For Writers

The Magic & Power of Critique

By on March 27, 2024   /   Articles, For Teachers, For Writers, Writing  

Last summer, I took over the challenge of the Kansas/Missouri SCBWI regional volunteer critique coordinator position. One of my first tasks was to find ways for creators in our region to make connections and feel part of the SCBWI community even though our region covers a large geographical area. I had an idea for a virtual event we call Critique & Meet. 

The Critique & Meet idea is a monthly virtual gathering that’s part social, part critique, and 100% the KSMO SCBWI community coming together to help each other create. It’s like an open-mic night combined with a speed-dating version of critiquing. 

The goal is to provide a forum to meet other creators (perhaps even form outside critique groups), improve existing stories, and bounce story ideas off each other. Even if participants don’t create the specific category for a particular event, all are welcome to attend and participate in the critiques. The underlying philosophy is that we are all in this grand adventure together!

The basic setup for each virtual event gives four creators ten minutes to read and screen share their PB text, the first 500 words of a middle-grade/young adult project, or an illustration. After the presentation, a link is shared to a short critique questionnaire in a poll form for everyone to fill out. The results of each presenter’s critique poll are sent or shared with them upon event completion. 

The virtual session is open to any regional SCBWI members interested in helping others improve their manuscripts or illustrations. At the end of every session, we have a social block where we can hang out and talk kidlit, life, how dirty my office is, etc. Here are the Critique & Meet goals and rules:

The goals are to:

  1. Improve our work and learn by helping others.
  2. Make connections.
  3. Find critique partners and form critique relationships. The connections you make are worth their weight in gold.
  4. Discover/Remind yourself that you are not alone.

The Critique & Meet Ground Rules

  1. Help not hurt. A critique is not a debate. Respect the creator and respect the people providing their critique thoughts. It’s all about helping each other create the best version of our work. When in doubt, choose nice!
  2. Learn from both sides of the table. The creator learns ways to improve their work. The audience learns how to read and listen analytically.  
  3. Don’t share the work presented.
  4. Make connections. 

We’ve done two of these monthly Critique & Meet events and I’ve been happy with the results. There were around 20 participants for each event and the creators presenting their work report they’ve received good information from the quick critique polls. We’ve even had participants interested in forming a few local critique groups.

The moral of the story is no matter where you are in your creative journey, having fellow creative travelers along with you is a great benefit. If you are interested in creating or hosting something similar to our region’s Critique & Meet or have ideas to help establish/maintain critique relationships, please comment below. 

 

Adolphe Henri Laissement, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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Painting with an Allegorical Brush

By on February 12, 2024   /   For Writers  

The messages we convey through our storytelling are important and lasting, and those that are evident but not directly stated offer readers plenty to think about. One way to get those deeper-meaning messages across while offering middle graders real opportunities to engage with stories is through allegory.

What an allegory can do (and how it’s different from symbolism and metaphor)

It’s easy to confuse allegory with metaphor and symbolism—they are closely related literary devices with some overlap between them.

Metaphor – A comparison of two unlike things that points out how they, in fact, are alike: That girl is a night owl. The sun was a golden coin.

Symbol – Usually an object, character, event, or idea that has its own literal role in the story but also represents some important idea on a figurative level: The green light on Daisy’s dock, the raven perching on a statue of Athena.

Allegory – A little more didactic, allegories point the reader in a particular direction of thought or behavior with more comprehensive lessons about or inspired by life, morals, politics, religion, history, myth, or other big ideas. An allegorical character or situation might extend through the whole work, or a whole work can be an allegory with multiple meaningful elements.

You’ll recall allegories from studying adult lit. In the allegorical medieval morality play Everyman, for example, main character Everyman (that’s his name) doesn’t want to go on a journey of reckoning with Death (someone Everyman meets), and he is surprised that his buddies Fellowship, Kindred, and Goods won’t go along with him to the afterlife. He discovers, though, that Good Deeds will follow him on his journey, though he’s been remiss in attending to them and must turn to Knowledge and Confession to help Good Deeds along. (Medieval audiences got the allegorical message, loud and clear.) Other allegories you’ve probably studied convey political or societal messages, such as Animal Farm, Metamorphosis, and The Crucible.

