Hi!
Over the past two years I've spent oodles of time trying to read as many new books as possible,
and review my favourites, mainly to help
me remember the details! As a slushpile writer on a mission to Get Somewhere,
I've been very conscious of what agents and publishers are currently looking
for. I've spent hours researching how to get to grips with the obligatory
"Show, Don't Tell" and I've acquainted myself with the market's
bestsellers. The amazingly original and
exciting books that I've read have brought me and my children lots of joy and
fun. Thank goodness we have a constant supply of new ideas and authors coming
through.
It is confusing though. I've read my own children every single
one of David Walliams' thoroughly entertaining books. Somehow these
bestsellers have a really old-fashioned
feel, but I love them! Walliams' style feels so warm and comforting and
familiar, and in a Dahl-esque
manner he whips us from the horrific to
the absurd in the flick of a page turn. Tell the truth, I've missed that kind
of story telling. They're so good to read aloud, and even better to listen to.
So now I'm hankering for some proper Old Skool Classics that have stood the
test of time. And by "classic" I don't necessarily mean old, I mean
books that will be loved from generation to generation and stand the test of
time.
Whenever I visit local bookshops, I'm struck by just how many
books in the 8-12s section are largely the same books that I was plugging 15
years ago as a Year 6 teacher. I'm talking the likes of Harry Potter, Northern
Lights, Kensuke's Kingdom and Matilda. A quick look at the British Libraries PLR listings reveals that the most borrowed children's authors Top 20 still
includes Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton, and in the Top 20 most borrowed classic authors you'll also
find CS Lewis and Beatrix Potter.
There's a steady supply of new editions of the classics it seems- each
new cover design seems to cause a stir!
One thing that bugs me as a teacher is that children tell me
-all too often- that their parents won't let them read the books they want to,
deeming them 'too easy', or 'not good
English'. I've overheard parents at the supermarket trying to persuade their
children to buy books or magazines that "teach them something" rather
than the ones the child is drawn to. And
I recently joined in a teacher's hashtag about reading, where teachers were recounting the lack of time in
the school day to read for pleasure.
'Up-levelling' is where it's at, and being able to prove a pupil's
progress to Ofsted inspectors. Fads and
fashions in the publishing world may come and go, but teachers and parents
often seek the confidence of known quantities when it comes to reading
material. Not to mention guaranteed value for money. As adults we love to share our own childhood favourites
with the next generation, and these are often what we select as special gifts.
For busy teachers there is a much greater wealth of resources for more
established authors to enrich and support their lesson plans, so who can blame
them for picking more classic texts to use in class? Canny debut authors, I notice, are putting
resources for teachers on their websites- a good move!
This set me thinking, as lately I've been reflecting upon
what I want to achieve with the Middle Grade books that I'm currently writing,
and indeed, what is at the heart of Middle Grade fiction. Is it the characters?
The plot? The voice? I often wonder why I've focused on writing for this age
group above all others, and always reach the conclusion that this was the age
when I was happiest in my reading, and found stories most satisfying.
So, I've decided to embark on a journey back through time,
and revisit the books I enjoyed as a junior reader (as we called it back in Ye
Olden Days) . A couple of months ago I re-read Madeleine L'Engle's "A
Wrinkle in Time" and it brought back the thrill and excitement of
disappearing into a whole new imaginary world, just as when I'd read it as a
youngster. But yes. The world is very different now with technology and social
media, and kids being much more knowledgeable and worldly wise. On the other
hand though, the relevance and importance of things like relationships with
friends, siblings, parents, and the dull oppression of homework hasn't changed
much. Kids still have days when they're gleeful, and days when they're sad.
This led me into thinking that if I re-read books from my
school days, could it help me re-connect with my Middle Grade self? Maybe, if I read my favourite books from
childhood , I'll be able to resurrect long dismissed memories. Maybe I'll hit upon a cerebral shortcut to the Land
of Long Ago, which will magically help me write a more sparkly authentic voice
for my intended audience.
Over the weekend I was looking out for interesting tweets
from the Winchester Writer's Festival, and a lively selection kept popping up.
One that caught my eye was a quote from Beverley Birch saying, "as an
author do not bandwagon hop. Write what's in your heart ".
So, without apology I'm going back to my favourite
characters: Ramona, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anne of Green Gables, Mary Poppins.
I'm going to scrutinise The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, and Nothing to be
Afraid of. I'll be analysing The Borrowers and Ballet Shoes and The BFG. I admit that -unlike my younger self- I'll be
tutting at the liberal sprinkling of adverbs, and the naughtiness of the
lengthy backstories, but that will be part of the fun. Over the next few months
(before I get back to reading all the latest bestsellers) I'll be seeking to
pinpoint what the essence of a truly
great Middle Grade book is, so that I can bottle it and keep it close to my
heart as I'm writing.
I just hope (with writerly wishfulness) that I will discover the Holy Grail of what makes
these evergreen books so endlessly appealing, and will one day be able to
achieve a little of the classic magic in my own stories.
Pippa Wilson
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