Wednesday 5 February 2014

The Artist Unleashed: WRITING FOR CHILDREN—SHOULD WE HAVE A CONSCIENCE? by Isabel Burt

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12 comments:

  1. Wonderful post, Isabel! You raise a fantastic point. Children's authors can touch upon all aspects of life, whether positive or negative, just like adult literature. However, with such an impressionable age, we must take care to 'guide' as we write, giving them the freedom to think and form opinions as they read but not leaving them out in the cold all alone. Best of luck with your book. I'm sure it will do awesome!

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    1. Isabel apologizes but she can't seem to get my blog to accept her comments, so this is what she would like to say to you, Sheri!

      "Thanks SA Larsen, and your use of the word care captures my point. When writing for children, I feel we must, simply, care. Not dictate, and not abandon. Care :)"

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  2. Isabel, I couldn't agree with you more. The children we write for come from a variety of backgrounds and we need to write to their experiences. But at the same time, we need to make sure what we do is not gratuitous. We're supposed to give children a voice. And we're supposed to make them feel they're not alone. Reading is not reality TV.
    Good luck with your book. I'll check it out.

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    1. Isabel apologizes but she can't seem to get my blog to accept her comments, so this is what she would like to say to you, Theresa!

      "Thanks Theresa. I am not sure if there is a supposed to, anymore, but if a child takes something away from a book that makes them feel good in any way - if only a smile - then I would be happy to be that author!"

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  3. Well said, Isabel. It's like letting a child watch a really violent film. They aren't equipped to properly process it yet.

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    1. Isabel apologizes but she can't seem to get my blog to accept her comments, so this is what she would like to say to you, Alex:

      "Thank you, Alex. As I said in the article, this is such an open world, now, that our children are exposed to much, but that does not negate the responsibility of the children's author, as I see it, to take care"

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  4. Isabel, what a great post and I completely agree with you. I'm the mother of a ten year old girl who still loves childish fantasy books (talking kittens, good witches, fairies etc). She is shying away from venturing into books aimed at older children because they contain unpleasant things that will make her sad or scared - dysfunctional families, vampires etc. At her age, she's aware of the less agreeable things in life - she sees the news, she sees families torn apart among her peer group, including attempted suicides by one desparate parent, and the big wide world is scary. She needs comfort and reassurance in her reading that will equip her better to cope with the big wide world, which means books written by authors who take their social responsibility seriously to guide young people. Studies show that children who are regular readers benefit from the experience they gain within stories, learning how to negotiate anxiety, fear and other threats and to survive whatever life throws at them, and regular readers go through life happier, more successful and more balanced in every respect. It is the author's privilege to help steer them towards coping better with life, and any author who does not take their position of influence responsibly is selfish, self-centred and anti-social. Am ordering "Toxics"! :)

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    1. From Isabel: Debbie, I agree with all you say, and hope your daughter can find what she needs from the books she chooses. I really feel that need for a sense of responsibility when writing for children, and the idea to let them make sense out of trauma needs a gradient, according to their age, I think. Thanks for your wonderful response, and I hope you enjoy Toxics ;)

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  5. Isabel is spot on. I sometimes think political correctness is a tool some authors use to garner attention more for themselves than to forge a bond with young readers. Young minds are fragile and should be treated as such.

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    1. From Isabel: Kittie, I agree that a children's writer should remember to whom they speak - the wonderful, receptive mind of a child :)

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  6. Very thoughtful post - made me think a bit (no comment please LOL) I agree with you!

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    1. From Isabel: Helen, I am so glad it gave you pause for thought, and am glad you agree!

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“I'm using my art to comment on what I see. You don't have to agree with it.” ~John Mellencamp

“Allowing an unimportant mistake to pass without comment is a wonderful social grace” ~Judith S. Marin

“I don't ever try to make a serious social comment.” ~Paul McCartney

“I'd make a comment at a meeting and nobody would even acknowledge me. Then some man would say the same thing and they'd all nod.” ~Charlotte Bunch

“Probably what my comment meant was that I don't care about the circumstances if I can tell the truth.” ~Sally Kirkland

“We're not going to pay attention to the silliness and the petty comments. And quite frankly, women have joined me in this effort, and so it's not about appearances. It's about effectiveness.” ~Katherine Harris