Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Why I write for kids.

Speaking of blog posts, there is all sorts of discussion going on over on the Wizrocklopedia, but I am tired of talking about that today. So if you care, you can go find the news blog yourself to find out what's being said about my band.


I do want to talk about 1. how much I hate car shows and 2. how much I love writing.

1. Car shows. I actually have no problem with car shows themselves, really. I think old cars are neat, I think the people who drive them are generally fun. My dad used to have an old 1957 Ford Ranchero. My uncle has at least 10 fun old cars. What I do hate is when Car Shows are held on the main street outside the theatre I work at, and therefor they have to close the street on the busiest day of the week and I have to spend my whole work shift calling EVERY SINGLE PERSON scheduled to come to the show that day to warn them that they'll need to take alternate routes. This, this I hate.

2. Writing. Alex and I are both working on close-to-final edits of our books and I really enjoy that we're doing it together. Writing is lovely and I've been doing it my whole life, but it's so much more enjoyable when you have other people writing with you. I have never been able to finish anything novel-length until nanowrimo, because the act of writing with friends just makes it such a more enjoyable experience. The point is, I'm really happy and excited to be sharing a release date with Alex for our books. We have been inspiring and motivating each other since before these drafts were even begun with our stupid bets and competitive teasing... and now that we're dating and helping each other with editing we just feel really emotionally invested in each other's books. Well, I don't know about Alex but that's how it feels to me.

Anyway, we're both really excited and a little nervous about the idea of releasing our books to the public. We've both made countless videos and released albums and everything you've already seen us do, but I definitely believe this feels a lot more personal. It's scary and exciting. :)

I didn't mean for that to get all sappy. What I was actually going to say regarding writing was how I came to the realization why I feel so much more comfortable writing characters that are under the age 18. First of all, I feel like a good writer will try to contribute to the world 1. what they themself would like to read but more importantly 2. what the world is missing or lacking.

I read a lot of teen lit. A lot. And a problem I see in a lot of books is that adults write them, and what can happen sometimes is that they only kind of remember what it was like to be a teenager or kid, so a lot of books become overly cheesy or even (more tragically) a caricature of what real kids/teens are like. This happens frequently in teen movies as well, where it's even worse.

I'm 21 years old, but I still feel like a teenager. I was a teenager recently. I remember vividly the things I did as a kid because it wasn't that long ago. I was a very normal kid, who played with her neighbors in the streets in the summer, who dripped ice cream down to her elbows, who fought with her parents and thought a mysterious stranger would come and tell her she was actually a princess and who tried hard in school and got nervous before math tests and did all the normal things a kid did. I could write things about those years of my life and anyone that age could probably relate because many of them shared my experiences.

BUT. Then I graduated highschool, I found wizard rock, I went to conferences, I started doing youtube, I toured, I did interviews, and basically started living a very strange, different, unconventional life. I have NO IDEA what it's like to be a regular college student. I have no idea what the college experience is. I don't know what regular 19-25 year olds do for fun. I would have no idea how to relate to that audience at all.

This, this is why I subconsciously always write books for the 8-12 or 11-15 age range. I was a normal kid then. xD

EDIT: I remembered what else I wanted to say. Clearly by the comments on my last blog entry, the internet can't take a joke. Like I would start a collab-love-channel with Alex. Not only is that way more work than either of us lazy people are willing to put in, but we'd prefer to keep our relationship as private as we possibly can, given the situation. xD For crying out loud, someone felt it necessary to warn Becky that Alex was starting a new nerdfighterlike with me. Really? Did someone really think that's what was happening? SIGH.

19 comments:

Catherine said...

I was looking at those comments and thinking I was wrong for assuming it was a joke. So many people thought it was real I kind of felt sorry for their brains. Sorry work sucked today. Who has car shows on streets anyway? That's what convention centers are for. I'm excited for your book. Truly, I am. I know what you mean when you say that the teenage years are so much easier to write about. Everyone basically felt the same at the time, no matter who they were, so it's easy to write about because anyone can relate. And I had something else to say but now I completely forget what it was. Oh well, later. WAIT! I REMEMBER! I met a kid named Brock the other day, just wanted you to know. =)

Anonymous said...

There are way too many things I want to say here, so I'll just make it short and not say it all. 1. Miss italktosnakes there is no doubt that keeping the Parslemouths is fitting. You've worked extremely hard to 'brand' the name and I still want you to preform the songs. Also, the same attitude and mood is there. 2. When does your book come out? 3. I get what you mean about a normal college experience. Just being a fan and small part of the wizard rock community and other things makes me feel like I can not relate.

Britty said...

I'm really looking forward to your book coming out. Being a "regular" college kid isn't all it's cracked up to be. In all honesty I believe you have had my dream college experience. Finding love, traveling, random expeditions just for the sake of doing it, those are all things that I didn't do until my 3rd year of college. Granted you had a free car/gas, music sale/merch sale money, and fab friends in almost every state of the country (and out of the country) to stay with. But hey, it sure has been fun to vicariously live through you.

I hope someday you will write a memoir of your fantastic life as a wizard rocker.

Oh and on the other thing, I'm going to say nothing except I'm sending you lots of hugs, which will hopefully help you be less frustrated about the situation. I can't promise anything though.

Capcha Code word (since we haven't done one in a while)

chedaftg: Exclamation from a cheese loving Nerdfighter: Chedda FTG (for the gouda!)

Bre Melvin said...

