Monday, June 7, 2010

Ageless and Timeless

Long after literature for adults has gone to pieces, books for children will continue to constitute the last vestige of storytelling, logic, faith in the family, in God, and in real humanism.

Children are highly serious people...We write not only for children but also for their parents. They, too, are serious children.
~ Stories for Children, Isaac Bashevis Singer
(Taken from What the Door Mouse Said, collected by Amy Gash)



In today's market, more than ever, adults play a major role in children's book sales and readership. Look at all of us - what do we read? PB's, MG, and YA! We would gladly tackle our best buddy and arm wrestle for a copy of Linger or Mockingjay - or is that just me?

And I think Singer is right about the quality and lingering messages of children's books. Timeless - plain and simple.

This week, write knowing you are a part of something priceless. Write what you love, and savor each word and each re-write. Your work is ageless. Your work is timeless. But most of all, your work is yours.

Happy Monday!

45 comments:

storyqueen said...

This was a great post.

I really feel there are few things in the world as noble and wonderful as doing something for children.

Timeless.


Shelley

Angela Ackerman said...

What Storyqueen said. It's an honor to write for kids, and to be given an opportunity to be a part of their lives. What happens to us in childhood lasts forever.

Have a great week!

Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse

Corey Schwartz said...

What an inspiring post, Shannon! I picked a great day to stop by! :)

Erica Mitchell said...

Very true! There has been such an increase in YA literature, and no you're not the only waiting on the second, third books in a series :) Great quote, and I'm proud to be YA!

JE said...

I want to be timeless! LoL

Good post

~JD

Unknown said...

Shannon this was a beautiful post! I'll remember that when I'm writing this evening. It's important to realize how big of an impact we make on the world not only in our daily lives but also in our writing. We love a good book so we should want to produce something just as grand!

I love all types of books and I have to agree that when I was a child those books meant the world to me and have stuck with me forever.

Bossy Betty said...

Great thoughts and true! Happy Monday to you too.

Janet Johnson said...

Timeless. I love it. I'm glad I'm not the only one out there who prefers children's books. :)

Natasha said...

My older one has just started reading, and I am doing a lot of market research for him. 'Nuff said!

Christine Danek said...

I needed a great inspiring post! Thanks!

Unknown said...

I just read "Tuck Everlasting" for the first time this past weekend. It was published in 1975 and somehow it slipped through the cracks of my reading list over the years. Talk about a timeless message! Made me wonder what we'll all still be reading in another 20 years. Harry Potter for sure...

Jana said...

Very nice Shannon! Good message!

Tales of Whimsy said...

Off subject: I just wanted to say. I adore you and I'm sorry I don't visit more often. I don't write so I never know what to say. Hope you're doing grand! *hugs*

Lindsay said...

lol. I'd tackle someone for a copy of Linger or Mockingjay too. :)

Love the message in your post too. I'm going to savour my writing this week. :)

Jessica Bell said...

You have a such a beautifully simple way with words, Shannon. You never cease to make me sigh a sigh of joy, and smile at the sun shining on the leaves outside my window ... :-)

Diane said...

Thank you for the encouragement! I do read/write for my kids and for me too :O)

Joshua McCune said...

Great quote - one of the reasons I often prefer writing MG/YA.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I don't write YA, but my upcoming book is suitable for teenagers.

Heather said...

I have to agree, YA is timeless. And I love the quote!

Patti said...

Love that quote. It ws a great way to start the week.

Shannon Messenger said...

This was a beautiful post #2--and you're so right. And these are exactly the reasons why I write MG.

Thanks for the quote. Happy Monday! :)

Tahereh said...

i couldn't possibly agree with you more. what a lovely post, and a fabulous reminder.

thank you thank you.

<3333

Jamie Grey said...

I agree completely. Most of the books that have stayed with me the longest - both from childhood and adulthood - have been children's books. I think sometimes there's an ability with YA/MG to touch people on a deeper level than you get with adult works. Great post!

Candyland said...

Fantastic Monday advice!!!

Theresa Milstein said...

I connect with this post and I love it. And I'm cutting and pasting the quote.

I have a hard time articulating what makes me love writing for children and teenagers. As a result, I read a lot of books for children and teenagers. The books aren't simple although that's what many people think.

Sherrie Petersen said...

You always find the most inspiring quotes! And yes, I would arm wrestle for a copy of Mockingjay :)

Kimberly Franklin said...

Great post, Shannon. I hope you have a great week!

Danyelle L. said...

Love this! It's so very true. My favorite books are in the MG and YA section. :)

Anonymous said...

Okay, I'm an admitted exception to this. I read pretty much adult lit, all the time. However, it does seem that YA is where it's at these days, for readers of all ages. You guys may yet convince me to wander into that section of the bookstore.... :)

Stephanie Thornton said...

I scoffed at the idea of YA and MG as entertaining for adults. And then I read Twilight. And The Hunger Games. And Percy Jackson.

Yeah, I'm sold.

Kittie Howard said...

Great post! (As always, Shannon.) There's so much talent available that it's a feast for my hungry eyes.

And I gave you a shout-out on my blog today.

Mary Aalgaard said...

Shannon, the most beloved stories are often called "children's" stories, with adults reading them under the covers, with our without the children. Write on!

Carolyn V. said...

You're right Shannon! I read ton of YA & MG! Maybe I just haven't grown up yet. =)

Anonymous said...

Great quote, and very true one. I'm reading more children's novels than I do adult, definitely. Thank you for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Awesome and so true!

Vesna said...

I like your blog so much, feels like home to me:)
So nice to meet you Shannon!

Jemi Fraser said...

That's a terrific quote! I'm always amazed by people who speak down to kids. It takes next to no time at all for the kids to figure it out - you can usually tell by the eye roll. Writing for kids is not writing down - it's writing differently :)

Courtney Barr - The Southern Princess said...

I meant to comment earlier! I linked this and realized that I never came to comment!!! Bad Princess! ;o)

I love this post. It is a wonderful and amazing quote! As always I love seeing your page open on my desktop!

Visit My Kingdom Anytime

Faith E. Hough said...

Wow...timeless quote, too.
Thanks!

Nicole said...

Plain and simple goes sooo far.

CATE said...

Lovely post.
We may grow old, but growing up is optional! Hope I never grow out of swapping books with my teenage daughter, not that she'll be a teenager forever, but she'll always be much younger than me :)

Kelly Polark said...

Excellent! Great Monday post, Shannon.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I soooo want to write like Enid Blyton or Lois Lenski...I want my words to last forever...and to be loved...

Jennie Englund said...

This weekend, I was thinking how I haven't read adult fiction for so long.

Goal for summer!

Unknown said...

This is very interesting stuff. Hmmm... Makes me think.

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