Comments on: Writing Season 2 Episode 2: How to Write for Children with Brandon Mull http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/ Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:01:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RGame http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/comment-page-1/#comment-43590 RGame Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:50:37 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/#comment-43590 As an aspiring YA writer, I really enjoyed this one...right up to the point when Howard basically called anyone who believes in global warming a kid, which was also the point I clicked it off. At least I got to listen to most of the podcast, though. As an aspiring YA writer, I really enjoyed this one…right up to the point when Howard basically called anyone who believes in global warming a kid, which was also the point I clicked it off. At least I got to listen to most of the podcast, though.

]]> By: Trey http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/comment-page-1/#comment-36630 Trey Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:49:31 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/#comment-36630 I just bought the season one Poddisc. Is there a season 2? I just bought the season one Poddisc. Is there a season 2?

]]> By: stacy http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/comment-page-1/#comment-26809 stacy Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:17:10 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/#comment-26809 Dan, the fairy book you're referring to is by Gail Carson Levine, who won a Newbery Honor for Ella Enchanted--so it's not just "some dumb Disney book." She's an excellent writer. Not sure what motivated her to team up with Disney, but given that she's been writing fairy tale retellings for years, it seems an interesting match-up. (I'm finally catching up on the fall's podcasts....) Dan, the fairy book you’re referring to is by Gail Carson Levine, who won a Newbery Honor for Ella Enchanted–so it’s not just “some dumb Disney book.” She’s an excellent writer. Not sure what motivated her to team up with Disney, but given that she’s been writing fairy tale retellings for years, it seems an interesting match-up.

(I’m finally catching up on the fall’s podcasts….)

]]> By: WEKM http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/comment-page-1/#comment-17843 WEKM Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:11:43 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/#comment-17843 By the way, the book that Dan mentioned is called "Beck and the Great Berry Battle". By the way, the book that Dan mentioned is called “Beck and the Great Berry Battle”.

]]> By: John Brown http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/comment-page-1/#comment-17003 John Brown Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:32:35 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/#comment-17003 Congrats to Brandon for hitting #21 on the NYTimes Bestseller list!!! It's huge. http://www.brandonsanderson.com/blog/722/Lucky-21 Congrats to Brandon for hitting #21 on the NYTimes Bestseller list!!! It’s huge.

http://www.brandonsanderson.com/blog/722/Lucky-21

]]> By: Kiley http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/comment-page-1/#comment-16997 Kiley Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:25:40 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/#comment-16997 I think a really good way to write for middle-graders, kids, and Y/A is to think in terms of themes and objects lessons. Your main character is on a quest to acheive something and learn something in the end, which ultimately ends up being the theme of the book. In the middle grade book I'm working on, I don't foresee much violence happening, but I have a goal of what I want my protagonist to learn and how I want him to grow as a person. I think this is a useful way to give yourself a path as well as a focus that can connect to the audience. I think a really good way to write for middle-graders, kids, and Y/A is to think in terms of themes and objects lessons. Your main character is on a quest to acheive something and learn something in the end, which ultimately ends up being the theme of the book.
In the middle grade book I’m working on, I don’t foresee much violence happening, but I have a goal of what I want my protagonist to learn and how I want him to grow as a person. I think this is a useful way to give yourself a path as well as a focus that can connect to the audience.

]]> By: Eliyanna http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/comment-page-1/#comment-16830 Eliyanna Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:35:35 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/#comment-16830 I hadn't really thought about the importance of the romance element in YA. But it makes sense. I also don't try to write YA, or I haven't yet, so I haven't had to think about it too hard. It does makes sense that Stephanie Meyer focused so heavily on those aspects. I just sort of thought she likes writing a romance crossed with spec fic hybrid genre, which I'm sure she does, but it was also very smart of her. It actually makes me wonder how JK Rowling got away with it. I know those books were children's books originally, not YA. But when the smaller kids that first started reading them grew up a bit, they kept their interest up, despite the very subtle, slow moving pace of the various romance stories. The volumes of slash fan fic on Harry Potter fan sites is sort of strong evidence of how deeply the fans were dying for this stuff to play out some more. There are some resolved romances at the end of the books, but their development is probably the weakest point of that whole series. I wonder if they would have been even more popular had that been a bigger focus? I hadn’t really thought about the importance of the romance element in YA. But it makes sense. I also don’t try to write YA, or I haven’t yet, so I haven’t had to think about it too hard.

It does makes sense that Stephanie Meyer focused so heavily on those aspects. I just sort of thought she likes writing a romance crossed with spec fic hybrid genre, which I’m sure she does, but it was also very smart of her.

It actually makes me wonder how JK Rowling got away with it. I know those books were children’s books originally, not YA. But when the smaller kids that first started reading them grew up a bit, they kept their interest up, despite the very subtle, slow moving pace of the various romance stories. The volumes of slash fan fic on Harry Potter fan sites is sort of strong evidence of how deeply the fans were dying for this stuff to play out some more.

There are some resolved romances at the end of the books, but their development is probably the weakest point of that whole series. I wonder if they would have been even more popular had that been a bigger focus?

]]> By: Mike Barker http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/comment-page-1/#comment-16753 Mike Barker Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:34:31 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/#comment-16753 Somewhat sketchy, but . . . http://mbarker.livejournal.com/88031.html Somewhat sketchy, but . . .

http://mbarker.livejournal.com/88031.html

]]> By: Sam http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/comment-page-1/#comment-16657 Sam Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:59:28 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/#comment-16657 I've been reading a lot of YA/middle grade the last few months--Fablehaven, Septimus Heap, Leven Thumps, Artemis Fowl, and others--with an eye towards trying to angle one of my own projects towards that market. I was surprised by how sophisitcated the stories actually were. I had assumed there would be dumbing down and was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn't necessary at all. I’ve been reading a lot of YA/middle grade the last few months–Fablehaven, Septimus Heap, Leven Thumps, Artemis Fowl, and others–with an eye towards trying to angle one of my own projects towards that market. I was surprised by how sophisitcated the stories actually were. I had assumed there would be dumbing down and was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn’t necessary at all.

]]> By: Callisto http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/comment-page-1/#comment-16612 Callisto Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:02:27 +0000 http://www.writingexcuses.com/2008/10/19/writing-season-2-episode-2-how-to-write-for-children-with-brandon-mull/#comment-16612 Yeah, the allowance for crazy genre-busting in children's literature is a major draw for me. I also love what they say about not dumbing down for younger readers. I read all kinds of deep stuff as a child, and while I didn't get every metaphor, I still loved the stories and characters. Going back and reading some of my favorite childhood books is cool, too. Great podcast this week, guys. I've been in something of a slump lately, but this has motivated me to get my rear in gear and get writing. Yeah, the allowance for crazy genre-busting in children’s literature is a major draw for me. I also love what they say about not dumbing down for younger readers. I read all kinds of deep stuff as a child, and while I didn’t get every metaphor, I still loved the stories and characters. Going back and reading some of my favorite childhood books is cool, too.

Great podcast this week, guys. I’ve been in something of a slump lately, but this has motivated me to get my rear in gear and get writing.

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