The Young Adult Writer's Journey
by Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds
& Janet Schrader-Post
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GENRE: Non-Fiction
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BLURB:
Finally,
an all-inclusive book on young adult fiction must-do, don’t do and how-to. If
you want to write a young adult novel, you need to read this book first.
Coauthored by an award-winning YA author and an acquisitions editor, both
experts on kids and what they like to read, this encyclopedia contains all you
need to start or improve a career as a YA fiction author.
From an examination of
the market, genre and its sub-genres, to mechanics and the business, everything
is at your fingertips. This amazing writer’s resource is written in a relaxed
and interesting style, with plenty of contemporary references and examples for
clear understanding and easier application.
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EXCERPT
Joseph Campbell was a professor of literature at Sarah
Lawrence College, where he worked in comparative mythology and religious
studies. He was strongly influenced by Carl Jung's view of myth. In his 1949
work The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell described the basic mythic
structure as follows:
A hero ventures forth from the world
of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there
encountered, and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this
mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.
(Campbell, Joseph (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 23.)
His iconic classic deconstructs universal story patterns. In
his study of the myth of the hero, Campbell posits the existence of a Monomyth
(a word he borrowed from James Joyce), a universal pattern, structure, found in
heroic tales in every culture. While outlining the basic stages of this mythic
cycle, he also explores common variations in the hero’s journey, which, he
argues, is an operative metaphor, not only for an individual, but for a culture
as well. Although the stories may vary to suit the needs and beliefs of a
specific culture, the underlying universal archetypes remain.
Christopher Vogler used this hero’s journey to write, The
Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. He simplified Campbell’s 17
steps into 12, handy in today’s 12-step minded society. What he did that was
fantastic is make it more accessible for modern writers, who are not always
scholars. There are several similar editions, including one for screenwriters.
Women like Maureen Murdock have written books specifically about The Heroine’s
Journey. Although the steps may vary, the universal pattern, used in a novel or
screenplay, creates a story with themes that resonate across cultures. It is so
powerful, creating hit after hit, that it was required reading for Disney
executives, a company that knows the importance of creating a hero’s journey to
appeal to mass audiences. Using this pattern to construct books in Young Adult
novels provides the reader with a satisfying experience.
To illustrate the hero’s journey, it’s easier to understand
in the context of a classic young adult book/movie, such as Harry Potter,
already used to illustrate points throughout this book. It will be broken down
for you according to the different stages in The Hero’s Journey, with
particular attention to how the journey relates to a YA hero/heroine, the focus
of this entire book. Following are some things you need to think of before you
sit down to write your first scene.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Janet love kids
and horses, and she paints and writes. Now she lives in the swampland of
Florida with too many dogs and her fifteen-year-old granddaughter. She started
to write young adult fiction with the help of her son, Gabe Thompson, who
teaches middle school. Together they have written a number of award-winning YA
novels in both science fiction and fantasy.
Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds knows kids well. She spent decades
teaching teens and adults to write and improve their reading skills. As a
literacy expert and certified coach, she helped both teachers from elementary
to secondary and preservice graduate students learn to improve reading and
writing instruction. She has taught at both the secondary and graduate level,
everything from rhetoric, essays, and thesis statements, to poetry, short
stories, and how to write a novel. She has learned to use both sides of her
brain simultaneously, but enjoys the creative side the most, learning to play
piano, draw and paint, and find time for her own writing since retiring from
her “day” jobs.
A “true
believer” in Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, mythic
structures, she uses that lens when considering manuscripts for Tell-Tale
Publishing Group, a company she founded with some friends from her critique
group a decade ago.
The book will be $0.99 during
the tour
Wise Words
Publishing, an Affiliate of Tell-Tale Publishing Group, LLC
We are a small
press, a traditional publishing company bringing you the best in E-books, print
and audio books to feed your body, mind and spirit. Our cutting-edge fiction includes old
favorites and edgy speculative fiction for today's eclectic readers. Our stories will grab your attention and take
you on a fast, exciting ride that will leave you breathless. WW, our affiliate,
publishes select literature under our Cosmos Imprint and nonfiction titles
under our Ivy Tower Imprint. www.wisewordspublshing.com
Founded in
2009, in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Our company motto of "excellence in
creative entertainment and learning, " informs our artwork, manuscript
selection, editing and publishing.
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVcMaGh7cng
Barnes &
Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-young-adult-writers-journey-janet-schrader-post/1129903135
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
The authors will be awarding a $25
Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE TOUR AND COMMENT
ON EACH STOP TO EARN MORE ENTRIES TO WIN!
January 7: Joanne Guidoccio
January 8: Fabulous and Brunette
January 10: Bookaholic
January 11: Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
January 14: Sharing Links and Wisdom
January 15: BooksChatter
January 16: Books,Dreams,Life
January 17: Kit 'N Kabookle
January 18: Edgar's Books
January 21: T's Stuff
January 22: It's Raining Books
January 23: Mixed Book Bag
January 24: This and That Book Blog
January 25: The Avid Reader
January 28: Readeropolis
January 29: Independent Authors
January 30: The Reading Addict
January 31: Locks, Hooks and Books
February 1: All the Ups and Downs
My Review
I give The Young Adult Writer’s Journey: An Encyclopedia for YA Writers three and a half stars. I believe many writers who are looking into writing young adult genre books would find this one as helpful.
I received this book from the publisher. This review 100% my own honest opinion.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt, I loved it.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, I can't wait to check this out. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteMy question for Ms. Schraeder-Post is: did you move a lot, growing up in the military? I did! A favorite soap opera actress of mine said she felt “like she was always auditioning to be the ‘new girl’!”
ReplyDeleteMy question for Ms. Fortin-Hinds is an unusual one! Is your family possibly related to the singer, Madonna? Her mother, whom she is named after, had the maiden name, ‘Fortin’! Even if you’re not, it’s a cool coincidence.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book!
ReplyDelete