Whenever you do publish, remember how lucky you are that you do have an audience behind you that will go out there and buy the book because it's you. Luckily, since that audience likes you they'll also be perfectly honest with you about the book after they've read it.

Can't wait to read it when it hits stands.

Cody Hotel said...

Hearing that you, at 21, have almost finished your first novel has really inspired me to grab a pen and try (once AGAIN) to finally write a decent (screen)play at the age of 19. I usually get like, 2 or 3 scenes (Even finished the first act once) done and then either run out of ideas or get bored and quit.

Watching your videos and listening to your music, I truly cannot wait for your book to come out.

Literally, I'm looking into cheap ways to induce a coma. It's trickier then you would think.

Sam Y said...

Like many others have mentioned, I am definitely looking forward to both yours, and Alex's books! I can imagine that you both are very talented writers and I cannot wait to read your works!

Also as someone else mentioned, you've inspired me to get a move on with my writing. I've wanted to be an author since I was little, but I can't manage to actually get something written. Hopefully once Nanowrimo comes back around, I'll be able to get a novel churned out as you did!
I admire your dedication to writing and basically everything else you do! So congrats on getting that novel nearly finished!
Rock on :) Or as the Nermie army would say, "Bedoodoodoo!"

Kristen said...

I thankfully got to yesterday's blog late so I read your comment saying it was a joke. However, I could see why maybe some people couldn't.

1)You said the joke in such a deadpan-like way and 2) It's really hard to tell when anyone's joking when we can't hear or see the person. We don't know what your tone is and there are no facial expressions or the ever so helpful hand gestures.

What can I say? Sarcasm is a language not easily translated to binary code. (I read that somewhere and I thought it was so true so now it's one of my facebook quotes.) Okay, bye!

The Vagabond said...

I sort of feel for you when it comes to hating car shows. There is a car show that is held close to my house EVERY SINGLE WEEK and traffic is always horrible. For crying out loud, it's the same cars every week and people still line up to see them! Thankfully, however, I've never had to call up hundreds of people to tell them about it. I'm sorry about that. I'm glad you get to write a book though and I can't wait to read it!

Unknown said...

I'm really excited for your book to come out and I'm glad your enjoying writing it, your so dedicated to so many things, you make me wanna work at stuff... thanks for being so inspiring.

As for being a normal college student - I can't say that I am one, but I'm fairly sure my brother is and trust me, you are missing nothing.
To date he has:
-failed 4 papers
-been waaaay too drunk too many times to count
-incured a head-injury that meant he couldn't sit his exams
- and overspent well past his student loan

I don't think anyone wants to read about that kind of college student... honest.

Kaitlyn w/ a K said...

I still feel like a teenager too. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but I like to think that being young at heart is always good.

I can't wait to read your books!

Unknown said...

I don't want to bring this up in your blog but... I think this whole wrock thing has gotten out of hand. I've been reading some of the comments. And yes, you've earned the right to keep your band's name. But the article was not an attack on you. The whole thing was praise. Your show was awesome. But I think it was just stating that the band has seemed to change and grow and she suggested that you could change your band name. You could shed your old skin and start anew, afresh. People are going to love your music no matter. I don't care if you start calling yourself THE FLYING MONKEY, I'd still listen to your music because you are amazingly talented. She suggested that you could go in that direction but of course you'll choose not too. I don't see how this has escalated into such a huge discussion.

Love your blog, love your music, love everything.

Oh and I'll probably love your BOOK. I cannot wait to read it! I'm jealous. You're getting published! =)

ThePeterIs said...

I don't think that you have to be able to relate to something to enjoy it. It can help sometimes, but a lot of the literature I like, I like because it introduces things that are so wildly different and new to me, and they make me think.

I think the biggest reason I love your videos, is that you have such a different life. Your uniqueness is an asset that makes you interesting, not something that should hold you back in writing.

Unknown said...

I can't wait until your book comes out. That is hilarious how everybody took that VLOGLOVERS thing so seriously, even to warn them haha, sometimes people can be entertaining.

John said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John said...

I was sad enough to search VLOGLOVERS and tried to subscribe to them alas they didn't exist.

I can't wait for your books to be out will they be in hardback also(I buy all my favourite books in paper back(to read) and hard back(for my shelf)


PS Can't wait for your article in Wizrocklopedia

Kiera Jo said...

Oh Kristina,
It makes me laugh the kind of things that online viewers/readers do not know are jokes. To me, it was obviously a joke. And a hilarious one at that. Some people are just silly. Good times.
I love your reasoning for why you can't write for adults. You're awesome!

Katyisgoing said...

I will buy your books. I agree, more teen writers! Melissa de la Cruz, the authour of a wildly popular gossip girly vampire series. thinks teenagers shouldn't write...

Sarah said...

First of all, I am shocked at that blog post. It felt inappropriate because what you have, before with Brittany and now with Eia, is great. I hope this isn't getting to any of you, because there are many, many fans out there who love what you guys are doing. I personally don't care if you change, because you're awesome.
But enough about that, I can understand you don't want to hear much about it.
I'm glad your book is doing well. It is truly great writing with friends instead of alone. I know a few have asked, but I will do the same; Do you have any idea of when the book will be published? And can maybe have a title already?
I hope you're feeling well and loving the summer.
-Sarah

Alex Dahlberry said...

I knew that you wrote a book for nanowrimo but i didnt know you were going to publish it. Ive heard a lot more about Skyers than your novel. What is it called? What is it about? is it for kids or YA?

is it being published by DFTBA?
im excited :)