So, as you are aware one of the worse things that you can do in writing is to unintentionally lean on stereotypes in your writing. Not only do you do a disservice to your own story, but you can demean another group of people, whether it be religion, orientation, race, or any other division of group you can assign to folks.
The confusing part is that there are times when using stereotypes work or re-enforce you story. Grimmack, the book I'm currently marketing to agents leans on several stereotypes intentionally. I wanted the traditional fantasy from a different point of view, so I didn't stray too far from traditional wizard, knights, and elf types we are used to. This is so my main character can make observations and even poke fun at the traditional archetypes we tend to cling to.
The other thing to worry about with Stereotypes is focusing on the latest fad or movement. The way we write and re-act to many group have changed over the years and is likely to continue to do so. What might have been funny or fine to write about in the past changes as our society does. Virtually everyone has watched a movie or read a book and afterwards said, "They couldn't do that nowadays," and often they are right. If you don't believe me, go watch "Blazing Saddles," and imagine how people would re-act if that was released for the first time in theaters today.
And this brings me to millenials, the most complained about group of our time, those lazy good for nothing children, and young adults with no values. I am sure, that Hippies, Gen-Xers, or any other group coming of age never had such criticisms... Oh wait, I'm pretty sure they did.
To be honest, I spent a large part of my adult life working with teenagers, many of which were in this age group. I myself depending on which "group" identifier you read end up at the end of Gen X, if that matters to anyone. I have a very definite opinion on millenials. And it follows here...
Millenials, like many groups before them, do not truly exist. Neither do Gen-Xers etc, etc, etc. There are societal trends of clothing, music, and some arbitrary factors like that common to people in certain age groups, but no one can be defined by any such label, though admittedly some grab onto and wear such labels proudly.
After spending several years training and working with teenagers, these dirty millenials, I can tell you that when it comes to work ethics, focus, feelings of entitlement, that I ran into a somewhat similar ratio of adults we hired who were older than me with the similar issues. Generally, if you give someone a chance and set and expectation they will meet it. This is true for those who are sixteen, those who are twenty-one, and those who are sixty-two. For those who don't meet it, they are spread throughout not just the young twenty-somethings.
Adam ruins everything even gave a great twenty minute talk on this very subject. He was talking about how to market to millenials, and the honest answer was "duh'" they are people. Treat them like people, not a group. And that is what I would argue you should do in your writing. His video, which was one of my triggers for my many agreements with him, is millenials don't exist...
What is your opinion on such things? Am I totally off my rocker? Should I deny that named generations exist? I mean, it is cool in our culture to label people so. And if it's cool...
Thank you, and I look forward to any discussion on this,
Ben Marble.
If you want to support Ben Marble and his attempts at training the world's first muskrat bobsledding team, consider buying on of his short stories at Amazon.com.
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