It may be helpful, as a writer, to think about these devices’ comparative size and scope: In a story, metaphors are typically brief expressions for a passing effect on a reader (with extended metaphors really driving the point home with additional references). The scale of importance grows with a symbol, as it carries the weight of some important takeaway that enriches the reader’s comprehension of plot and character. An allegory uses symbols and metaphors and intends even more sweeping effect on the reader, with a message or meaning about life the reader can effectively employ for their betterment and/or the betterment of everyone.

Allegories seem heavy: Too much for MG?

You might wonder so, but remember, fairy tales and fables have been serving up allegorical lessons for young audiences since once upon a time. And think about some classic children’s stories widely accepted as allegories: The Chronicles of Narnia, The Golden Compass, The Giving Tree, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Little Prince. There are modern examples of MG fiction with allegorical elements we can turn to for cues as well:

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill — This allegorical fantasy reveals what happens to a community when its members are swayed by suspicion and start rejecting those unlike themselves.

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller – In this Newbery Medal winner, tales told by the characters are allegories for family love and for the power stories have to inspire.

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo – This story’s allegorical plot and character actions represent big ideas about being called to one’s true purpose and following the heart.

The Language of Spells – Garret Weyr – This adventure reveals the power of perception when considering what makes us special and points to what we tragically lose during times of conflict.

How might you employ the allegorical brush in your writing?

Experimenting with allegory in your writing? Some ideas to chart your course:

  1. What’s the big-picture message you want to send to readers?
  2. What are the most important elements of that message, and what’s the best way to convey them? Symbolic characters? Objects that recur? A quest, a battle, something else?
  3. Imply your message clearly but inconspicuously. Trust the reader: They will get the takeaway if the individual parallels are there.
  4. Keep the story strong and interesting…and prioritize it. The allegorical message flows from a story that is substantive and fulfilling all on its own.

I hope these ideas on allegory are helpful in your current projects, and thanks for reading!

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Writing Neurodivergent Characters with Jenna Grinstead

By on January 8, 2024   /   For Writers  

Picture

Jenna Grinstead

I am honored to bring Jenna Grinstead to the blog today. I could go on and on about Jenna. She’s a great friend, a talented businesswoman, and a leader in her community. Jenna is also a talented author. Her current work-in-process is about a musically gifted teenager who, like Jenna, has Tourette Syndrome. Reading her manuscript really made me think about writing neurodivergent characters. I asked her, and she graciously agreed, to answer questions on how a neurotypical author might approach creating a neurodivergent character.

Advice on Developing Neurodivergent Character

Do you have advice for an author who is developing a neurodivergent character for their novel?

How to Co-Author a Book: 8 Tips You Should Consider When Co-Writing

Writing a neurodivergent character is an awesome way to make sure that all kids can see themselves in stories, so first I want to applaud anyone who is considering bringing this level of inclusivity to their stories. It is important as you consider creating this character that you understand the neurodivergence that you are depicting. Has this character been diagnosed with Autism, Tourette Syndrome, ADHD, OCD, or one of the other myriad diagnoses that make up neurodivergence? It’s important to understand the diagnoses, even if your character isn’t aware of theirs, as well as to do the research to understand the different ways that the diagnoses may affect different people. Sometimes girls are impacted differently than boys. I also suggest understanding the most updated language used within the community your character may belong to. And lastly, it is important to have more than one person from the community your character is from read your work and provide feedback. For example, even though I have Tourette Syndrome, for my latest work I had two members of the TS community provide insight and feedback on my main character and my story. It’s especially important to do this when depicting communities you don’t belong to in your stories.

Pitfalls

Are there common pitfalls you’d like to warn authors to look out for when writing neurodivergent characters?

8 Pitfalls on the Path to Success | Inc.comThree key pitfalls I’d encourage authors to avoid include:

  • Leaning too much into stereotypes—this is a common one when folks write based on what they think or see in popular media versus what they know personally or find out through research. If your character is based on Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory it’s probably a good bet you may be leaning into stereotypes without realizing it. Many types of neurodivergence are on The Good, Bad And Ugly Of Empathyspectrums, which means they show differently for each individual person. Not every neurodivergent person is unaware of other’s feelings or afraid of germs, though some can be. Create well fleshed out characters through solid research and feedback from those within the community.
  • Depicting only the good or only the bad—neurodivergence can be as much a super-power as it can involve working through issues. It is especially important for kids to be able to see the positive. For example, my Tourette Syndrome allows me to hyperfocus. However, it’s also important not to create a saintly character that kids can’t relate to at all, or worse, a character that only exists to teach other kids a lesson or to inspire other kids. Show your neurodivergent characters as well-rounded kids who have both strengths and struggles.
  • Using neurodivergent characters as the punch line—this is something I see a lot. Neurodivergence should never be used to bring the comic relief to a story. It’s okay if it’s sometimes fun or even funny, but there is a line where the humor comes from the reader or other characters laughing at the neurodivergent character, and that is a harmful depiction, especially for children.

