Writing a book

BW · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 602

I have been told i should get into writing by some family and friends, and i enjoy it so i am going to give it a shot. I am 18 years old and i want to write a book on parental advice on kids. So many doctors have done books on how to rasie the perfect kid, but i dont think anyone has ever really gone to the source.....kids. So what i want to do is give parents a view into the world of teenagers and show them what goes on and what it means when kids do certain things. Basically i want to show parents what goes on in the mind of teenagers so they can better understand them, and hopefully make them better parents. I know there are some parents on here and even if you are not, i was wondering if you think thats a good idea to write about. If anyone has any suggestions that would be welcomed too. Thanks

criminally_minded · Posted: Apr 02, 2003 9:26 pm Post subject:

I hope my parents never find out what went through my mind when I was a teenager... they would freak out Neutral

TravelJunkie · Guest

i know what you mean CM. My parents thought i was a good little church girl. hahahaha boy did i have them snowed! Shocked

criminally_minded · Posted: Apr 02, 2003 9:34 pm Post subject:

Man, your parents must be blind, or unwilling to accept reality DP! Wink

TravelJunkie · Guest

yeah i come from a family for def mutes that have no since of smell Twisted Evil

Dees · Posted: Apr 02, 2003 9:58 pm Post subject:

cool can I meet them heheh

TravelJunkie · Guest

you dont want to....trust me!

Dees · Posted: Apr 02, 2003 10:21 pm Post subject:

PLEASE!!!!>>>>>!!!!!!!!

otiswunguy · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 871 City: Sammamish

i think since you are only 18 your perspective might be a little one sided. when i was 18 i thought i new it all and that my parents were messed up. looking back now, i can see that they were just looking out for my best interests and i actually was doing some pretty f-ed up stuff. just out of curiosity, how do you plan on filling up 10 chapters on things your parents should or shouldn't have done? if your parents didn't buy into the thoughts you have on the subject, what makes you think any other parents will? if i was going to try writing, it would be something for a magazine. they are the ones who get paid to travel and see some cool stuff. just my opinion.

J_DOGG · Posted: Apr 03, 2003 4:46 am Post subject:

otiswunguy---you hit the nail on the head....

When I was 18 knew it all also.... but dam do I feel dumb now looking back....

You are tryn' to write a book to a demographic that has already proved they don't care what an 18year old has to say, good luck.... I'd make it a joke book you might have better luck selling it to a publisher...

PEACE

jason_ssr · Posted: Apr 03, 2003 7:17 am Post subject:

Its a noble cause, however, parents know exactly whats going on in a teens head. They were teens once too. They have been there. Parents dont need to be showed whats on a teens mind. Parents need to be taught the value of involvement and consistency. Maybe showing families who have success with their children regardless of income bracket etc and their methods.

My parents were great. I thought they were so mean sometimes, but I knew the punishment for every deed so I cant complain. My parents stuck to their guns, and it made me a better person. I never got out of groundings a day early and I was never given exceptions for special events.

When I was in 7th grade, my youth football team was outstanding. The first winning team I had ever been a part of. We played in the playoffs and made it to the SUPERBOWL!! In Texas that was a HUGE deal. We had a parade and festivites etc. Since it was not school affiliated, grades didnt matter. Well, it did to my folks. i made a 69 in math (one point shy of passing) and they wouldnt let me play in the final game, the SUPERBOWL!! I had to sit in the stands while all my teamates became heros and won. At that time i thought it was soooo wrong!! How could they deny me something so huge. It was a once in a lifetime deal! Now I realize that that game wouldnt have changed who I was or what I thought, but that lesson sure did. Knowing my parents policies were set in stone kept me out of alot of trouble. I had alot of freedom in HS, and when it came to breaking their rules I was afraid of their threat to take my freedom away. Everytime I thought they might be bluffing, I would flash back to watching they guy who took my position catch a TD pass in the SUPERBOWL!!

Swass · Guest

I don't think you'll like my suggestion, but here it is anyway: Learn to write.

As a parent, I don't care what goes through the minds of teenages. I only care about what goes through my mind of MY kid. I'd prefer to to that by SPENDING TIME with him, and by TALKING to him.

Leggester · Posted: Apr 03, 2003 7:34 am Post subject:

I do not want to burst your bubble, but I must agree with Swass.

Whoever gave you that advice must not have tried to read your writing. I'd suggest basic English classes before composition classes.

Hehehe, a teen trying to tell parents where they went wrong? Buddy, I was there, probably did more than most. Most of us realize that we need to let our kids discover things for themselves, so we do.

Ever have to change a flat because you were too lazy to put air in it? My 18 year old has. I let him know his tire was low, he drive anyway, he had to change the tire. He used his cell to call home and see if we'd come get him. Nope, change your tire! And, BTW, you're late!

Got a good laugh out of that one.

And yes, most of us know about drugs also.

Bishop Sheen, RIP, has probably the best book on raising kids. Spock and others have been relegated to the positions of Freud.

Do you realize it's our job to try and make you adults? Not to be your friend or confidant, not to 'understand where your coming from', but to bring you up as a contributing member of society?

Sean_Brinston · Posted: Apr 03, 2003 8:17 am Post subject:

I would write out the book but not get it published-yet. Then as you get older and your ideas change you will realize mabee the opinions where biased etc, or if your opinions dont change then get it published.

BW · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 602

I think maybe I should have explained this one a little more. I am not doing this because I think i know everything, or that I think kids in general know everything. Infact I am with you in saying that kids are usually wrong and that parents know what they are doing. What i am trying to do is give parents an insight into the minds of teenagers. I am aware that not everything will apply to every kid, but i am picking out the general things that are almost universal. I also realize why you think this would be a waste of time for me to write something like this because it seems useless. Well for people like Swass who talk to their kids about what is going on in their lives i can see why you would think that. However not every family has an open relationship between the parents and their children like Swass does. Some parents cant talk to their kids about certain subjects for whatever reasons. There are kids who wont talk to their parents about things, and what are the parents to do. I want to do this for all the families that may not have such an open relationship. I garuntee you there are parents out there who have kids that do sumb things and they cant figure out what the hell they were thinking. I want to try to help clear that up for them. I know i dont know everything, and i will never claim to, i just want to help the parents who cant talk to their kids and who cannot figure out the reasons their kids do things. I also do not think parents can truely understand what goes on in a teenagers head. They have been there, but you cant honestly say that teenagers today and teenagers 20 years ago are similar.

Premier135Chick · Guest

I have to write the first half of a screenplay for my screenwriting class this semester. What a surprise, it has a wakeboaridng theme with a bit of a love triangle and plenty of shinanigans....

Leggester · Posted: Apr 03, 2003 2:38 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I do agree. I hear all the time that teens grow up more quickly now.

Can't really prove that by me Wink

Premier135Chick · Guest

I thought I knew it all at 18. Boy was I wrong!!!

Sean_Brinston · Posted: Apr 03, 2003 3:40 pm Post subject:

i thought i knew it all at 13 lol, man was I WRONG Laughing

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Swass- You sound like you've got the right idea. My parents both spent a ton of time with my sister and I. Both of us are really close to our parents. Anytime I need advice or am struggling I know they will listen and understand. Parents know what it is like growing up. The parents who struggle are the ones who have lost contact of what their kids actually do day to day.

JHrod · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3144

i knew everything at 15 .............. and i still do Twisted Evil