We have another Guest Post from Rebecca Carlson today! She is a MG writer and blogger, a tremendous critique partner, and a fellow advocate for putting more science in kidlit science fiction.
Conservation of Awesomeness
Anyone seen the movie “Dead Poets Society?” Do you remember that scene of a poetry lesson where they tear a page out of the textbook?
That was my high school’s AP English textbook.
Besides having an unenlightened view of poetry, the textbook preached that there were two types of fiction: escapist commercial fluff on the one hand, and serious valuable literature on the other. Commercial fiction and literature were mutually exclusive. Like broccoli and chocolate sauce, they didn’t go together. It was as if there was a law of Conservation of Awesomeness, so that the more fun a book was, the less it could have something valuable to say.
I didn’t buy it.
That textbook sent me on a life-long quest to find books that were not only fun to read, but were well-written and honest about the human experience. It sent me on a quest to write such books myself. As I got deeper in to the craft of writing I learned how difficult it could be. Why not lie to the reader, pull a few gimmicks, and then cheerfully collect their money? Definitely the easier road.
But the great classics, the books with true staying power, are those that defy the law of Conservation of Awesomeness.
This past week I went to a writer’s workshop. My teacher, who has published dozens of books and worked in the film industry for many years, taught us what goes into creating a delicious read. Books don’t become bestsellers by accident. There’s a science to it, a method that can be learned. And that method is, as I suspected, mostly independent of the soul of the book. I could write a thrilling roller-coaster ride of a book that doesn’t have anything valuable to say, or I could write a thrilling roller-coaster ride of a book that shares something important I’ve learned about life. Sure, the entertainment industry is full of pirates and gangsters that only care about separating people from their money, but there are a few who really care about what they’re saying, who know that communication in all its forms can change the world for the better.
Words give us the power to share experience. The more satisfying and fun to read my book is, the more people will want to read it, and the more readers will share what’s inside of me that’s aching to be said.
And that would be truly awesome.
Thank you, Rebecca! ALSO: I am still looking for guest posters, all summer long, so if you’re interested email me at susankayequinn@comcast.net
I've just started reading "How to Write the Breakout Novel," and Maass makes some of these same points – about writing a book that people care about, that has the power to change their lives. Truly awesome! 🙂
OMG! That was my HS AP English book, too! Did we go to the same HS…? ;o) This is a great post, and perhaps we have that lit book to thank for inspiring us to prove it wrong. Yes?
I'm a dolt. I read the title as conVERsation of awesomeness and so it took me awhile to figure out what the heck was going on here. LOL. My bad.
I have witnessed time and again that songs, books, art, etc. that share a piece of the creator are the works people respond to. It's that "OMG, me too!" moment.
I totally agree with you.
Great guest post! Susan, I have an award for you today over at my blog http://montanamarynotmartha.blogspot.com/
Have a great day! Leah
Hi Rebecca and Susan,
Great post, Rebecca. And I love your site, Susan. I'm a big fan of not underestimating kids by dumbing things down or trying to pull one over on them with gimmicks. They deserve a thick, hearty stew, not some thin, measly broth. Anyway, I write picture books (and blog), and I'm a big proponent of letting young children hear "big" language. But I once had an agent tell me that one of my books (which is well under the normal word count) had too many words in it. Apparently all the little kids will just have to wait for the stew.
@Sunny I couldn't agree with you more about the amazing things kids can understand. Sounds like that simply wasn't the right agent for you (or me!).
This is a great post! It really bothers me that people think if a book is fun and popular, it must be "fluff" (in fact, that term itself bothers me). I really enjoy reading a lot of classic literature, but I'm also not afraid to go for the commercial, hugely popular books too (they're that popular for a reason, right?). A book that combines both of these traits would definitely have to go on my Favorite Books of All Time List.
@Bookish "Popular for a reason" – my new favorite phrase! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