tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post6936505776632073459..comments2023-05-04T08:55:45.336-04:00Comments on our stories, ourselves: Why Playing It Safe May Be the Most Dangerous Game of Allemma d drydenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-15846448013703147912014-04-16T15:05:47.658-04:002014-04-16T15:05:47.658-04:00Thank you, Brava! Emma D.
Thinking/agreeing not o...Thank you, Brava! Emma D.<br /><br />Thinking/agreeing not only of/about the authors & titles already mentioned here but Mem Fox. Not only her unplayed-safe titles for kiddos, but her books to adults such as RADICAL REFLECTIONS: Passionate opinions on Teaching, Learning & Living & Nancy Willard's kiddo titles that are "unsafe" also & her books for adults such as TELLING TIME & of course Jane Yolen's titles, also deliciously unsafe as the other two & her books for adults including the shimmering TOUCH MAGIC. May all these & others I'm forgetting & that can't fit here & especially yours, may such vibrant titles, circulate more widely.jan godown anninohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00091996699597066230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-76431958289175339212014-04-11T15:56:11.232-04:002014-04-11T15:56:11.232-04:00Please do! Thanks!
Please do! Thanks!<br />emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-65847937449973292402014-03-10T23:02:29.448-04:002014-03-10T23:02:29.448-04:00Thanks, Taurean, for your comments. Absolutely, my...Thanks, Taurean, for your comments. Absolutely, my remarks transcend genre and format and apply just as much to MG and YA fiction as to picture books. Sure, it's important to keep our kids safe - but that doesn't mean we can't inspire imagination at the same time. emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-17977162731083248362014-03-10T18:53:17.940-04:002014-03-10T18:53:17.940-04:00Cheers, Tracey! DO IT indeed! Many thanks for your...Cheers, Tracey! DO IT indeed! Many thanks for your comment - and for including a link to the post on your site.emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-43738512698371622662014-03-09T16:30:59.551-04:002014-03-09T16:30:59.551-04:00Absolutely so true! It can be really scary sometim...Absolutely so true! It can be really scary sometimes to go for it so it's great to hear someone say, DO IT! <br />Thanks for this. I included a link to this post in my weekly publishing roundup: http://traceybaptiste.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/this-week-in-writing-spring-is-nearly-here-edition/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-45459515294075675532014-03-09T15:32:02.013-04:002014-03-09T15:32:02.013-04:00I just wanted to add this isn't just advice fo...I just wanted to add this isn't just advice for picture books, frankly novelists like myself need this reminder, too, the things various people told me about my debut middle grade novel were HARD to work through. <br /><br />They made some legit points I agreed with, but many felt I was being gratuitous with violence or <br />being needlessly complex, that I was asking too much of readers OLDER than 5 but UNDER 13.<br /><br />Well, I finally had to (Secretly) put my foot down and went with my gut, and now my wonderful editor has put that perspective.<br /><br />Nothing she's suggested me to change or rework was anywhere close to what was proposed to me by various writers I'd swapped critiques with along the way.<br /><br />Sometimes I think we forget that a lot of what we value as adults we did as kids, the difference is we're now old enough to do it without being micro-manged, we can too easily forget what it was like and lack empathy for it, and while some from older generations had far freer childhoods in this respect, kids growing up now (or on the tail end of Gen X or prior to the "Millennials" like I did) had to deal with carpools, supervised play at all times, no places that were in walking distance, if we were allowed to walk anywhere at all in the culture or paranoia we live in now.<br /><br />If you live in a city, those issues are all but assured, and further enhanced!<br /><br />If we can't let kids be free in books, we adults really created our own problem regarding lamenting kids wishing their childhoods away.<br /><br />It's no wonder kids want to grow up so fast, it's the only way they feel they'll get to explore without being penalized ro punished, playing it safe can be one of those disguised insults we do without realizing it. Sure, some of that is normal, but I do think it's enhanced because our North American/Canadian culture today.<br /><br />I'm not a parent, and I'm all for keeping kids safe, but there's still a difference between common sense and getting carried away, you know?Taurean Watkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604609379930060667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-48367794135985797522014-03-08T17:33:34.359-05:002014-03-08T17:33:34.359-05:00NEVER ever give up on imagination! Just have fun a...NEVER ever give up on imagination! Just have fun and play with language and story! That's the best gift to give to children.emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-72693057061744543922014-03-08T17:32:15.698-05:002014-03-08T17:32:15.698-05:00Keep going, Carrie!Keep going, Carrie!emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-6974839116560703252014-03-08T17:31:45.248-05:002014-03-08T17:31:45.248-05:00Exactly, Julie! Thanks!Exactly, Julie! Thanks!emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-30458459396608664422014-03-08T15:56:12.420-05:002014-03-08T15:56:12.420-05:00Thanks so much, Emma. When I posted the question o...Thanks so much, Emma. When I posted the question on the Paths to Publishing site, I was ready to give up on imagination. I didn't know which way to go with my stories. I love how wild they can get. I know my kids like that and know they'd never try anything they read, but was being told that kids can't do this, or kids can't do that. Don't put it in their heads. But something kept telling me, it's ok. Keep on doing what you're doing. and I was stuck so posted. <br />I'm so glad I did! and Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Emma. My characters will keep on being as wild as I can imagine them to be <3 Denise Bruce of Inglesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07329224933759818306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-11420605740416352642014-03-08T15:09:44.693-05:002014-03-08T15:09:44.693-05:00Wow! Amazing post. Hope you don't mind m...Wow! Amazing post. Hope you don't mind my sharing this post with SCBWI NZ .patientdreamerhttp://thepatientdreamer.