So, I wanted to mention two things that came up over the course of the weekend at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, because they're kind of like these ghosts that haunt my head as far as writing is concerned.
And I'm pretty sure my ghosts speak in a different language than the ghosts in other writers' skulls.
1. Writers get asked this question so much. Sorry, but it's a real yawner. So are most of the responses I hear. They're like robocalls or something. I need to hang up on them when they start. I need to get on the national "do not ever ask me this... and, worse yet, do not ever make me listen to the same answer again" list. It's the "advice for aspiring young writers" question.
My response: Don't suck.
Honestly. Why don't people tell you that more often, as opposed to robo-answering about revisions, crit partners, joining supportive organizations, or becoming an alcoholic?
Just don't suck.
Also, you should probably listen to your teachers and professors. All the way to the end of your MFA program, if that's how far you're going to go. They do not necessarily know everything, but their tormenting constraints on your unbridled desperation to do things your own way will force you to be a better writer once you are free of their oppressive demands.
And then you won't suck.
2. Second question we get asked all the time: the "writing for teens/young adults" question.
My response: I don't write for Young Adults. I just write books.
When I said that, people applauded.
I'm like, what? Hasn't anyone told you that before?
I realized that I'd never willingly read a book that was intentionally written for kids. I am not a kid. But there are lots of books out there that young adults like -- not because they were written "for" them, but because they are good books.
Some of them are called "YA." I just call them books.
And they're the ones that I'd read.
I don't mind that things that I write are called "YA," if it makes people feel all comfortable and stuff.
I just call them "books."
There isn't anything that you'd find in an "OA" book that you would not find in my books.
Now go forth and don't suck.
8 comments:
1) Bad advice, Andrew. Come on, it's okay to suck...the point is to get better, grow, listen, read, learn, improve, challenge yourself and your readers. No?
But I agree, that is the most annoying question.
2) I like this answer very much.
I like it. I haven't been asked it yet so I haven't formulated a response.
When I performed improv with a group my wife would tell me before each performance, "Remember, don't embarrass the family." That always worked for me.
Or my grandfather used to tell me, "You want to be a writer? Okay. Then write." That got me up off my ass to put pen to paper too.
Jonathon,
I suppose it's a matter of perspective: whether you look at sucking -- or personal failures -- as being temporary conditions from which we learn and grow; or as houses where we move in and establish permanent residency.
I was referring to the permanence of the condition. If you stay there, you fail. Sucking -- failure -- is not concurrent with success.
That's just a long way of saying: Don't suck.
And listen to your teachers.
Who wheathered the elements to get those great shots of you at the book festival hmm??? LA sucks..
Christy
I have a photographer in my entourage.
A hot one.
Really? Los Angeles?
I love Los Angeles.
I'm reading All The Pretty Horses right now, and it doesn't suck. Also, it's about young people. Not really YA though, whatever the hell that means.
All The Pretty Horses could definitely be considered YA, depending on the publisher and the marketing team. Most certainly, The Crossing (book 2 in the trilogy) would be, too. The Crossing is probably one of the best books ever written. It would be in my top 5, if I made such lists.
Please don't ever make such lists, Andrew.
BUT, I thought you said Child of God was his best that you'd read? Does that stand? Or was that Joe? Or Bryan?
And I would love to see a surge of literary "YA" written about questioning young men who don't give a fuck about the expectations the world places upon them.
Oh, wait. You're already doing that. Three more titles might make a surge, if you ask a fool who doesn't know shit.
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