Research

Quick Start - Research Strategies - Abell Library at Austin College

Do you have any advice for researching the unique characteristics of neurodivergent characters?

The internet is so useful, but we must learn how to use it properly - YP | South China Morning Post

The internet is a great place to start. Take the time to find reputable sources and check through your own searches whether there is controversy around a given source. For example, Autism Speaks, can be considered a controversial source by many within the autism community. It can also be helpful to find influencers in places like Instagram or TikTok who are focused on educating about their neurodivergence, but tread carefully into spaces that are meant for neurodivergent people to find each other. You may learn from those spaces but be respectful about communicating within them. It’s also helpful to find sensitivity readers in the area you are focusing on who can provide feedback. They are well worth the cost.

Insight

How can an author gain insight into how a neurodivergent character might view their uniqueness?

What is Insight? Insight Definition Explained

Reading or listening to first-hand accounts is a good way to start. Some resources, such as Tourette Association of America offer first person essays. There are also many influencers on Youtube, Instagram and TikTok who share their personal experiences, and there are many documentaries that interview people with lived experiences. If you have people in your life who are willing to share their experiences that can also be great, but tread lightly by first asking them if this is something they feel comfortable sharing.

Neurodivergence and Plot

Is it important that the characteristics that make a character neurodivergent impact the plot of the book?

Screenwriting 101: The Relationship Between Plot, Character and Story - The Script Lab

I don’t think it is important that neurodivergence serve the plot of the book any more than I think the book’s plot must be driven by a character’s race, ethnicity, geography or any other myriad characteristics that make up identity. In some cases, the plot may be interconnected with neurodivergence, such as when a child is starting a new school and must make new friends, for example. But I also think it’s very important to show neurodivergent characters living their lives like anyone else—solving mysteries, seeking friendships, basically all the things we humans do day-to-day.

Fully Formed Neurodivergent Characters

Do you have suggestions for how to flush out a full neurodivergent character?

Creating Fictional Characters

Each of us have a different approach to how we create our characters. For those who do detailed character sketches prior to writing, I suggest including neurodivergence as an element of those sketches. How does it impact the characters strengths, their world view, their childhood, their relationships, their approach to life? For pantsers, it may mean an edit round focused on that character’s neurodivergence, deepening how it contributes to the strengths and opportunities that the character deals with as the plot carries them through the story.

Important to Understand

Understanding Yourself and Others - Human ResourcesWhat is one thing you wish all people who write neurodivergent characters understood?

Many neurodivergent folks are not looking for cures to our condition. Many of us see neurodivergence as a super-power—a defining way of thinking that is essential to who we are and how we operate in the world. If I didn’t have Tourette Syndrome, I would likely not be the person I am today. My fingers and lips often move in ways I can’t control and that can be difficult to deal with on some days. Not everyone understands it or is kind about it. It takes a great deal of energy to manage my tics and suppress them in situations where I feel like I must. However, my Tourette Syndrome also allows me to hyperfocus to get things done. It may be part of why I’m good at writing. It took me way too many years to see and understand the positive parts of this disorder because I never heard or saw characters with anything but negative outcomes, when I saw them at all. Writers have a chance to change that, so I wish that every person writing a neurodivergent character understood that.

Mistakes

What is something people who write neurodivergent characters tend to get wrong?

5 Rookie Mistakes Nearly Every Budding Professional Makes (And How to Avoid Them)

Not all neurodivergence is the same. There are people who struggle to make friends or have social interactions, and many others who do not. Authors need to be specific, at least in their own mind, about what they are depicting and take the time to understand that every individual person has a slightly different experience.

No photo description available.Thank you for considering how to bring more neurodivergent characters to life. We, as authors, have a unique opportunity to write stories that allow all children to see themselves in a positive light!

Book Recommendations:

  • A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban
  • Me and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalypse by Susan Vaught
  • Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan
  • Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry

You can find Jenna on:

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