Wondering if it's possible to rewrite my super-serious YA fantasy as more lighthearted/humorous w/out losing the deep threads. Thoughts?The answer I received (the only one - thank you, Rockinlibrarian!) was a resounding yes, mentioning a couple writers I had already thought of, particularly Diana Wynne Jones (Lloyd Alexander was the other one that came to my mind, as soon as I wrote the Tweet).
This is the MS that I've been sending queries out on for quite a while, without even getting any requests. Not that that alone would make me change it, but when I realized that I didn't even feel like re-reading it because it was so gloomy, I thought perhaps it was time to do some serious, serious fun revamping.
The problem is, I think, that the story was mainly written when I was either pregnant or sleep-deprived from babies, and therefore had a pretty depressed outlook on life. It was great to get that out in my writing - probably kept me from going completely insane - but the end result was a very heavy story.
Some people do heavy really well. I am not one of them. My heavy was pretty much a slog through a thick and gloomy mire, with only occasional bright spots.
Worse than all this, it wasn't me. Ask anyone who knows me at all to name the first thing about me they can think of, and they will say "her laugh." I was cracking jokes in labor, for crying out loud, in between my shrieks of pain and pounding fists (I threw dignity out the door after the first ten hours). My entire family is known for causing scenes at weddings and funerals, because we cannot keep to an appropriate solemnity - in fact, something about that much solemnity makes us laugh even more.
So to write something so heavy and angst-y was just not me. Not Louise. Not, at least, the Louise I want to be. Maybe it was the sleep-deprived, exhausted, stressed Louise, but I'm trying to banish her from my life for good these days (which would be SO MUCH easier if my children would ever let me, you know, SLEEP).
But I also didn't want to lose the themes of sacrifice, grace, and love that were woven throughout the book. I didn't want to go too far in the other direction and write nothing but fluff.
My absolute favorite authors are those who make you laugh first, and then scratch your head afterward and go, "Whoa. That was deep."
It's a lot harder than just writing straight-up funny stories or straight-up deep, trying to blend the two. But when in my life have I ever done anything the easy way? And why would I start now?
I am currently two chapters in to the re-write, and already I like my heroine better. Already I like the direction the story is taking more. I like the new twist I added, because another problem with the story as it was was that it was too straight-forward, without any sneaky little bits added in, or any unexpected turns in the plot.
Yes, this means that I am re-writing from scratch one MS at the same time I am working on a brand-new story, and still researching that darn Renaissance fantasy (though in all honesty, that one is on a bit of a hiatus. I haven't cracked my history books for weeks). And yes, I am doing all of this while being a stay-at-home mom to a two year old and three (and a half, she would insist on me adding) year old.
Certifiably crazy? Possibly. But where would the fun be in being sane?
Thinking of other books where this has been done well; Gail Carson Levine comes to mind, especially with Ella Enchanted (it might be a tad more humorous than deep, but her later work, I think, swings the other way).
ReplyDeleteWow, you're doing all that? I can only do one project at a time!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for making the story humorous. I think you can definitely put humor in there without losing the seriousness of the themes.
Sunrise, Levine is a good pick, and that reminds me that I need to re-read The Two Princesses of Bamarre.
ReplyDeleteLydia K, I think I might make progress if I only do one story at a time - the problem is that I get these great ideas, and if I wait until I'm finished my current WIP I lose momentum and they never get done, so I figure if I least start, I can pick away at them all until at least one is finished.
Yay! I made a good comment!
ReplyDeleteRegarding Levine-- oh yes, and Fairest even more so with the heavy stuff -- made me cry-- but still with her general sense of humor.
I think it comes down to voice. Some people just have a delightful way of writing that makes you laugh, even as it makes you THINK and sometimes even CRY.
I saw Bruce Coville speak a couple years ago, and one thing he said that stuck with me was that humor even makes the serious stuff pack that much more of a punch. If it's all serious, you kind of develop a tolerance to it, but if you're laughing one moment, the tough stuff hits you even bigger. He likened it to the Clowns of God, the jesters in medieval churches who'd try to distract the worshippers, but the end result was that they'd end up feeling MORE reverent, in spite of the distraction. I may not be relating this all very sensibly, but what HE said made a lot of sense to me at least!
Rockinlibrarian, oddly enough, "Fairest" was my least favorite out of all Levine's works. I felt confused as to characters' motivations through the entire thing, and though it she addressed the issues it brought up well, the plot seemed shaky to me.
ReplyDeleteWhich goes, I suppose, even further toward proving my point, that the more light-handedly a deep topic is handled, the better I personally enjoy it. And really, one should always write what one personally enjoys, yes?
Writers are crazy to start with. At least, I am.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that dark/deep things handled with a light touch are the most thought provoking. Sometimes when things are left unsaid--only hinted at, they are more deeply felt.
I suspect as you do the rewrite the deep themes will write themselves because they come out of who you are, not because you're trying to put them there. Does that make sense?
(BTW, our air conditioner is working!!)
Connie, I'm glad I'm not the only writer out there to confess to being crazy! And I do like the idea of the deep themes creeping in on their own without me having to force the story to work around them. Much better this way!
ReplyDelete(And hurrah on the AC!)
Oh, good luck! It sounds like a lot of work, but it also sounds like it will be very worth it! I'm glad you're enjoying your story more already. ^_^
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, I agree you can take dark and deep and add humor. Sometimes the combination makes a book more poignant.
ReplyDeleteAnd on the topic of babies and new motherhood--boy, those days were rough! I hear you!!
Laura, it is starting to overwhelm me a little with just how big of an undertaking it really is, but the fact that I AM enjoying it helps tremendously. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJill, I'm definitely hearing a common theme, that deep and light really do make for a good blend. It's helping reassure me that I'm on the right track!
Ha, my kids have the same distance in age (although they are now 8 and 6 and a half.) I remember, very well thank you, how much work that was when they were little.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it they say about writing--it's actually mostly rewriting. It sounds like you're finding your true voice and that is a huge blessing. No doubt it's also a huge job to rewrite the entire ms. Good luck, it will be great!
Becky, thank you for the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteDid you see this article at the Hunger Mountain site? http://www.hungermtn.org/let-there-be-light/ Reminded me of you here, but it also has lots of Jane Austen chatter in it, which is enough for me!
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