No More Pearl Jam in my Books…

I love Pearl Jam. They are one of my favorite bands ever. But they're one of my favorite bands and I'm 38, so Pearl Jam just can't be a teen character's favorite band. And that's why I'm telling you – you won't find a character digging Pearl Jam in my novels.

I tried in Mockingbirds 2. I had a brief mention of Pearl Jam, and it was fitting because the character playing Pearl Jam – Jones – is a classic rock guy. But Pearl Jam's not classic rock. So my savvy and younger-than-me editor wisely nixed Pearl Jam for a much trendier and CURRENT band. (If you want to know which one – read the book when it comes out later this year!).

And that's because you just can't be giving your teen main characters the same musical taste as you. In fact, it's one of the rules. My fellow YA writer Joelle Anthony said so in this article for SCBWI, the writer's association. Giving your characters your musical taste is one of the most over-used things in young adult fiction, along with lab partners who do all the work, characters who hate math, and hot boys with jewel-like green eyes, her article says.

Which means, I have to go change the eye color now of the love interest in my new novel. While I listen to Black.

Which is a totally awesome song!!