The Young Adult Writer's Journey by Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds & Janet Schrader-Post (VBT, guest post, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

I have the pleasure of a guest post by author Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds, who shares...

What is one of your hobbies and how has it enriched your writing?

by
Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds

I read tarot cards. Usually when you are reading tarot, you read it for a person, using some question or topic they wish to seek some insight into. To me it’s like guided self-reflection. What is very fun too is reading tarot for characters, in the same ways you would read for a ‘real’ person.


You can take a heroine, for example, and do a reading on her love life, her motivations and goals, her past, present and future. You do this for the author (which could be you, yourself), and guide them through discoveries and enhancements to/for the character’s past experiences and how it influences their current behaviors, actions, and motivations.


I’ve had writer’s who were ‘blocked’ or felt their story wasn’t progressing well, or that something was missing, who got that aha moment and realized they had been headed in the wrong direction or needed to add another layer of complexity or plot twists to their storylines.


It’s fun to ‘brainstorm’ with another writer, using the events, other characters and pathways revealed by the cards. Often, especially for romance writers, a Celtic Cross reading for both main characters can help them plot an entire story. Try it sometime! Currently I am, in my nonexistent spare time, creating a tarot deck and a writer’s guide to doing readings. At this point, I should probably add it to my bucket list!


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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

Most writing classes for Young Adult fiction and Middle Grade tell you the duty of your book’s opening is to hook your reader and to catch the interest of an agent. The truth is, that’s only one of the purposes of your opening. Too often we forget that, as Frank Herbert said in Dune, “A beginning is a very delicate time.”

When writing for young adults, you should know where you’re going, just as when you write adult fiction. Plot construction for stories with universal themes is the same in any genre. There is a plan, a plot, a diagram you can follow to create a satisfying read. Just as with painting, every artist who uses the same subject will create a different and unique work of art. So, using a basic outline to be sure you write a story that resonates to the inner psyche of readers is not a bad idea. 

Some may argue that modern stories can’t demonstrate enough diversity when trying to fit the entire world into a single format such as The Hero’s Journey, but iconic success stories like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter stories and more don’t seem to mind. They’re hardly the same stories, are they? Do they seem like boring knockoffs to you? Millions of fans and dollars later...they are still growing their fan base. Lucas even spoke of Star Wars and the incorporation of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and appeared in his Bill Moyer’s series.

The book will be $0.99 during the tour (please check price before purchasing)

Buy links:

 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

         

Daughter of a Colonel, Janet Schrader-Post lived the military life until she got out of high school. She lived in Hawaii and worked as a polo groom for fifteen years, then moved to Florida where she became a reporter. For ten years she covered kids in high school and middle school. Kids as athletes, kids doing amazing things no matter how hard their circumstances. It impressed her, and it awed her. “How wonderful teens are. They have spirit and courage in the face of the roughest time of their lives. High school is a war zone. Between dodging bullies, school work and after school activities, teens nowadays have a lot on their plate. I wrote stories about them and I photographed them. My goal was to see every kid in their local newspaper before they graduated.”

Janet loves 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.

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. 

www.tell-talepublishing.com

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GIVEAWAY




a Rafflecopter giveaway

The tour dates can be found here 


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My review:

3.75 out of 5 stars

The Young Adult Writer’s Journey: An Encyclopedia for YA Writers by Janet Schrader-Post & Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds has tips and suggestions for the entire process, from concept to execution to marketing. Using examples from popular books and movies, the authors analyze elements of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey” as they apply to the field of young adult fiction.

This non-fiction work covers a broad spectrum of information and suggestions for both the aspiring writer and the established one. Authenticity is stressed, with strong suggestions to include teens while researching the book in addition to honing one’s craft. I think there great tips and suggestions but I was disconcerted by the number of allusions to popular stories and the use of tidbits that would be spoilers for those who have not read the particular book (or watched the movie) cited. The casual tone makes this seem more like a brainstorming session with a couple of friends but that does not take away from the helpful suggestions provided. There are a few stereotypes and assumptions that were a bit disturbing and I quickly wearied of the constant references to Harry Potter and his world and winced at some of the misinformation but I think that there are plenty of practical tips that offset the missteps. Those considering going into this field will undoubtedly appreciate the suggestions and analyses provided by this work.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review