, haven't you? Trying to pussyfoot around it doesn't change anything--you want to create the impression of exactly what is banned here.

 

[3113]

If you want your character to appear to be underage at all, you've already gone the whole nine yards into countravention of the meaning of the ban, haven't you? Trying to pussyfoot around it doesn't change anything--you want to create the impression of exactly what is banned here.

I agree if the person buying the slave thinks the slave is, indeed, a "boy" (i.e. not 18). BUT, I think the intent isn't to make him appear "underage" so much as sexually "innocent."

One way this can be gotten around is simply in the way the "seller" sells the "boy" to the new master. In the movie Pretty Baby, Brooke Shield's first movie, she played a 12-year old living in a brothel. There's a famous scene where the brothel owner "sells" her virginity to the highest bidder. She's brought out all decked up in white, looking scared and pure and innocent. Afterwards, we see her on the bed, apparently ravished. She sits up a grins and we find out that this is the sixth or seventh time the brothel has sold her virginity and she's far from sexually innocent.

The person selling the slave could say that the "boy," though a "mature" 18, is yet as innocent and as "boyish" as he looks. This might well intrigue the buyer who does not want to have sex with a "boy," but does want to have sex with an innocent, "boyish" virgin.

This would not contravene Lit's ban. Lit's ban is to avoid scenes of underage sex...but there is a whole category of "first time" which celebrates that first "lesson" where the innocent is introduced to the wider, wonderful world of sex.