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A Series of Interesting Series Thoughts
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From: john coy <johncoy_at_mac.com>
Date: Sat, 06 Aug 2011 07:16:49 -0500
Thank you to everyone for the interesting thoughts on why so many people are enjoying reading one series after another. I want to pick up on Monica's point below.
On Aug 6, 2011, at 12:09 AM, CCBC Network digest wrote:
Thirdly, I think there is a better understanding of emerging readers need for familiarity. I have always felt that those just becoming independent readers find series comforting. It is way easier to get into a story which has much that you already know --- same names, characters, etc. You
then just need to get into the plot and for a new reader that may be easier.
I'm in the middle of writing a middle-grade series called the 4 for 4 series, which features four fifth-grade friends preparing to move into middle school. The boys play a different sport in each of the four books and the setting is contemporary America. I planned to use the different voice of each boy for the four books, but when I talked to students, I found that they wanted the same narrator for each book in the series. That was very important.
I remember that feeling reading a series that I don't think has been mentioned, THE BOXCAR CHILDREN by Gertrude Chandler. I devoured those books, particularly the ones where the children were in the boxcar in the woods and had not yet been rescued. I liked them so much I wanted to live in a boxcar.
One of the joys of writing a series is continuing to work with the same characters. When a stand-alone book is finished, I keep hearing and thinking about the characters. In a series, it's possible to listen to the voices and keep writing. The first two books in the series, TOP OF THE ORDER and EYES ON THE GOAL, both CCBC Choices, are now out. The third book, LOVE OF THE GAME, comes October 1.
Please check them out and get them into the hands of any youngster who you think will enjoy them.
Thanks, john
www.johncoy.com
Received on Sat 06 Aug 2011 07:16:49 AM CDT
Date: Sat, 06 Aug 2011 07:16:49 -0500
Thank you to everyone for the interesting thoughts on why so many people are enjoying reading one series after another. I want to pick up on Monica's point below.
On Aug 6, 2011, at 12:09 AM, CCBC Network digest wrote:
Thirdly, I think there is a better understanding of emerging readers need for familiarity. I have always felt that those just becoming independent readers find series comforting. It is way easier to get into a story which has much that you already know --- same names, characters, etc. You
then just need to get into the plot and for a new reader that may be easier.
I'm in the middle of writing a middle-grade series called the 4 for 4 series, which features four fifth-grade friends preparing to move into middle school. The boys play a different sport in each of the four books and the setting is contemporary America. I planned to use the different voice of each boy for the four books, but when I talked to students, I found that they wanted the same narrator for each book in the series. That was very important.
I remember that feeling reading a series that I don't think has been mentioned, THE BOXCAR CHILDREN by Gertrude Chandler. I devoured those books, particularly the ones where the children were in the boxcar in the woods and had not yet been rescued. I liked them so much I wanted to live in a boxcar.
One of the joys of writing a series is continuing to work with the same characters. When a stand-alone book is finished, I keep hearing and thinking about the characters. In a series, it's possible to listen to the voices and keep writing. The first two books in the series, TOP OF THE ORDER and EYES ON THE GOAL, both CCBC Choices, are now out. The third book, LOVE OF THE GAME, comes October 1.
Please check them out and get them into the hands of any youngster who you think will enjoy them.
Thanks, john
www.johncoy.com
Received on Sat 06 Aug 2011 07:16:49 AM CDT