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-19769672017307055162014-03-07T23:52:20.379-05:002014-03-07T23:52:20.379-05:00Thank you for standing up for imagination! It'...Thank you for standing up for imagination! It's like a pat on the back for me as I am doing the same with one of my manuscripts! Thanks so much for this post, Emma!Carrie Charley Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596139362790716640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-51336307461647857832014-03-07T13:07:42.854-05:002014-03-07T13:07:42.854-05:00So glad to read this! Now I can put the fire BACK ...So glad to read this! Now I can put the fire BACK into my story, literally and figuratively!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-1243929950491771472014-03-07T12:30:29.312-05:002014-03-07T12:30:29.312-05:00SUCH an important message for authors, Emma. Child...SUCH an important message for authors, Emma. Children deserve to let their imaginations and hopes go as far and wide as they possibly can. Stories make impossible possible. Therein, their magic.Julie Hedlundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04477115458570906449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-11903920171116781172014-03-07T09:04:51.517-05:002014-03-07T09:04:51.517-05:00That's fantastic!That's fantastic!<br />emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-90930173005998783662014-03-07T09:03:27.548-05:002014-03-07T09:03:27.548-05:00As a beginning reader, my now 14 year old daughter...As a beginning reader, my now 14 year old daughter's favorite read was Homer's Odyssey --- not the original, but a simplified kids version that stuck to all the major plot points. Other adults were shocked when she recounted the complete storyline for them, but even then it was evident that a good story is a good story, no matter the age of the reader. C.A. Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15508290473094312942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-3139499779652509382014-03-07T08:23:43.370-05:002014-03-07T08:23:43.370-05:00As 4-6-year-olds are very young, with a fairly lim...As 4-6-year-olds are very young, with a fairly limited world view, any nonfiction for that age group needs to be completed tapped into that age group's areas of interests and perspectives, and must be presented in ways that are entertaining and fun. I think of Sandra Markle's INSIDE OUTSIDE series and Roxie Munro's MAZE series as good examples. Lots of nonfiction for this age group have novelty features, such as lift-the-flaps, and/or they're highly illustrated. As long as the subject matter of the nonfiction is relevant and presented/executed in a fun way, those are the factors that will appeal to that age group. Hope this helps! Thanks for your comment and question. emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-68162655241251642262014-03-06T22:16:09.128-05:002014-03-06T22:16:09.128-05:00Great post, Emma. Do you have any tips on non-fict...Great post, Emma. Do you have any tips on non-fiction writing for the 4-6 year group?Virginia Rinkelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13436571974803945937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-39693591572530248162014-03-06T19:20:01.257-05:002014-03-06T19:20:01.257-05:00HOORAY for this post! Thank you.
HOORAY for this post! Thank you.<br />Elizabeth Rose Stantonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05725663688810441280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-55980153345414845062014-03-06T14:56:31.778-05:002014-03-06T14:56:31.778-05:00Cheers, Joanna! And thanks for sharing titles of s...Cheers, Joanna! And thanks for sharing titles of some books that move us out of "safety" to great effect. I think writers of all genres and formats risk--including YA--can find themselves playing it too safe, and it's when they let go that the real stories come forth.emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-30887127055412019702014-03-06T14:54:24.087-05:002014-03-06T14:54:24.087-05:00Yes! Yes! As you say, as long as the emotions and ...Yes! Yes! As you say, as long as the emotions and feelings are ones that target readers are familiar with and the resolution is satisfying, that is a safe place enough for the story. Recent picture books for me that have not 'played safe' and are wonderfully effective are BIG DOG, CREEPY CARROTS and THE DARK. Books like THE DAY THE BABIES CRAWLED AWAY sounds freaky to a parent but empowers the superhero in any young child! Great message, Emma, and as Betsy says, relevant for books for older children, too. (Picture) books are in fact exactly one of the safest places for children to explore ALL those emotions and crazy dreams. Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00633484787634197878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-56868063884768919572014-03-06T14:46:12.978-05:002014-03-06T14:46:12.978-05:00Hear hear!Hear hear!emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-44441811833490790342014-03-06T14:46:03.598-05:002014-03-06T14:46:03.598-05:00And keeping the faith in ourselves and in our own ...And keeping the faith in ourselves and in our own vision for our best work is what matters most! emma d drydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08742492495749128209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-81516845825836917102014-03-06T14:39:00.300-05:002014-03-06T14:39:00.300-05:00Thanks, Emma, for this inspiring, much-needed remi...Thanks, Emma, for this inspiring, much-needed reminder. When your mailbox is chock full of rejections, it's hard to "keep the faith," to continue being true to your own vision, to think outside the box and take risks with your writing.Kate Hoveyhttp://www.katehovey.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050210624343654411.post-78047011246648204072014-03-06T14:35:23.973-05:002014-03-06T14:35:23.973-05:00Thank you so much for this post, Emma. I am an avi...Thank you so much for this post, Emma. I am an avid believer in "stretching" in my books. Stretching vocabulary, stretching imaginations and the world that children know. In pushing realities too quickly I am afraid we are robbing kids of those precious years of wonder. Cut that safety net!Cindy Williams Schraubenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09467495915201606362noreply@blogger.com