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[CCBC-Net] Re; Just the story, etc.
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From: Cassie Wilson <cassiewilson>
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 23:36:04 -0400
First of all, I apologize for getting off the announced topic; I totally forgot. First person is probably more appropriate for struggling readers, but not necessarily reluctant readers. In fact,"no person", as in non-fiction, is often what reluctant readers prefer ("don't bother me with all that emotion stuff"). There are certainly plenty of wonderful books written in first person, both for children and adults, and it's a fine point of view when it's appropriate. I thought of my favorite book so far this year, "The Loud Silence of Francine Green," by one of my favorite writers, Karen Cushman, and realized that it, as are all of Cushman's books that I can think of off-hand, is written in first person. Still, her books manage to sound masterful (her narrators always have strong voices) and insightful. I love the immediacy of Rennison or Moriarty or Sue Limb. There's nothing at all wrong with it. Unless it becomes a requirement or a gimmick.
And I certainly never meant to insult writers or (probably not) editors
(certainly not Wendy Lamb who produces gem after gem of remarkable individuality (Did you get my manuscript yet, Wen?). The words "The trend in publishing is to have all children's books written from the main character's point of view, and as such, editors insist that all the writing should sound as if it came from a child's mouth." came to me as
"everything must be in first person", and that isn't really what they said. When editors start putting words into authors' mouths, and pouring them into a mold, that is going too far, but Nancy's letter has assured me, as has my reading, that that is not the case with most editors, certainly not the ones who are successful over the long haul.
I suppose that in my desire for power (heh, heh, you never knew, did you?), I like the omniscient observer more often than not, but he is almost as rare as the lord-god bird in young adult literature. Can anyone think offhand of a good 3rd person narrator in a book that a reluctant is likely to pick up? Is point of view a good criteria to look for in material for reluctant readers? Do they necessarily want child-like prose? Maybe we're guilty of clumping different types of people into one group based on something that has little to do with their reading habits.
Cassie Wilson
Received on Thu 10 Aug 2006 10:36:04 PM CDT
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 23:36:04 -0400
First of all, I apologize for getting off the announced topic; I totally forgot. First person is probably more appropriate for struggling readers, but not necessarily reluctant readers. In fact,"no person", as in non-fiction, is often what reluctant readers prefer ("don't bother me with all that emotion stuff"). There are certainly plenty of wonderful books written in first person, both for children and adults, and it's a fine point of view when it's appropriate. I thought of my favorite book so far this year, "The Loud Silence of Francine Green," by one of my favorite writers, Karen Cushman, and realized that it, as are all of Cushman's books that I can think of off-hand, is written in first person. Still, her books manage to sound masterful (her narrators always have strong voices) and insightful. I love the immediacy of Rennison or Moriarty or Sue Limb. There's nothing at all wrong with it. Unless it becomes a requirement or a gimmick.
And I certainly never meant to insult writers or (probably not) editors
(certainly not Wendy Lamb who produces gem after gem of remarkable individuality (Did you get my manuscript yet, Wen?). The words "The trend in publishing is to have all children's books written from the main character's point of view, and as such, editors insist that all the writing should sound as if it came from a child's mouth." came to me as
"everything must be in first person", and that isn't really what they said. When editors start putting words into authors' mouths, and pouring them into a mold, that is going too far, but Nancy's letter has assured me, as has my reading, that that is not the case with most editors, certainly not the ones who are successful over the long haul.
I suppose that in my desire for power (heh, heh, you never knew, did you?), I like the omniscient observer more often than not, but he is almost as rare as the lord-god bird in young adult literature. Can anyone think offhand of a good 3rd person narrator in a book that a reluctant is likely to pick up? Is point of view a good criteria to look for in material for reluctant readers? Do they necessarily want child-like prose? Maybe we're guilty of clumping different types of people into one group based on something that has little to do with their reading habits.
Cassie Wilson
Received on Thu 10 Aug 2006 10:36:04 PM CDT
