What do boys like...

... to read?

I have a short story competition that I want to enter, but it has to aimed at a target audience of the average boy. What can I write about? Boys of YWS Help me please! Story ideas/prompts welcome!

What do girls like to read about? Take that, minus the: ponyland adventures, page-long descriptions of what the characters are wearing today, series of trivial relationship problems that masquerade as plots, and angst-ridden internal monologues.

Also, romance is pretty much out of the question. You can sprinkle romance into stories, but if it's the sole focus, forget about it.

In the end, though, everyone has different preferences, boy or girl.

Pork

Prokaryote wrote:What do girls like to read about? Take that, minus the: ponyland adventures, page-long descriptions of what the characters are wearing today, series of trivial relationship problems that masquerade as plots, and angst-ridden internal monologues.

Hey! I resent that!
I open to all genres!
You depict us as rather shallow.

Boys would like action and adventure, yeah?
But like Pork said, its a matter of preference.

~Meep

I can't stand large amounts of action and adventure. And I'm not opposed to page-long descriptions.

Anyway, it seems to me that, at least around here, the average boy doesn't like to read. But I suppose if you have to write something, the action/adventure thing might be the way to go. I can't really help with ideas, but I'd be happy to have a look at your story when you've written something. I may be of more help in that situation.

Ohio Impromptu wrote:And I'm not opposed to page-long descriptions.

Oh no, you're one of those Tolkien fans, aren't you?

Pork

Well, I like anything from Eragon to Matthew Reilly.

Hey! I resent that!
I open to all genres!
You depict us as rather shallow.

Or us, depending on how you look at it.



Oh wow Scarecrow, anything from Eragon to Mathew Reilly? -decides not to go onto a rant about those two particular works-

Actually asxz Mathew Reilly is probably a good example of what a lot of guys like in their reading, except exaggerated unto perversion.

But yeah any debate on the novel Twilight will eventually highlight the difference in what girls and guys (oversimplified a bit) look for in a novel.

Rubric

Rubric wrote:But yeah any debate on the novel Twilight will eventually highlight the difference in what girls and guys (oversimplified a bit) look for in a novel.

Ugh. Curse that Stephenie Meyer for giving everyone an excuse to stereotype girls.
I'm not a Twilight fan.
And I read Matthew Reilly books.
'Nuff said.

Dang blast it Meep, Mathew Reilly is too far.

His name is used to sell the works of a million monkeys on a million monkey typewriters who all have terretz expressed through their *fingertips*.

But you're right. I'll still maintain that many of the critiques of Twilight and Meyer can be extrapolated into what guys like in their literature.

I am always up for internal/psychological conflict. And yes I am of the male gender.

But yeah any debate on the novel Twilight will eventually highlight the difference in what girls and guys (oversimplified a bit) look for in a novel.

I resent that. Twilight was suckish.

Anyways, I should think that guys like stories involving violence and big, um, those - if you know what I mean - yes? Or is that just the one's I hang out with?
And yes, most guys also enjoy the Eragon series.
Sorry, I'm not a guy, so I couldn't help all that much. xD

Oh wow as offended as I'm sure you are over Twilight, there was certinly no need to link my gender to Eragon.

Sorry if my reference was unclear, what I meant was that many of the areas where Meyer is critiqued are areas where she has exaggerated traditional romance themes unto perversion: so while girls can obviouslystill dislike this, the critiques of it will generally highlight the specific themes guys are not usually in favour of.

Like romance in general?

But yes, sorry for that miscommunication.

Prokaryote wrote: What do girls like to read about? Take that, minus the: ponyland adventures, page-long descriptions of what the characters are wearing today, series of trivial relationship problems that masquerade as plots, and angst-ridden internal monologues.

Also, romance is pretty much out of the question. You can sprinkle romance into stories, but if it's the sole focus, forget about it.

In the end, though, everyone has different preferences, boy or girl.

...
Oh no, you're one of those Tolkien fans, aren't you?

Pork

I'm not opposed to romance, or relationship issues as subplots, or angst (viva la grunge, man)

And Tolkien's not the only one who does long descriptions. Check out the first 5 pages of Far from the Madding Crowd. Or the whole thing almost.

I have no problem visualizing things, but I still like to read details.

What I read tends to be horror (gorey and spoof), mystery or suspense, classics, things that would never make the bestseller list and really anything well written. It's more the skill, style and voice of the author than the story itself that will draw me in. Of course a decent plot (realistic in detail) with many twists and subplots keep me interested.

Feel free to shoot me a PM if you want me to read what you have.

Not a guy, but since I hang around a lot of guys...

Funny stuff is awesome, especially of the ironic kind. Explosions and thrillers and lots of quick twists and turns are awesome. And, make it like a puzzle and I will love you forever.

Basically? I'm thinking of Burn Notice. XD

Most of the boys I know don't like to read. However, I know a few who like to read comedy,politics and manga/graphic novels. That's all I can tell you since I'm a girl.