It's a Sad Day (In Wonderland)

I think all authors have trouble when it comes time to say goodbye to a book. That goodbye can come in many forms-- finishing the book, placing it away, finishing a series, ect. For me, it's rewriting.

I hate rewriting books with a passion. Rewriting a scene or a chapter I can do, but when I look at an entire book and am forced to rewrite it, I feel like beating my head against the counter until I see little white stars and fall unconscious.

Rewriting is probably easier than writing the book in the first place, because you've got an idea of what you want it to look, how you want it to play out. But looking at the manuscript and realizing you did all that work and it's going to go out the window is painful.

I wrote DON back in March/April. Since then I left it alone and came back to it several times, but I just couldn't get into it. (If you've been following my blog, DON is the sequel to TED) I've found one of the main reasons why is because of a lack of tension. In the first book, there was tons of tension, and a whole hell of a lot of mystery. But since my characters know who the bad guy is, that takes out the aspect of mystery and I've just really let myself go with the tension.

I'll probably feel a lot better about the (re)writing process when I dive in. After all, I've got a plan, and I know my book will look amazing when its done.

But damn. I think I need to whip out the scotch.

Peace,

-Katie

I Wanna Hear Yours: Why Do You Read/Write YA?

Weeeeeeelcome back for another fabulous round of Katie's infamous: I Wanna Hear Yours! In which you listen to my insane ramblings and I listen to yours.

Today's question on the board: Why do you read/write YA?

I especially want to hear from those of you who are no longer in the 12-18 catagory. Why do we still read YA? Why do we put up with bosses/friends/coworkers/family/estranged neighbours looking down their noses at us for reading the latest teen romance when we're so clearly (oh so very clearly) no longer in high school?

So what is it about this tantalizing (genre? Age group?) that keeps you coming back for more, more, more?

Personally, the reason I love YA so much is because of two main reasons:


1) Pacing


and


2) Firsts.


First, the pacing. (Haha!) Sometimes, (albiet, I will admit, not always) I find myself reading an adult book and I want to beat my head against the table because it's going SO GODDAMN SLOW. (Disclaimer: Katie is not stating that all adult books have slow pacing, or that all YA books have good pacing. Please refrain from throwing tomatoes as it will ruin my nice clean shirt.) So I'm drawn to the quick pacing, the quick wit and the inevitable: "WHY IS EVERYTHING HAPPENING ALL AT ONCE OMIGAWDZOMIBIES AND ISN'T THAT BOY SO CUTE AND OMIGAWDZOMBIES!"

2) Firsts. This is kind of a big one for me. The romance in YA is always so fresh because it's from the perspective of someone who has never experienced romance before. Everything is so raw and sharp because teenagers are experiencing these emotions for the first time. Of course, it doesn't always lead to a happy ending, but I just like how none of the teenagers have yet put up emotional walls like adults do. They don't know how to handle and so sometimes they react without considering the consequences, which makes for great conflict.

And this doesn't just apply to romance. First time having sex, first high school experience, first real world problems, first encounter with drugs and so on and so forth.

Those two catagories can be placed in any sub-genre of YA: fantasy, paranormal, historical, whatever. They almost always have a swift pace (which makes it usually shorter, which, what can you do?) and a series of firsts.

So, contestants, step right up to the mic and SHOW YOUR STUFF. Why are you reading YA? Why are you writing it? Is what you like about it something that applies to all genres of YA or just a few?

You heard my ramblings, now I WANNA HEAR YOURS!

I should get some cheesy theme music to go along with this.

Peace,

-Katie