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Re: Are We Creating a Generation of Impatient Readers?
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From: Sandra Neil Wallace <sandraneilwallace_at_gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 23:11:10 -0400
Hi Edward. Thanks for the query (pasted below). Here's my two cents. In Boston at NCTE 2013, a handful of us realistic-fiction writers were joking around that our realistic novels didn't quite fit with the present trends in YA. That's really nothing new; there's always a hot trend du jour, but there's always also a pipeline of great realism, too. The discussion touched on whether "kids today" are so wired and tech-driven that if the opening scene of your novel is longer than the average tweet, will you overextend a kid's attention span and lose 'em? So I think we'll be in for an interesting discussion at NCTE '14. I've been on panels with most of the writers on this one, and I doubt anyone will be holding back. -- Rich Wallace
In regards to Edward wanting to know more about "Are We Creating A Generation of Impatient Readers?"
The conversation will certainly be enlightening with two of the panelists having written YA for more than twenty years. Interestingly, two of us have also been ESPN employees. As a reporter, my job was to get the best 30 second soundbite. I turned to writing novels to tell more expansive stories. Sometimes it’s tempting to buy into the conversation that at times, young readers don’t have the patience for more than a series of soundbites, but I refuse to accept that, in the same way that I feel readers who love sports deserve literary novels filled with complex characters and situations as compelling as the game action.—Sandra Neil Wallace
I saw in the NCTE convention preview, Meg is going to be speaking on a panel about realistic fiction called "Are We Creating a Generation of Impatient Readers?"
The description is: "As fantasy and dystopian novels seem to dominate book release lists, does well-written realistic fiction still have a place with young readers? Absolutely! five award-winning authors discuss how three-dimensional characters and timeless conflicts still resonate with adolescents even in the absence of vampires, zombies, fairies, spaceships, time travel, or aliens."
That sounds interesting. Would you be willing to share some of your thoughts on that here?
Edward T. Sullivan, Rogue Librarian
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Received on Thu 31 Jul 2014 10:12:05 PM CDT
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 23:11:10 -0400
Hi Edward. Thanks for the query (pasted below). Here's my two cents. In Boston at NCTE 2013, a handful of us realistic-fiction writers were joking around that our realistic novels didn't quite fit with the present trends in YA. That's really nothing new; there's always a hot trend du jour, but there's always also a pipeline of great realism, too. The discussion touched on whether "kids today" are so wired and tech-driven that if the opening scene of your novel is longer than the average tweet, will you overextend a kid's attention span and lose 'em? So I think we'll be in for an interesting discussion at NCTE '14. I've been on panels with most of the writers on this one, and I doubt anyone will be holding back. -- Rich Wallace
In regards to Edward wanting to know more about "Are We Creating A Generation of Impatient Readers?"
The conversation will certainly be enlightening with two of the panelists having written YA for more than twenty years. Interestingly, two of us have also been ESPN employees. As a reporter, my job was to get the best 30 second soundbite. I turned to writing novels to tell more expansive stories. Sometimes it’s tempting to buy into the conversation that at times, young readers don’t have the patience for more than a series of soundbites, but I refuse to accept that, in the same way that I feel readers who love sports deserve literary novels filled with complex characters and situations as compelling as the game action.—Sandra Neil Wallace
I saw in the NCTE convention preview, Meg is going to be speaking on a panel about realistic fiction called "Are We Creating a Generation of Impatient Readers?"
The description is: "As fantasy and dystopian novels seem to dominate book release lists, does well-written realistic fiction still have a place with young readers? Absolutely! five award-winning authors discuss how three-dimensional characters and timeless conflicts still resonate with adolescents even in the absence of vampires, zombies, fairies, spaceships, time travel, or aliens."
That sounds interesting. Would you be willing to share some of your thoughts on that here?
Edward T. Sullivan, Rogue Librarian
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Received on Thu 31 Jul 2014 10:12:05 PM CDT
