Comments on: The writer’s strike now brings us… kiddie lit http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/ Licensing Industry News and Information Mon, 8 Sep 2008 02:44:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: L. Williams http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/#comment-101816 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:10:04 +0000 http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/#comment-101816 I'm not even sure about "mining some previously unmined talent." There is unmined talent being mined by children's books publishers every day. And many of these young authors are spectacular writers who always wanted to write children's / YA books. It is their heart's desire, not just something to do until they can get back to what they really want to do. They can write their supermarket books until they get back to their REAL work... but chances are it won't be as "Worthwhile" as what's being produced by those who dreamed of writing books for kids. I’m not even sure about “mining some previously unmined talent.” There is unmined talent being mined by children’s books publishers every day. And many of these young authors are spectacular writers who always wanted to write children’s / YA books. It is their heart’s desire, not just something to do until they can get back to what they really want to do.
They can write their supermarket books until they get back to their REAL work… but chances are it won’t be as “Worthwhile” as what’s being produced by those who dreamed of writing books for kids.

]]> by: Toy Box Mommy http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/#comment-101622 Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:05:08 +0000 http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/#comment-101622 Fair enough. ;) Fair enough. ;)

]]> by: Sarah Miller http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/#comment-101616 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:05:28 +0000 http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/#comment-101616 I see what you're saying, but I can't bring myself to agree that it'll be a boon for children's literature. Take the similar example of celebrity children's books. In my opinion, the vast majority of them are crummy, but they still sell like gangbusters. Why? Because in the cavernous, overwhelming, and understaffed world of chain bookstores, the majority of adults who don't know children's lit tend to gravitate toward ANYTHING that looks familiar in the kids' section -- a name, a cover, a really big pile (which must mean *somebody* thinks it's good, right?). Bad publicity rarely leads to poor sales in these cases, nor a return to higher quality literature. I admit, I'm being cynical and snotty. The best I can say for myself is that at least it's cynicism and snottiness based on firsthand experience as both a bookseller and an author. ;) I see what you’re saying, but I can’t bring myself to agree that it’ll be a boon for children’s literature.

Take the similar example of celebrity children’s books. In my opinion, the vast majority of them are crummy, but they still sell like gangbusters. Why? Because in the cavernous, overwhelming, and understaffed world of chain bookstores, the majority of adults who don’t know children’s lit tend to gravitate toward ANYTHING that looks familiar in the kids’ section — a name, a cover, a really big pile (which must mean *somebody* thinks it’s good, right?).

Bad publicity rarely leads to poor sales in these cases, nor a return to higher quality literature.

I admit, I’m being cynical and snotty. The best I can say for myself is that at least it’s cynicism and snottiness based on firsthand experience as both a bookseller and an author. ;)

]]> by: Toy Box Mommy http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/#comment-101541 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:49:36 +0000 http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/#comment-101541 I agree with you completely about it being a profession and not a hobby, but I still think it's great. Either we'll be seeing some previously unmined talent come to the forefront or the resultant titles will only cause reviewers to scoff and direct readers back to the authors who know what they're doing. Either way, I maintain that it's a boon to children's literature. (Kurtz's comment was obnoxious, yes, but again---the buzz it generates is not a bad thing. All PR is good PR, right?) I agree with you completely about it being a profession and not a hobby, but I still think it’s great. Either we’ll be seeing some previously unmined talent come to the forefront or the resultant titles will only cause reviewers to scoff and direct readers back to the authors who know what they’re doing. Either way, I maintain that it’s a boon to children’s literature.

(Kurtz’s comment was obnoxious, yes, but again—the buzz it generates is not a bad thing. All PR is good PR, right?)

]]> by: Sarah Miller http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/#comment-101539 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:42:31 +0000 http://blog.tystoybox.com/20080114/the-writers-strike-now-brings-us-kiddie-lit/#comment-101539 Call me a party-pooper, but I think this whole thing is the absolute opposite of brilliant. Children's literature is a profession, not a hobby. Writing children's books is a vastly different proposition than writing for television, and those of us who are published children's authors resent the attitude that dashing off a children's book is an amusing way to fill some spare time. Granted, some of these folks may be able to write a good book for kids. Some people can indeed write for a wide range of audiences in a number of genres and formats. It's rare, but it's possible. However, the way some of these potential authors are talking about children's books is demeaning, presumptuous, and exposes their ignorance of the field -- Rob Kurtz claiming there's "a lack of really creative, funny children's books," for example. Call me a party-pooper, but I think this whole thing is the absolute opposite of brilliant. Children’s literature is a profession, not a hobby. Writing children’s books is a vastly different proposition than writing for television, and those of us who are published children’s authors resent the attitude that dashing off a children’s book is an amusing way to fill some spare time.

Granted, some of these folks may be able to write a good book for kids. Some people can indeed write for a wide range of audiences in a number of genres and formats. It’s rare, but it’s possible. However, the way some of these potential authors are talking about children’s books is demeaning, presumptuous, and exposes their ignorance of the field — Rob Kurtz claiming there’s “a lack of really creative, funny children’s books,” for example.

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