dinuriel
Full Member
Torturing characters? Me? Nooo...
Posts: 374
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Post by dinuriel on Mar 3, 2011 21:31:11 GMT -5
I know I just posted another topic this morning and haven't even replied to it yet (although I did read everyone's responses and I appreciate all the insight), but this was the topic of the creative writing lecture today.
Have you ever written for children? Do you have fun with it, or do you feel inhibited? Do you feel as though some of your work might be suitable for younger audiences even if it was written for older ones?
Personally, I don't think I'll ever bother writing for kids. Even the stuff I wrote as a kid wasn't all that kid-friendly. I don't want to tone it down. I want to swear and make crude comments.
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Post by laura on Mar 3, 2011 21:46:30 GMT -5
I don't mind if older teenagers want to read my work, but I probably won't ever write specifically for kids or teens. The topics that most interest me all have to do with adult issues, like families, marriages and adult relationships, grown children and their parents, and adult friendships. And I have a potty mouth? lol!
And I don't think I can really connect with what it means to be a normal teenager. I grew up too fast.
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Post by sb on Mar 3, 2011 22:02:12 GMT -5
I wouldn't have a clue how to write for kids, and I have absolutely no interest in finding out. Books written for very young children require very specialized talent; books for kids who are between 6 and 10 are mostly total stupid junk which makes me think it is even harder to write for that age level. Just NO, I would not want to do that. I'd be completely inhibited.
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Post by thelunarfox on Mar 3, 2011 22:08:38 GMT -5
SB, true. Writing books for kids does require a special talent. It is difficult to write something interesting, good, and fit for kids. Anyone else ever get it suggested that they should write kid books? I have. I did give it a try, but yeah, I don't have those skills!
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Post by rad on Mar 4, 2011 4:24:40 GMT -5
I'm not opposed to it at all. In my previous job I wrote a lot of activity books and suchlike for kids and I've volunteered at kids' clubs and youth clubs etc as well as working with older teens/young adults.
Anything for young kids, picture books etc, would be too hard for me, but stuff from about 8 onwards, I'd love to have a go.
I did start a teenage novel once, and sent some spec chapters off. I got positive feedback from one publisher who liked my writing just wasn't looking for that particular subject matter, but encouraged me to send anything else to them. I've never had another strong enough idea to do that but I hope I will one day. PhD first and then I'm going to open my writing horizons to a few things.
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Post by raquelaroden on Mar 4, 2011 6:12:13 GMT -5
One of the ideas I've had for a book would probably work best as a children's book. I think it's a nifty idea, but I don't know if I'll ever develop it. I think I'd have to reacquaint myself with children's literature to see where it would fit best, and how long it should be, etc.. I don't know if it should be a picture book or one for children a little older. It would depend on how easy or complex I wanted to make the story, I would imagine.
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dinuriel
Full Member
Torturing characters? Me? Nooo...
Posts: 374
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Post by dinuriel on Mar 4, 2011 14:20:21 GMT -5
After the lecture yesterday (not to mention, the writing exercise :S), I have to say that I have a newfound respect for children's writers. It's tough coming up with stuff that kids will actually enjoy without being totally inappropriate :S
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Post by sb on Mar 4, 2011 14:44:03 GMT -5
I have enormous respect for children's writers. I'm trying to remember what I liked at that in between age, and I really do remember loving E. Nesbit. And everything Walter Farley ever wrote.
editing to add that the whole Wrinkle in Time series scared me to death. I hated those books. I still remember something about a pulse in Charles Wallace's forehead. For some reason those books gave me nightmares.
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Post by celebkiriedhel on Mar 5, 2011 6:35:22 GMT -5
I've written for kids - but basically all it's been is writing up the stories we make up at bedtime. The more wild the imagination of the child the better. But I would never consider publishing them. They are for the kids I babysit.
I reckon any and all of you could do that. In the end though, it's more about what you want to do.
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Post by infinitygoddess on Mar 5, 2011 12:35:04 GMT -5
I could never write for children. Not only would it inhibit me, but I never really got along much with other kids as a child and related more with the adults in my life than anything. So I can't really find it in me to write something for them.
I like writing about adult things. Sex, violence, and all that nitty gritty.
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