Friday, August 5, 2011

Family Matters

Family figures pretty heavily in my latest WIP. As I was writing the scene in which my MC meets her new baby niece for the first time, I realized that I've never really written anything that was family-centric before. Or, maybe I should say, so much family? And some of them actually pretty normal?

Okay, come to think of it, only one of my five novels actually didn't have family in it. In fact, my first novel completely revolved around family--or the lack thereof.

So now I've debunked my own theory that I don't write about families.

Still, I certainly haven't written such a large family before, and this one extends in several gnarly branches, too. There are a lot of female relatives to boot, which is something I'm having to flex the ol' writer's imagination on. I don't have any sisters and never had many close female friends growing up--the closest thing to sisterly camaraderie I've ever enjoyed was with my 2 cousins growing up, and we only saw each other once a year or so.

I dunno. Seems like a lot of the protagonists in urban fantasy (which the new WIP is) don't have strong family bonds. I guess it's a lot easier to be in mortal peril and save the world when you don't have to call Mom every Sunday, right? Or is it something else?

12 comments:

Old Kitty said...

I think having an overly mumsy mum in urban fantasy would be so amazing - the protagonist will have no end of bother and will really draw out the character too! Love the idea!! Yay! I have no idea why families don't feature in urban fantasies when they could be such a potential source for explosive confrontation and heart-warming-ness! Yes, I just made that word up!

And families provide no end of embarassment too - as proven in this family pic - which is fabulous!!!

I've grown up with sisters and much as I love them I tend to get on with my brother more and with male friends but on blogland - I'm finding more connections with female bloggers!! Yay!!!

Take care
x

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Not much family in my stories.
And that photo is creepy...

Christine Danek said...

That photo is a little creepy. Yeah, when mom checking up on you, it's hard to be in mortal peril and save the world.
Good luck!

Saumya said...

I think sometimes a family can dominate the plot and story, making it difficult for the protagonist to do a lot. Most of the stories I've read make the entire family the main character and don't focus on much else.

Linda G. said...

I dunnoh. I write urban fantasy, and my MC has too much family involvement for her comfort. Then again, it's light (humorous) urban fantasy, and nothing is funnier than family, right? *grin*

Kelley said...

I've heard people say a lot before that parents in YA are an endangered species. They're always dying or gone, and the same thing applies to what you've said. Normal people check in with their families. Books normally have too much action for mom calls and whatnot. But, it's good to have family dynamics if it adds to the story, I think.

Talli Roland said...

Love that photo!

Most of my novels have family at the periphery. I think it's because my protagonists live in big cities away from their extended families, which sort of echoes my own experience.

Kendal said...

My stories typically involve family a lot, probably because I came from a pretty big one. I love it when stories incorporate a family element. There's so much natural tension and conflict that comes into play with a family.

Adriana Noir said...

Hey, Summer! I'm sure you'll do great. There's no such thing as a standard family. LOL they come in all sizes and with various shades of dysfunction...err...love! ;)

Lola Sharp said...

Well, it works in this story. You have some very interesting (strong) female family characters and their (at times strained) relationships add to the flavor and tension. It's damn good thus far, my friend. I'm loving it.

Also, I agree, that picture *IS* creepy. Dude, would it kill them to smile? (except that one middle boy has a ever so slightly amused face...I think he looks fun and mischievous.)

Love you,
Lola

Sarah Ahiers said...

man, look at all those boys in that pic!
My last WIP focused a lot on the MCs family, it was actually one of the main themes. My current one, not as much. I mean, it's still present and part of the MC, it's just not quite as central to the theme.

Guinevere said...

I don't know why, but I love that pic -- even though my mind boggles at the thought of 5 kids/4 boys...