tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post6212951694349622552..comments2024-03-20T02:49:17.606-07:00Comments on Between Fact and Fiction: How Not To Write YANatalie Whipplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-87971376799430828062009-10-30T10:59:27.796-07:002009-10-30T10:59:27.796-07:00I found your blog following a link on twitter - wo...I found your blog following a link on twitter - wow, what a gold mine. I went straight to your posts on YA. You've hit something key here - young people are smarter than they are often given credit for (your point about Nathanial Hawthorne and the level of what they study in school is spot on).<br /><br />I write YA and work with young people in several capacities - i am so impressed with the teenagers i meet. I wrote a post about how <a href="http://scatterbeams.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/show-up-to-show-the-love/" rel="nofollow">it comes down to this</a>: loving them, and in loving them, taking the time to know them, to <i>get</i> them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-35700695240910094672009-05-21T03:24:53.146-07:002009-05-21T03:24:53.146-07:00You've hit the nail on the head about the language...You've hit the nail on the head about the language — how to keep it all young and fresh and cutting edge without deploying hip phrases that will perish before the book is even published.Whirlochrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09846196906206886945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-76722053539309223722009-05-20T18:58:37.921-07:002009-05-20T18:58:37.921-07:00Madeleine L'Engle was often frustrated with the mi...Madeleine L'Engle was often frustrated with the misconception that people write for children because they aren't good enough to write for adults. She said that, if anything, writing for children is <I>harder</I>. Children (teens included, though I know they're not children) can see through the crap much better than adults.<br /><br /><I>A Wrinkle in Time</I> got rejected repeatedly because it was supposedly too difficult for children to understand.Adam Heinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225813532455467868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-20289916963323619682009-05-20T17:40:01.773-07:002009-05-20T17:40:01.773-07:00Mariah, I never wanted to read those books either....Mariah, I never wanted to read those books either. I guess some do, since they're out there, but there definitely needs to be variety. I think more now than ever there are great YA books out there:)Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-13655170024656375182009-05-20T15:57:21.657-07:002009-05-20T15:57:21.657-07:00Finally, someone said it!
As a teenager, I usuall...Finally, someone said it!<br /><br />As a teenager, I usually throw those books against walls. Why can't I read literature? Why am I expected to read stupid "Valley Girl" books? Don't even get me started on TV shows!<br /><br />I write YA and one of my goals is to not sound like those examples. Bleh!Mariah Irvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15181111151756005743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-15652572837223195662009-05-20T14:48:42.446-07:002009-05-20T14:48:42.446-07:00I read this book, the alchemyst (or alchemist- he ...I read this book, the alchemyst (or alchemist- he spells it different ways) that must have been dumbed down, because I got really frustrated by it. Does anyone know a teen who has read that one? I want to know what a real teen thought of it.Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10126561808521998532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-80319872133160222672009-05-20T12:49:13.634-07:002009-05-20T12:49:13.634-07:00WW, I say "dude" all the time! And I did grow up i...WW, I say "dude" all the time! And I did grow up in No. Cali. I can't kick the habit, hehe.<br /><br />Tess, some people really, really don't get it. Sorry they aren't acknowledging your awesomeness. Btw, I heard you live close to me;) We should chat sometime.<br /><br />Jenna, yay! I'm glad I got something right:) Thank you so much for your perspective!Natalie Whipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09978251567306345129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-19616858352190714722009-05-20T12:21:34.541-07:002009-05-20T12:21:34.541-07:00Amen!
Speaking as a young adult, I hate shallow,...Amen! <br /><br />Speaking as a young adult, I hate shallow, bubbly, empty-calories books. I can't stand shows like Gossip Girl, Hannah Montana, and High School Musical and I absolutely abhor books in which the biggest conflict is what dress to wear to prom. I want serious books. And you're right, we teen people can spot artificial slang from a long way away. My take is, use it right or don't use it at all. It's annoying.<br /><br />Anyway, great post. I may be stealing the idea for a post of my own in the next few days. :)Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12670094635770401053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-47936680726054756702009-05-20T12:08:13.764-07:002009-05-20T12:08:13.764-07:00You know I agree with you on this on. :)
Honestly...You know I agree with you on this on. :)<br /><br />Honestly, if all YA books were like that, I wouldn't want to write it. <br /><br />Great post.Renee Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08170818341212519937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-75154897572196097772009-05-20T11:53:04.656-07:002009-05-20T11:53:04.656-07:00I write MG and can relate to this post. People fin...I write MG and can relate to this post. People find out I'm a writer and are interested and then find out I write for children and suddenly lose interest. Why? It is just as challenging...they don't get it, I guess.Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014195715998913268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-63578413365701165172009-05-20T11:11:33.830-07:002009-05-20T11:11:33.830-07:00"Hekka tight" lol! I got laughed at by the guys ..."Hekka tight" lol! I got laughed at by the guys I work with because I say dude all the time. I grew up in California and never lost the habit. I still say it. A few other dribs and drabs of surfer dude speak pop out occasionally, too, confusing the locals.<br /><br />Very thoughtful post. It's true that you can both limit the shelf life of a book and label yourself a pretender if you use the wrong slang or too much of the current stuff. "So" and "Like" are really overused, but they are still useful at this point in time, even for adult-oriented stories.writtenwyrddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280711822302493122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-55780576648981558312009-05-20T10:50:21.613-07:002009-05-20T10:50:21.613-07:00I'm right there with you, Sara.I'm right there with you, Sara.Kiersten Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05780265683043033609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-30595253575432103972009-05-20T10:37:09.096-07:002009-05-20T10:37:09.096-07:00How do you come up with so many awesome posts? Env...How do you come up with so many awesome posts? Envy.Sara Raaschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01196505323463444186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-32566501588732561452009-05-20T10:34:57.802-07:002009-05-20T10:34:57.802-07:00I agree about the dumbing down. I have a six year ...I agree about the dumbing down. I have a six year old nephew, and I can't even get away with dumbing things down for him. He calls me on it. Even if he doesn't understand what I'm talking about, he prefers that I speak normally.Davin Malasarnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09385823575081492949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5774363178370829558.post-41860961118927163742009-05-20T10:30:51.583-07:002009-05-20T10:30:51.583-07:00I totally agree with all of it. I have a teenage b...I totally agree with all of it. I have a teenage boy and their vernicular changes weekly.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685341739870191402noreply@blogger.com