Ask a Youth Interview with Quinn, Age 17

 

Welcome to the very first Ask a Youth Interview!  In these short interviews, a teen or tween answers a few questions to help us adult writers better capture the youthful point of view in our YA and Middle Grade books.  This week we hear from Quinn, age seventeen.  

Basic Stats:

Name:  Quinn

Age:  17

Favorite Food:  quesadillas

Favorite Music:  Grateful Dead, The Doors, MGMT, Mac Demarco, Tame Impala, Nirvana, Sublime, and Tyler, The Creator

Favorite Book:  On the Road by Jack Kerouac

 

Quinn Answers Some Questions:  

I’m going to preface Quinn’s answers by saying that he is a seventeen-year-old boy, and seventeen-year-old boys are notorious for their short responses.  In fact, I looked back at the text message conversation I had with Quinn when I was asking him do do the Ask a Youth Interview.  The conversation went something like this:  

Me:  Babble babble babble babble babble. Babble babble babble babble babble?  

Quinn:  Alright cool.  

Me:  Babble babble babble babble babble. Babble babble babble babble babble?  

Quinn:  Sure.

Me:  Babble babble babble babble babble.  Babble babble babble babble babble.  

Quinn:  Cool.  

So that’s something to keep in mind if you’re writing a teenage male character. Sometimes they don’t say much (although they might be thinking a lot more than they say!)  And without further ado, here are Quinn’s answers to my questions.  

#1  What are some slang words that you and your friends use?  What do they mean? 

1. Bool:  Hang out  (Like, “Wanna bool after school?”)
2. GOAT:  Greatest of all time
3. Salty:  Upset/mad

 

#2  What’s something that makes you worried?  Why does it worry you? 

Trump, cause he’s a complete dumbass

 

#3  Are there different groups at your school or different ways that kids label each other?  What are they?  

1. Preps:  Rich kids who play lacrosse
2. Nerds:  Wear odd clothes and like video games
3. Potheads:  Smoke an abundance of marijuana
4. Trashy:  Poor manners and don’t have much self-respect
5. Ghetto:  Rude kids who think they can do whatever they want

 

#4  Describe to me your ideal weekend.    

Going out with friends, coming home some point late at night after a night of partying

 

#5  What do most adults not understand (or remember) about being a teenager? 

That not all kids will make the same mistakes you might have when you were young.

#6  Anything else you’d like me (and other writers) to know?

Nope

 

 

Read more Ask a Youth Interviews!

 

Have a question you’d like a young person to answer? Let me know in the form below!