tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post3091795852634787510..comments2023-09-10T08:53:26.234-04:00Comments on Randy Russell: WRITING TEEN - TRACY WALSHAWGhostFolk.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10942600698461250382noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-52967389880569021622010-02-16T09:19:52.742-05:002010-02-16T09:19:52.742-05:00Loved the excerpts, Tracy. I would follow along an...Loved the excerpts, Tracy. I would follow along and I'm a bit beyond YA.<br /><br />I'm sorry for your terrible loss. Tragedy does give a person more depth and empathy, I think, and that shows it writing.Terry Stonecrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03726985400500572770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-26538893386265011692010-02-13T21:09:35.902-05:002010-02-13T21:09:35.902-05:00A very thoughtful post, Tracy. Tragedy does allow...A very thoughtful post, Tracy. Tragedy does allow a MC to find hope, as well as his/her strengths.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-17770676864980526962010-02-13T18:28:23.400-05:002010-02-13T18:28:23.400-05:00Hi, Scotti. Thanks for dropping by the blog! I wri...Hi, Scotti. Thanks for dropping by the blog! I write in 3rd-person as a narrative parimeter, but I have found it is easy for me to move in and out of the thoughts of the p.o.v character. <br /><br />Once the pattern is set for the reader (and this should probably be done early on), she or he will come right along with you.<br /><br />For YA especially, readers like to be as close as possible to the main character's feelings, thoughts, etc. [I'm sure there are some stellar exceptions to this, too.] This makes using first-person strongly attractive.<br /><br />I wish I could sustain first-person for the length of a novel. Maybe I will one day. After all, it's not just an approach for YA. The Great Gastby is first-person. Much of Little Big Man is first-person. Heck, even Moby Dick with it's famous first line "Call me Ishmael" is first person. <br /><br />My problem is that it's my writing nature to develop and interweave story outside the seeing/hearing or even knowledge of the main character. I like to show the reader things that are impacting the story that the main character, as yet, has no thought of. <br /><br />It helps me create at atmosphere of suspense, danger, foreboding and I find I can personally do bigger story pay-offs (and lots of plot surprises) in third-person. This is how I take control of the story. <br /><br />Heaven knows, the characters push me around enough already. <br /><br />In short, if I didn't use third-person my own story structure would be much thinner. <br /><br />In PAPER TIGERS, Tracy has a lot of critical information (and events)to share with the reader that impact her main character's fate. I really admire the confidence she shows in using third-person scenes/vignettes in an otherwise first-person novel.<br /><br />There's nothing a reader likes better than a confident author. <br /><br />Don't you feel when you read your favorite books that <b>the author is in total control </b>and is showing you the story the only way it could possibly be told? That they are showing you the story the way it exists? <br /><br />That's why it's so important for an author to play to her/his own strengths. <br /><br />Clearly what a writer does best naturally [ okay, some of this "naturally" stuff takes a few years' practice for most of us ] will contribute to stronger story and a more authentic (or passionate... or consistant) author's voice.<br /><br />I mean, if you can play the guitar like Carlos Santana, there really is no sense in taking the stage with a harmonic in your mouth and a violin under your chin.<br /><br />Techniques for writing fiction... first-peson, third person... present tense, past tense... are a writer's instruments. <br /><br />*Still, it's nice to know a few tricks on the drum for getting over the occasional p.o.v. hurdle. So, we keep learning.GhostFolk.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942600698461250382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-87827874732408536252010-02-13T15:31:45.175-05:002010-02-13T15:31:45.175-05:00Thank you, Alissa! And it is SO exciting that book...Thank you, Alissa! And it is SO exciting that books written so long ago still capture the teens of today. I had also ordered Catcher in the Rye after the recent death of J.D. Salinger (and I shamefully confess I'd never read it before now). I was hooked at the first paragraph, thinking that this boy of the 1940's could easily be a boy of 2010! The voice was so strong that I was drawn in immediately. <br /><br />It is so good to know well-written books with an authentic, honest voice will be timeless and loved.Tracy Walshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15558572080464012811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-27626427720766219452010-02-13T15:09:40.245-05:002010-02-13T15:09:40.245-05:00Great post, Tracy! The fact that teens still love ...Great post, Tracy! The fact that teens still love The Outsiders is proof that it is possible to write a timeless YA book.Alissa Grossohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16701189791875707920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-7210261836943575952010-02-13T13:03:53.718-05:002010-02-13T13:03:53.718-05:00Thanks, Scotti! I agree so much with you about the...Thanks, Scotti! I agree so much with you about the voice. It seemed the best decision for my novel because so much of it is back-story, and of course Rigby wasn't even born when some important things are unfolding. <br /><br />I find writing in first person comes very natural to me. The best part of creating a novel is becoming someone else for awhile and seeing things through their eyes. I think most of my novels will be character-driven! :D I always have to go back and "decorate" the settings. I'm all about the character and what happens next! :)Tracy Walshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15558572080464012811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-69193190638096596282010-02-13T12:51:51.020-05:002010-02-13T12:51:51.020-05:00I really enjoyed reading this, Tracy! I struggle w...I really enjoyed reading this, Tracy! I struggle with my own YA novel, trying to figure out whether I want to use third person close or third person distant (or omniscient). On the one hand, I think it engages readers if they feel they are "inside the head" of the MC. But if I do that, I can't use descriptions I might want to use because the MC wouldn't use those words or see things that way. (Your situation is different, as you're switching back and forth, with clear distinctions between the voices).Scotti Cohnhttp://www.scotticohn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-39434201163346587422010-02-13T12:06:31.444-05:002010-02-13T12:06:31.444-05:00Thanks, Megan! :)
Jeff, it seemed to flow easily...Thanks, Megan! :) <br /><br />Jeff, it seemed to flow easily when I kept the first person voice for Rigby only. When she speaks, the reader is brought fully back into the present. By having Ben's backstory, which is critical to the present, in third person omniscient, and using very short chapters to keep interest peaked, I think it created a interesting fast-paced story.Tracy Walshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15558572080464012811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-49816243282869373352010-02-13T11:58:32.010-05:002010-02-13T11:58:32.010-05:00Tracy this is all so well written and a beautiful ...Tracy this is all so well written and a beautiful blog:) Reading this page has made me want to finish reading Paper Tigers....hint....please send the rest I am hooked:) and I know my daughter Taylor is. She has been reading over my shoulder:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-52462309127894145562010-02-13T11:33:13.830-05:002010-02-13T11:33:13.830-05:00Good stuff, Tracy.
So, writing in teen voice in ...Good stuff, Tracy. <br /><br />So, writing in teen voice in first person is one thing (maybe not easy, but perhaps easier?), but how do you maintain that "voice" when switching over to an omniscient third person narrator within the same manuscript?J. Allen Fielderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06920484225984950584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-25802212459980035782010-02-13T11:25:09.322-05:002010-02-13T11:25:09.322-05:00Wonderful blog Tracy. I almost cried. I love the...Wonderful blog Tracy. I almost cried. I love then end especially. :)Megan Bostichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08811715491350987530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-81901054611995380332010-02-13T11:21:07.971-05:002010-02-13T11:21:07.971-05:00Aww, thanks Gae (yep, you should have left blod. m...Aww, thanks Gae (yep, you should have left blod. much funnier!) :D And thank you SO much, Randy for giving me this wonderful opportunity on your blog! :)Tracy Walshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15558572080464012811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4947919899544015572.post-10057312727742532982010-02-13T10:00:09.506-05:002010-02-13T10:00:09.506-05:00Tracy,
wonderful blog (I wrote blod first by acci...Tracy,<br /><br />wonderful blog (I wrote blod first by accident which was funnier -). As always, your excerpts are so vivid and appealing, i cant wait to read your book.<br /><br />Good luck in the Amazon Contest. I'm gonna go there and break some kneecaps if they don't advance you! <br /><br />:Dgae polisnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10491813685110351809noreply@blogger.com