Age and imagination

First, if you're 7+ years-old and haven't watched Avatar: The Last Airbender, you're seriously missing out. (It's the Nickelodeon cartoon upon which the movie Airbender by M. Night Shyamalan is based, and it is so good.)

On to today's post!

I read on a writer's forum a lament about how many young novelists there are now--as in agented writers under 20--and how they're being greeted with so much enthusiasm. The person was concerned if s/he was "too old" to be writing YA.

I can understand this insecurity, but I don't know. Maybe I watched too much Miracle on 34th Street growing up. The imagination's ageless right?

To me, this is just another one of those sneaky things that'll psych you out as a writer.

And there's all kinds of things that do that. I almost psyched myself out the other day worrying about how much time I don't have for writing now that the summer break is upon us and the girls are with me nonstop.

If the concern is younger writers having more time to improve at the craft and build a bigger following, I guess they might. But if it's about keeping up with trends or slang proficiency, I think that's a mistake.

I like to imagine my books being read in 20 years (or more). So I want to be as neutral as possible in what my characters are saying or doing. Catch-phrases and technology change so fast, and publishing is sooo slooow....

But the imagination and good stories are ageless. Which is what makes writing such a wonderful craft when compared to crafts like acting. Or rock-n-roll musician-ing. Only don't tell Madonna that. Or Mick Jagger... Or Meryl Streep.

OK, there's also that way some people have of knowing how to give the market what it wants. I'm not sure if you can develop that or if you just have it. Like It.

Perhaps it's a matter of getting in the right mood. Maybe life's blocking your creative flow... If it's me, I plop down and watch some iCarly with the girls or jump over to the "Forever YA" blog. The author of that blog never fails to put me in a funny, YA mindset--especially when she goes on a Sweet Valley High rant.

I loved those books.

Then again, I just wrapped up a week with (awesome) teenage helpers at VBS.

That's another way to get plunged right back into those days of wanting to be an adult so badly and being freaked out by the whole idea at the same time. Oh, the self-consciousness! Oh, the desire to just blend! Oh, is that boy looking at me?!

Or read some good books in the genre. I try to really get to know my characters before I start writing. Just really get in their heads, and then relax and let them act.

Regardless, heed the experts and keep writing, writer friends~

It

People used to talk about "it" a lot when I was in college. (Maybe they still do, I don't know.) I was thinking last night about "it" and wondering if only people have "it" or if things can as well.

What's this "it" of which I speak?

Ugh, let me see if I can remember... "It" is/was defined as that indescribable quality that causes someone to stand out from the rest. It transcends talent and enters the realm of the undefinable. It's what the French call "je ne sais quoi" or "I don't know what."

Clear as mud?

People used to talk about supermodels having "it." Like what makes one pretty skinny girl stand out from all the other pretty skinny girls. Like Cindy Crawford had "it," as did Naomi Campbell. Heidi Klum has "it" when she doesn't speak.

Actors like Johnny Depp, Robert Downy, Jr... I'd go so far as to say little Miley Cyrus has "it." Bands and musicians can have "it." For example, what made Britney more popular than Xtina? She isn't a better singer...

Can you lose "it"? Hmm... Madonna still seems to have "it." As does Mick Jagger. (C'mon. You know you're gonna stop and stare at whatever they come out with. Confess!) I'd say Paul Newman never lost it. But there are probably people who had "it" who don't anymore.

Back to last night and wondering if things can have "it." Things like TV shows or movies or music or (wait for it...) books! Would you say Grey's Anatomy had "it," or was it the cast? I mean, what made it better than say that other doctor show... Boston somethingorother. Or even that Private Practice.

I never watched any of those shows, so I can't say.

Or reality TV. Again, not being a watcher, would you say any of those "housewives" shows seems to stand out from the rest? And would you say it was because of the people or the show itself as a whole?

I don't know. These are the thoughts I have as I wait to hear back from somebody... As the clock tick tick ticks and I try not to lose the other "it"... I hope my books have "it."  (smile)