Paranormal question

[valarltd]

OK, I was contacted about writing a YA paranormal.

My first thought is beginning with the sentence, "The first thing you need to know about me is that Interview with the Vampire is like my life's theme movie."

My second thought was "Use the lycanthropy as a metaphor for gayness. It worked for JKR!"

My third thought was "Ghostly lesbian relative guides shy bi girl into coming out."

My fourth was "Send her to the dark carnival with her best pal, and have them fall in love."

My fifth was "Dear Bird, woman, can you think in nothing but cliches?"



So, what is there a dearth of in the paranormal market?
ESP? Psychic powers? Time Travel by astral projection?

taking suggestions...

Comments

[thefannishwaldo.livejournal.com]

Is "YA" not Young Adult in your sphere? 'Cause #3? Not likely for little kids. ;)

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

YA is young adult, which means I can do the coming-out story and even a kiss, but no sex.
It's a GLBT YA novel.

[thefannishwaldo.livejournal.com]

AH! GLTB...That was a missing salient detail. :)

The D-Man checks in

[(Anonymous)]

I might suggest a time-travel piece. The older, middle-aged character returns to visit her younger self in the past to encourage her coming out earlier, at the crucial point/event (like at a birthday slumber party, explaining how she remembered the exact date so well after decades in the future) when she was considering really doing it, but didn't. The time-traveler is unable to talk any too much (if at all) about future events, status of homosexuals in future society and/or politics, etcetera--due to stringent timeline contamination rules. Future time-travel allows for small individual personal changes/improvements for a select few, but nothing that could significantly change the world--like what the family should invest money in now (but in the past) that will prove hugely (sure thing) profittable later, or giving significant dates for future landmark events (avoid 9-11 attacks stuff). Time traveler--not being allowed to physically occupy the same space-time continum as the existing character in the past--only appears as a vague ghostly image that is able to guide but not physically interact (no accidentally stepping on the insect that was destined to change the world sort of thing) and who is so vague that she cannot be seen at all in the dark (good invisible coach for a sexual encounter in a darkened room that did not originally happen, but could have, and this time will happen, no pun intended). Earlier acceptance of who and what the past character is could mean significant personal change for the better in the future, even if for nothing more than the character's (and her prospective partner's) future happiness. The future self, having accomplished a great feat (saved the world/country sort of thing) earned the right to time-travel once, under very specific Federal guidelines, and the trip may well be monitored from afar. Nonetheless, "Better to be accepted/scorned for what you truly are now than to live a lie," sort of thing, ending with the future self returning to her own timeline and maybe somebody special... and maybe also a lot of catching up to do.

Apparently I should go to bed now...

[brithistorian.livejournal.com]

I misread the end of the 3rd from the last line of your post as "paranormal meerkat" - and thought that sounded like a good idea. :-)

The D-Man checks in

[(Anonymous)]

You know... inspiration can come from the darnest places.
Go with what works.