Since October 2018, Charles has been studying his doctorate at the University of Chester. The research project is concerned with the representation of LGBTQ+ characters in Young Adult fiction, observing the growth of the accurate portrayals of LGBTQ+ youth and their shift from supporting, stereotyped roles in fiction to fully fledged protagonists.

 

Creatively, the novel Charles is writing, titled STARTING FROM SCRATCH, will focus on sixteen-year-old Mathieu, who after coming out publicly in a school assembly, is propelled into viral stardom overnight. There are many novels that investigate the coming out process as the main narrative arc, however, STARTING FROM SCRATCH will focus on what comes next. As Mathieu’s coming out is broadcast over the internet, turning him into a viral sensation overnight, the impact of social media on LGBTQ+ youth will be explored throughout the narrative, highlighting how navigating friendships and relationships whilst establishing an identity at school can be both complex and cathartic.

 

The introduction of queer Young Adult literature as its own genre began with John Donovan’s I’ll Get There, It Better Be Worth the Trip (1969). Fifty years later, LGBTQ+ Young Adult fiction has made positive strides towards representing homosexuality in equation to happiness, as opposed to homosexuality resulting in an inevitable, miserable ending. Starting from Scratch and the critical component aims to provide an accurate insight into the current generation’s experiences of establishing identity as openly LGBTQ+ in society today.

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If you have any interest in sharing your coming-out stories and/or queer experiences to go towards the project, please get in touch via my social media or email: management@charlesworrall.com