YA Novels, Language, Octavia and Samuel

I just finished reading a YA novel (It actually says “10 and up” on the back cover.) by David Almond titled ‘Skellig.’ I remember someone either at Clarion or World Fantasy saying that YA novels are usually constructed with only one major conflict for the protagonist. In ‘Skellig,’ the young protagonist Michael encounters several: his relationship with his parents after moving into a new house, his relationship with a girl who challenges the way he thinks, his uncomfortable relationship with his old friends Leaky and Coot (great names), his worries about his very ill sister, and his discovery of a very strange man living in their garage.

The language of the book is for the most part very simple, but the ideas and concepts are complex. I was impressed with all the things that the book explores so well: a child’s fear of new surroundings, the way new ideas challenge us, helping people who don’t necessarily want to be helped, helping people who can’t ask for help, friendship, dreaming, life…everything you want in a book no matter how old you are. Very enjoyable.

I finished the first draft of a story yesterday and sent it to P.O.E. for this Saturday’s meeting. I started with two ideas: a guy drinking coffee in a café and an attractive woman wearing an eye patch.

Speaking of the simple language in ‘Skellig,’ I began to think (maybe as a result of reading a YA novel at the time) that the language in my story was too simple. Maybe things will change in the second draft, but after looking over my story, I think it calls for simple language, especially from the narrator. A large part of the story concerns how people often speak in simple ways, perhaps choosing words in their conversations that don’t convey specific, solid truths. Why? Maybe they’re conditioned to speak in words no longer than three syllables, maybe they’re trying to dodge deeper issues, or maybe they watch too much television. Maybe it’s just easier.

But I’m looking more at language and how it fits the mood and tone of stories. It might be interesting to try to write the same story from two vastly different POVs and explore how the language changes.

Thinking about going to hear Octavia Bulter and Samuel Delany this Friday night at the Smithsonian. They’ll be speaking about speculative fiction: where it’s been, where it’s going.

Where I’m going is to work. Sell books.

Now Playing = Chronicle – Creedence Clearwater Revival