tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858538063283404160.post6594161603904515797..comments2023-06-23T08:00:11.730-07:00Comments on Christian YA Writers: Confrontational YA FictionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858538063283404160.post-27935285142517026752011-09-03T01:11:49.130-07:002011-09-03T01:11:49.130-07:00Great post, my fellow biker. :o)
I received an em...Great post, my fellow biker. :o) <br />I received an email from a teacher who teaches remedial English at a jr college in a poor area in California, and she told me of some things her students come to her with. Horrifying, what they face. So yes, I do think youth need books that are real . . . but I also agree with Shawn that they need to be filled with hope. I think you can write books that deal with the real, hard issues without being overly graphic, without glorifying or romanticizing those things, where the hope comes from them watching your protagonists find a way to rise above what life (or circumstances) has handed to them. We read to escape, as do youth, so happy endings may not always happen in real life, but what's wrong with books always ending happily?Cindy C Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09925301214375222823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858538063283404160.post-76579444437863183052011-07-01T11:08:10.635-07:002011-07-01T11:08:10.635-07:00I disagree with the post and many comments here. B...I disagree with the post and many comments here. By continuing to give 'edgy' fiction and feeding the kids so-called real world situations, what happens to those who can't handle it? And there are many who can't.<br /><br />My daughter is 23 and out of college, but in public high school she asked me to write her a story that DIDN'T glorify these issues. When her friends - most not Christians - became interested, I learned they are tried of being forced to read these type of stories and wanted something with hope! Yes, confront issues with absolute answers, but it doesn't have to be edgy to do so.<br /><br />I took her request and the issues these high school teens wanted and crafted the Allon YA fantasy series - much like Tolkien and Lewis.<br /><br />Since being published in 2010, I've encountered many Christian teens and parents who are tried of edgy. There needs to be a middle ground also and not neglect most for the need of a few.Shawn Lambhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08053842855118457085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858538063283404160.post-12660025713691957232011-06-01T13:39:12.486-07:002011-06-01T13:39:12.486-07:00This is full of truth. You describe my challenge a...This is full of truth. You describe my challenge and call as a writer also.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing.Connie Walsh Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13587914164888896910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858538063283404160.post-16642519811096397302011-05-12T07:04:25.553-07:002011-05-12T07:04:25.553-07:00Love your post here! I do agree fully, today's...Love your post here! I do agree fully, today's topic's in the "teen" world must be addressed not hidden away even in teen Christian fiction. My new novel Faith Hope and Love (just released) deals with teen pregnancy and tough choices girls face with peer pressure. If we help them to see or read story's about "real" situations and how God can help them through and guide them, we as authors will be doing a wonderful thing! Thanks. Heather McBridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10154987386456429613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858538063283404160.post-11090354179506421452011-02-12T12:02:39.989-08:002011-02-12T12:02:39.989-08:00I'm so grateful for this post, Diana! I am in ...I'm so grateful for this post, Diana! I am in the midst of crafting a YA series with the unsaved youth in mind, allowing them to walk a discovery of faith with my characters--all of which begin the series unsaved and act like it. So, your thoughts reminded me I'm not alone and am on to something. Thanks!Charity Tinninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10018622301923641762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858538063283404160.post-10287050728216661792011-02-03T16:00:14.882-08:002011-02-03T16:00:14.882-08:00This is why there are so many writers-- because th...This is why there are so many writers-- because there are so many needs.<br /><br />There are fill-in-the-blank situations that I will stop reading a book for (certain relational tensions: not sexual, more miscommunication-as-a-plot-device, as another group member described it), and my writing partner pointed out this week that she saw it in Lindorm.<br /><br />Naturally I didn't believe her, and then I saw how I had twisted the device not to break my heart, so I could use it.<br /><br />Everyone has different tolerances, different strengths and weaknesses. And because of this I think we should expect that our writing is going to provoke a spectrum of reactions.<br /><br />I like to say that the best friends are those enough like us to understand our motivations, and different enough not to get bogged down by what catches us.<br /><br />I believe this is the same for reading. I really believe in that magic place where we feel "safe" enough in a story that we can be surprised or stretched a bit beyond ourselves.<br /><br />And that perfect place takes an equally skillful match between writer and reader.Amy Jane (Untangling Tales)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17781603642364189037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858538063283404160.post-31075500130259934432011-01-31T11:10:18.792-08:002011-01-31T11:10:18.792-08:00This was just like my heart was speaking to me! Th...This was just like my heart was speaking to me! This is a matter very close to me. I also feel like this is something that God is calling me to do. All of my writing deal with issues such as these. Although some of my stories are fantasy they still address issues. Lately God has been working with my art to show me how to use it for others.Shane DeBrandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07662338755482157038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858538063283404160.post-88396350014839069442011-01-31T10:04:00.002-08:002011-01-31T10:04:00.002-08:00I couldn't agree more! What makes controversia...I couldn't agree more! What makes controversial books with imperfect characters is that not only do teens relate to them saying, "That's me!," they're able to see those characters overcome obstacles and come out better (though still flawed) people on the other side. What teens in this screwy society desire is hope! And what an awesome thing it is that we can point them to the hope that is found in Jesus!Crystal Mazzucahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00697939980359395160noreply@blogger.com