Writing a series and title for each book?

[[deleted user]]

I'm going to begin writing a series about a young boy, who is gay.

The main story idea: Spencer's mother is arrested and sentenced to 15 yrs in a state prison. Spencer is taken into custody and made a ward of the state. He is placed with a foster family. He is taken a few times to visit his mother. She tells him she signed papers so he can be adopted and in a loving home. Spencer doesn't understand why his mother did things, he must learn to adjust. Can he accept his mother's choice or will he have to adjust to how he thinks, to her thinking?

What do you think? Can this work. The main character is around 11-12 yrs old.

[Kaje]

I think that's an interesting and potentially very productive place to start. Having a parent arrested is a huge upheaval. Then having her basically decide to give him away is another; especially if she's doing it randomly in the hope of a good outcome, not because he already has a family interested. (I'm not sure of the legalities here?) Dealing with coming out adds a dimension. I assume you plan to follow him over several years?

I think it could be very cool if you follow him through a foster experience that isn't too extreme - we have more than enough books with MCs abused in foster care IMO, (and a few with wonderful, amazing fosterers.) But even a decent, trying-but-not-stellar foster situation can be a tough environment for a teen, especially if they get moved a couple of times. I'd love to see a realistic book that doesn't vilify the foster parents but that shows how complicated life can be. Good luck with it.

[[deleted user]]

Yes I am going to follow Spencer from middle school to high school, then graduating high school... I think it'll be a good series. I changed the outline a bit.

pencer's mother is arrested and sentenced to 10 yrs in a state prison. Spencer is taken into custody and made a ward of the state. He is placed with a foster family. He is taken a few times to visit his mother. She tells him she was told he was made a ward of the state due to her imprisonment. Spencer doesn't understand why they did this to him and his mother. Can he accept that the state took away his mother's rights to have him in her life. How will Spencer deal with this new status in his life? Can he find it in his heart to accept things or challenge them and work for justice for his mother and him?

I think this change makes it better for him. He'll go through life being the one that brings justice to his life and possible to his mother's too.. He still get adopted and comes out as gay. The series will follow how his new family will accept him as he is... and Spencer will go through the trails of puberty and find out what it's like to be catholic and gay...

[Kaje]

Good luck with it - you have a lot of strong themes in there so a series is probably a good way to do them justice.

[[deleted user]]

Thank you.. I hope it goes well too... Beginning the writing of book one today...