Can A Children's Writer Cross Over To Adult Fiction?

Stirling

I'll get shot for this, but here I go . . .

I am currently reading Last Rituals by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. The author is Icelandic and is a successful children's author and this is her debut adult novel. I bought the book attracted by the 'International Bestseller' tag on the cover.

The book is . . . okay; I've read better stories. It isn't the story - I'm perplexed by the reems of telling and the lack of dialogue.

Here is an example:

"Thora learned that the book soon gained widespread circulation with the advent of printing, and also because it's authors were known and respected scholars. Catholics and Protestants alike drew on it in their battles against witchcraft."

Chapter four runs for seven pages without a scrap of dialogue. So is this lazy writing; or the effect of the difference between children's and adult's fiction?

Carol

I suspect it relates more to the Icelandic history of storytelling, and that is either a general style of Icelandic writers, or just her style, perhaps influenced by oral storytelling within her family.

Don't think my kids would like that much without some dialogue to break it up.

Stirling

I don't think I like it! (but I want to know what the hell is going on more!)

You could be right Carol.

Liz

It sounds extraordinarily stilted. I'm wondering about the translator.

Dwight

Stirling, I feel tempted to ask: Have you nothing better to read?

Happy New Year, by the way :)

Liz

Plus, anyone who can write can write adult fiction -it's the natural thing to do. Children's fiction isn't easier to write - it's harder, and it's certainly true that a writer of adult fiction can't necessarily write for children.

Tracy

One thing a children's book should have is lots of dialogue and it certainly shouldn't have reams of telling. I'd second LizB's comments - it is harder to write for children. I also wonder about the translation side of things - I've just finished Cornelia Funke's Inkheart and felt it needed a thorough edit.

Stirling

I'm getting more and more annoyed by the way the book is constructed (i.e chapters ending with a character screaming without explaining why; clues easily found).

I don't doubt that chidren's fiction is hard to write; but I do doubt that anyone can write adult fiction. Especially crime fiction - it is so easy to write it badly.

Daisy

A lot of people say that children's fiction is hard to write. I think it can be hard to do well. The real truth, of course, is that no fiction, whether for adult or child readers, is easy. As writers we all know that. And, of course, the really hard bit is getting it published!

I'd give up on the book, Stirling, and find something more enjoyable ;)

Liz

No, no, I didn't say anyone can write adult fiction, only that any one who can WRITE can write for adults... if they are an adult!!

Children's writing needs specialised skills... pitch, tone, age appropriate language which also stretches, content, form...ie as Tracy says, more dialogue in general etc etc.

Stirling

I only have 100 pages left Daisy and I want to know whodunnit and why! Have the next one lined up though . . .

Liz

Isn't it wonderful (for us writers!) that everyone likes such disparate things as well?

Stirling

The reviews on Amazon aren't that glowing either.

Carol

Then it isn't just you not liking it, Stirling.

Stirling

Now I'm really annoyed.

The murder that the novel is hinged on has turned out to be a suicide pact. Funny crime novel if you ask me!

Liz

It can't POSSIBLY be as full of holes as the Jonathon Creek my family just watched...

Stirling

Try me!

1. A manuscript stolen from the University with no explanation.
2. A University tutor who only ever turns up to conveniently reveal a clue.
3. A group of friends who where the number one suspects turns out to be a damp squib.

I could go on . . .

Liz

Well... how about female protagonist with Jonathon Creek, on spur of moment, after following suspects to a church, next to where a fair is n progress, without a handbag, conveniently seems to have a torch stashed in her tights, so they can explore a crypt...

Altho of course you expect such tosh in a Jonathon Creek, not so much a book...

Carol

But I just didn't expect the bath bit...

dorothyd

The more I hear about TV programmes, the more I am determined to unplug the thing at the end of January, permanently!

Liz

Bath nasty! But the water tank would have been like soup, full of decaying flesh, not clear so you could see all the bodies...

Carol

That's what I wondered too.

Neph

Liz I know its a long shot but wouldnt the condition of the bodies been determined by how cold the water was? Also it was about 30 years since the last death so whatever was going to decompose would have already. There were bits and bobs floating around but looking at the supposed size of the tank and the amount of bodies there wouldnt have been enough tissue to turn it into thick soup.

Verica

This particular Creek offering wasn't as good as some previous ones, was it? Were the others rubbish, I don't quite remember?

I find writing adult and children's fiction much harder to write than non-fiction, even 'Life Into Fiction'. Does anyone else?

Neph

My only problem with writing childrens fiction is knowing just how nasty I can be without it being too much.

Liz

Knowing some children, probably quite nastry!!! But publishers are another matter... I've always felt at that Neil Gaiman book with the alternative mother in the mirror with the button eyes, was quite scarey for the age group...

As for the 'soup'... I don't know...the tank wasn't that big, it couldn't have been or the floor beneath wouldn't have been able to support it. There would have been stomach contents... I don't know is the answer! I wonder who would...