tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post6115891130775153378..comments2023-08-15T22:33:25.911+10:00Comments on Sari Webb: Enchanted by Words: "Wow, I really like your scrunchy," said the YA protagonist as she tugged up her leg warmers.Sari Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14157780034728554529noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-65397047640110239112012-01-20T21:05:27.618+11:002012-01-20T21:05:27.618+11:00Lol, yea... hot rollers O.O I actually kept readin...Lol, yea... hot rollers O.O I actually kept reading that author's books (it was a series) and it was so interesting to see how the writing improved from the first book.<br /><br />And yes, so true about the NOT communicating! I'm always so surprised when I read a contemporary YA book these days where the MC doesn't have a mobile. Everyone has mobiles now, don't they?Sari Webbhttp://sariwebb.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-14793651895323519582012-01-20T21:05:26.616+11:002012-01-20T21:05:26.616+11:00Glad it was helpful, Kari Marie! Wow you're br...Glad it was helpful, Kari Marie! Wow you're brave hanging out at a high school for a day O.O Good luck!Sari Webbhttp://sariwebb.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-91740127525116287912012-01-20T21:05:25.632+11:002012-01-20T21:05:25.632+11:00Bieber... don't get me started. Lets just say ...Bieber... don't get me started. Lets just say that that is a fad I will never write into a book.<br /><br />I think that *sometimes* a teen's like of something old school definitely adds to that character. If you can't imagine the character without that particular obsession/passion it's gotta stay. The reason I mentioned it in this post is because I've seen it in so many YA books lately that it's at risk of becoming a cliche. I guess what I'm saying is to treat it like any other story element. Does the character like The Beatles because it is essential to him or her as a person? Or is it just because the author likes The Beatles and wanted to include them in the story?Sari Webbhttp://sariwebb.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-4629302137418652442012-01-20T20:59:23.124+11:002012-01-20T20:59:23.124+11:00Great advice here!!...and great post :)
I defini...Great advice here!!...and great post :) <br /><br />I definitely read YA, and I Skype with my teenage cousins. It's, as you pointed out, invaluable to stay "up-to-date" with how they communicate (or don't...um, texting?), things they like, words they use. <br /><br />Hot rollers--awesome.Barbara Klossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-79627372889590923062012-01-20T20:59:21.111+11:002012-01-20T20:59:21.111+11:00Great advice and I'm bookmarking this site. I&...Great advice and I'm bookmarking this site. I'm starting my YA adventure by sitting in at my cousin's Spanish classroom at a local high school for a day. I can't wait for all the spying to ensue!Kari Marienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-36205884027286858682012-01-20T20:59:19.141+11:002012-01-20T20:59:19.141+11:00You have some great advice here. And Anna and the ...You have some great advice here. And Anna and the French Kiss was a great read for sure! I have to say though that if a character likes leg warmers or Beatles, I think it can totally play on their character. This may sound crazy but I've actually seen leg warmers and scrunchies coming back...as well as the whole shirt falling over the shoulder with sports bra strap showing underneath. And I do know teens that love the Beatles. I mean, Bieber has nothing on them really, right? Anyway, just my two cents. But I do like your comment below that things that are hot right now should be avoided. So true. Some things never die, though...as much as we want them too.Michelle Merrillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-29276498963898453612012-01-20T20:59:16.154+11:002012-01-20T20:59:16.154+11:00I agree that what's hot RIGHT NOW should be av...I agree that what's hot RIGHT NOW should be avoided. Things change too quickly and the publishing industry moves too slowly. I do think it's worth keeping up with the longer lasting trends though, and making an effort not to date a book while it's still being written by using words/fashions/pop culture that's already 10-30 years out of date.<br /><br />That's interesting that you know so many teens that like The Beatles. I know plenty of people who still love bands like The Chilli Peppers (myself included) but they are still part of todays music scene. The are a looong lasting trend. <br /><br />And I actually think a quirky interest like that can add to the character (as in Anna's obsession with older movies in Anna and the French Kiss) but unless it's necessary to the character I'd probably leave it out because it is something that gets done a lot in YA books.