Old People Writing for Teens, IV

pezie · May 13, 2011

Good luck w/ the queries, Kitty.

Kyva, got your email (as you know

).

E. S. Lark · May 13, 2011

Yup yup

Mu net just randomly died. I panicked for a second there. Can't research agents and such without my internets.

Kitty27 · May 13, 2011

Thanks,guys!

Agents are tired of vamps and lycans,it seems. My story has both but I am hoping that the voodoo angle is fresh enough for them.

E. S. Lark · May 13, 2011

Heh. Yeah, gotta love trends right?

Got tired of the Rs for fantasy, so I worked on my memoir. Not that the outcome looks any better, but ... yeah.

Kitty27 · May 13, 2011

Yep,Kyva,it's pretty sobering.

But I won't give up. I'll keep querying this book.

misslissy · May 13, 2011

Sometimes that's just what you gotta do - keep going you know?

jkellerford · May 13, 2011

Good luck with the queries, Kitty! Keep us posted.

E. S. Lark · May 13, 2011

Great to hear it Kitty. Lissy's right. If we believe in our work, we shouldn't give up unless there's no other options. I sent out something like 200 queries for Melina. I got requests, but it just isn't the right story to publish right now.

Gonna head to bed. Allergies are acting up. Have a good night all. I'll try and swing by tomorrow. It's Jamie's b-day, so not sure how much net activity I'll have.

Night all.

parumpdragon · May 13, 2011

Hi guys! Just typing up a WIP for my Mom, she can't type. Lol. What do ya all think of the Avi, might change it...

misslissy · May 13, 2011

Lol - that's the second time today! I like it but I liked the last one too.

parumpdragon · May 13, 2011

Okay, think I found the winner for now. Lol, Change three!

misslissy · May 13, 2011

Oooo. I like that one a lot.

Bookgirl2021 · May 14, 2011

parumpdragon · May 14, 2011

Wow... is ANYBODY here? ??? :e2poke:

misslissy · May 14, 2011

I am lol. Heading to work soon though.

parumpdragon · May 14, 2011

Hi there, yeah, I gotta get somethings done too. Lol.

Just upping my post count. Not that it really matters. Lol.

zolambrosine · May 14, 2011

What do you guys say to people who say, "Old people shouldn't write for YA. It's creepy."

A friend of mine told me this recently, and I felt so uncomfortable with what she said that I didn't know how to respond. :/

EDIT: It's like saying adults shouldn't work with children... I don't know, it was just a really weird thing for her to say.

parumpdragon · May 14, 2011

Ah, I don't see anything wrong with it.

As long as you are not like living your book, or anything, and it's not about stalking - laughs. That would be creepy then...

But most authors, and children's authors, are adults. Stephany Meyer wrote Twilight and is an adult. She's 38 I believe, with 2 kids.

Our ages here range from 22-45 at the moment. And the brain never ages. We all seem to agree that it picks a spot in years(certain age) and decides to stay there, even as time marches on. We just always think of ourselves that way. We don't picture getting older until faced with a mirror at times.

Who exactly does this 'friend' thinks writes all these books? JK Rowling is in her 40's... It takes time to write and get published, even if a teen like Chris Paolini does write something - so they probably won't be a teen anymore, by the time it is on shelves. Hope that helps...

zolambrosine · May 14, 2011

parumpdragon said:
Ah, I don't see anything wrong with it.

As long as you are not like living your book, or anything, and it's not about stalking - laughs. That would be creepy then...

But most authors, and children's authors, are adults. Stephany Meyer wrote Twilight and is an adult. She's 38 I believe, with 2 kids.

Our ages here range from 22-45 at the moment. And the brain never ages. We all seem to agree that it picks a spot in years(certain age) and decides to stay there, even as time marches on. We just always think of ourselves that way. We don't picture getting older until faced with a mirror at times.

Who exactly does this 'friend' thinks writes all these books? JK Rowling is in her 40's... It takes time to write and get published, even if a teen like Chris Paolini does write something - so they probably won't be a teen anymore, by the time it is on shelves. Hope that helps...

Yeah, I told her something along those lines I think, but she dislikes Twilight and Harry Potter because they're so popular, so it didn't help much... And I mean, I'm not here trying to think of a response for her... I guess I'm just curious to know if this is a reaction older writers for YA get a lot, and how they respond.

I like what you said about the brain never aging. Reminds me of Pablo Picasso's saying. Something about us staying children for ever. "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

misslissy · May 14, 2011

And if you look at like really young books to expand it down below YA to like children's books and picture books - if adults didn't write for kids, who would? Like when you have a book geared towards a 1 year old, obviously a 1 year old didn't write it. You don't have to be a certain age to write for any other age group.

ETA: I've never had anyone else tell me that. In fact, I was recently told that I should write YA. Also, if she has a problem with them being popular, well that's her deal because obviously the audience they are written for enjoys me that.

parumpdragon · May 14, 2011

Yes to what Lissy said.

No, no one has ever told me I should not write YA, but I get mistaken for a high schooler - a lot. Laughs. It's annoying to get carded for lotto tickets everywhere you go! Lol.

My friend was a teacher at a high school and a handful of years ago I went to visit her at her school. The boy in the front row quietly asked if I was senior that year. I laughed like crazy.

misslissy · May 14, 2011

Haha, that's me too. Whenever people find out I'm like a semester away from graduating, they always think high school. And people never believe that I'm married.

Whimsigirl · May 14, 2011

While I certainly think that teenagers can write wonderful YA books, 'older' people definitely can do because we have perspective. We can look back to our teenage years with a more objective stance while still remembering what it was like to be one.

Btw parumpdragon and misslissy -- totally understand how you guys feel. I have a teenaged sister, and whenever we're together people think I'm a high-schooler too. It's kinda flattering in my opinion...better than looking like her mother lol.

Twinkie · May 14, 2011

Yes! I am in great company! Although people are finally figuring out that I'm out of high school. So now they ask what year I am in college. But I'm almost 32.

I was getting offered children's menus at restaurants until I was 19.

misslissy · May 14, 2011

Haha - I wish I still got children's menu cause sometimes I want them. The portions are smaller.

Old People Writing for Teens, IV

Editing all the time

So Goth That I Was Born Black

Editing all the time

So Goth That I Was Born Black

Only a sassbucket sometimes.

YA author with a flair for fantasy!

Editing all the time

I sometimes hiccup fire

Only a sassbucket sometimes.

I sometimes hiccup fire

Only a sassbucket sometimes.

"If I had a heart, I'd give it to you."

I sometimes hiccup fire

Only a sassbucket sometimes.

I sometimes hiccup fire

I sometimes hiccup fire

Only a sassbucket sometimes.

I sometimes hiccup fire

Only a sassbucket sometimes.

wishin' and hopin'

spongy, yellow, & an utter mystery

Only a sassbucket sometimes.