Most people admire those who dare to do things that we'd like to do, but for whatever reason, don't.
We love to read adventure books where the main character does exciting things and risks everything, including self, to resolve the conflict of their journey (storyline).
So why is it we aren't daring with our writing? I thought about the people I know who would read my books and left out elements I knew they would not appreciate me writing. In retrospect, that wasn't daring of me.
We tend to write in third person, a recognized safe place, because that is what most people do. We write more or less the same stories over and over. (Oh yes, we do. There are several well respected books that recommend comparing our ms to books already published.)
While we will grumble about an injustice or the woes of the industry over a cup of coffee, we rarely dare to do much more than grumble.
This is one exception on two counts. One to dare to write about contemporary topics in YA books, and the other is the support of fellow writers.
Please read: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/sep/07/authors-boycott-cancels-teen-lit-fest
Saturday, September 11, 2010
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1. A writer tends to write in the third person because if they write in the first person they can't describe other scenes involving other characters.
ReplyDelete2. I don't think it's about making an original story, because what original stories are there? We make them as interesting possible by making the characters in the stories entertaining, with a good sound plot; such as 'The Doctor, The Plutocrat, and The Mendacious Minister' soon to hit the shelves.
Glyn
I've just read the article Nadine and I agree with the principle, but would you publish a novel through Cactus Rain that say included gratuitous violence and gratuitous sex? There is a need for censorship and if parents here don't want their children to exposed to these kind of novels by Ellen Hopkins then their opinions should be respected. The home is the best place to speak about these issues. It is probably the case that some parents need educating themselves to speak openly and honestly.
ReplyDeleteAs far as rescinding the invitation to Ellen that was wrong. The solution should have been to invite parents to the festival as well.
No, I wouldn't publish gratitious violence or sex. I'm not planning on publishing YA either. I do plan to write something daring. I think one of the things about Kathryn in my trilogy is that she dares to question and to take action.
ReplyDeleteDaring is good. :)
ReplyDeleteRe the newspaper report..
I think it is a shame that one person has stopped another from enjoying an event.
I do like the support from the other author's.
Daring can win, but sometimes daring just gets you in trouble - in life and in writing I am sure. It's all about risk/opportunity balance perhaps? I haven't read the article, I'm at work, but I will do!
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I love doing things like flying, ballooning, free fall (in a tunnel) and such. I will next jump out of a plane (with a parachute). Risky? Yeah, but boy, it's gonna be a rush!