<br /><br />Thanks for the thoughtful comment, Andrew!Sari Webbhttp://sariwebb.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-86002669928765754952012-01-20T20:59:14.144+11:002012-01-20T20:59:14.144+11:00Very true, Brooke. People have mentioned that incl...Very true, Brooke. People have mentioned that including details from today will date the book, but we still have to consider that the majority of readers will be the teens of today.Sari Webbhttp://sariwebb.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-76245035694611279122012-01-20T20:59:09.127+11:002012-01-20T20:59:09.127+11:00I totally agree with you! There are few things tha...I totally agree with you! There are few things that pull me out of books faster then weird/wrong slang or dated item or fashion.Alexisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-80623030298059521192012-01-20T20:59:08.104+11:002012-01-20T20:59:08.104+11:00I read as well as write YA. Gulp, I HOPE I have au...I read as well as write YA. Gulp, I HOPE I have authentic voice/dialogue/characters. To be safe, I make up most slang (except I admit I do use "cool"--I THINK that's still ok these days) and also make up band names and stuff. That way I'm not "dating" my novels, or making it incomprehensible to any reader. :) <br /><br />Thanks for the thought-provoking post!Carol Riggsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-42091530275646181802012-01-20T20:59:07.088+11:002012-01-20T20:59:07.088+11:00I don't think we should actually try to exploi...I don't think we should actually try to exploit the latest trends when we write. Trends change so quickly that our writing then becomes dated before anyone has a chance to read it. Trying to be trendy then becomes a way to alienate the audience. Pop culture reference are fine, but they should be more generalized or from things that everyone will recognize not appeal to what's hot this particular 5 minutes.<br /><br />As for the Beatles, I've never cared for them. Ever. However, my 15yo loves them. I don't think any of his friends are as into The Beatles as he is, but a lot of his friends are into "old" bands, so that might not be as uncommon as you think. I'm not sure, though; he may just be part of an odd subgroup.Andrew Leonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-78461162955651869572012-01-20T20:59:06.130+11:002012-01-20T20:59:06.130+11:00Good observations, Sari. Those of us who write YA ...Good observations, Sari. Those of us who write YA novels do have to keep up with current trends and rethink stuff that might not gel with what's happening in the here and now.Joynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-64265425829739709342012-01-20T20:59:05.107+11:002012-01-20T20:59:05.107+11:00Great post! I loved Anna and the French Kiss, too...Great post! I loved Anna and the French Kiss, too. I think it was agent Sarah LaPolla who recently said she sees lots of queries for mss set in the 1980s and 1990s, when the authors were teens. Not such an interesting time to today's teens. The YA voice is so important in writing YA, and must be authentic because teens see through weak attempts in a flash.Brooke Rousseauhttp://twitter.com/brookerousseaunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-80986215106623864302012-01-20T20:59:04.153+11:002012-01-20T20:59:04.153+11:00To which I would reply, "If my sister wants t...To which I would reply, "If my sister wants these books she can buy them herself."Brooke R. Bussenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-15510913479024919402012-01-20T20:59:03.093+11:002012-01-20T20:59:03.093+11:00What do you mean 24 isn't young adult?! I cons...What do you mean 24 isn't young adult?! I consider myself a very young adult! Though when I buy YA at my local bookshop they usually ask whether I'm buying it for my sister...<br /><br />christinemurray.blogspot.comChristine Nicole Murrayhttp://profiles.google.com/christinenicolemurraynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2027764684411261787.post-82983478284968125452012-01-20T20:59:02.099+11:002012-01-20T20:59:02.099+11:00Basically all I read is YA. I've read my shar...Basically all I read is YA. I've read my share of adult books, but even at 27, YA has never stopped fascinating me. It's easier for me to get into, easier for me to read, and easier for me to write. I agree that it's important to get the modern voice right (at least when writing contemporary--there's some leeway when you're writing a lot of genres). But I also know that in five years, it's going to be outdated. This doesn't stop me from trying to get today's lingo right, nor does it stop me from reading YA books that were written years ago. <br /><br />I think it's hard to write a contemporary book without having something in it that will date it years down the road, but that leads into a whole different topic. ;)Laura Josephsenhttp://twitter.com/LauraJosephsennoreply@blogger.com