I am at last at the end of my final draft and edit. I have written about a fourteen year old boy who is befriended by extra dimensional beings. The story takes him through time thinking he is saving the world, the only female characters are his mother and a so called "witch" from the fourteenth century. No other females, to be honest the story line I feel doesn't call for a "friend" for him till the next book. Have I made a mistake in not putting the female element in the first novel. I wrote it as it revealed itself to me if that doesn't sound like I'm a cracked-pot!
Any and all thoughts will be welcome.
Regards Paul.
Thank you for your comments, I am coming to realise that maybe the story knew what it was doing as it it wrote itself much better than I did. The story doesn't go into other world realms, it is definitely our earth world based, and his meetings are with humans who give him the adventures. (life threatening of course, is there any other?) it's the extra dimensionals that cause him some personal problems. He hopefully will get it right by book three where his age so far will be... I have no idea yet!
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge of the young reader, it is an encouragement
Regards and thanks Paul.
Many boys of that age don't want to read about girls or emotions or any of that soppy stuff, Paul! They want action and adventure, and gadgets that could actually work. I used to work in a senior school library, and getting most boys to read at all is a challenge. If girls appear in later novels, as presumably your hero grows older, that will be because they need to be there.
Don't feel you have to shoe-horn something or someone into a plot where they simply don't fit. Your character will be interacting with plenty of other creatures; it's just that they are non-gender-specific and not human.
Yep I get what you are saying, it is of course for a reading audience of around 11 to 13 year olds, not sure how the age range works to be honest... I see the story developing over at least two more books as he gets older. (if I live long enough to write em!) None of this story was planned it just happened; as with the initial concept for the second book, which is still sketchy but hope it writes itself as this one has.
When I first came to this site I understood A LOT LESS than I do know, so thanks to all who have answered my questions as well as submitting their own, which is where most of my learning has come from. I have to say I think in the main this is a good place. So once more my thanks and Regards Paul.
P.S.
Sticking with the story as is because of the help and insight from you all. Ta.