Raw Nerves: The Two Most Common Questions About My Book

The two most common questionsRaw when I tell people about "My Life at the Bottom of the Food Chain" are:

"Is it the story of your career?"  (nice guess, but no).

and

"Do you have kids?"

Do I have kids?  

It's a common precept that writers "write about what they know," but I'm almost always surprised when an individual assumes that I must have kids to have written about them.    

I suppose that relates to the perception that a writer often writes what he knows, but the idea that I would have to have kids to write about them is a curious concept to me.  I think it suggests selective memory some people have about their own childhood.  In particular, many don't like to recall the time in their lives represented by the main characters in "Food Chain."  In may or many not be a dramatic time in everyone's life, but being thirteen is almost always confusing and anxiety-filled. 

Many who have enjoyed the book mention the connection they feel with Alexander and his friends.  One friend, though, says he enjoyed the book, but hated Alexander for reasons directly related to a less-than-pleasant middle school experience of his own (it would be a spoiler if I was more specific, but it wasn't one of Alexander's proudest moments!).  The book touched a raw nerve.

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"Food Chain" may not be autobiographical, but it relates directly to my own junior high/middle school anxieties - particularly the fear of what might happen.  It also reflects my experience as a teen with friendship and observations I've made with a number of kids I've interacted with over the years. Most importantly, it reflects the common fears and desires most people have in common.  

When I wrote "My Life at the Bottom of the Food Chain," my hope was to create a novel to which individuals of all ages might relate.  A good novel doesn't succeed simply because of plot or setting.  It succeeds because the reader understands the characters.   Whether a character is young, old or alien, we relate because, ultimately, he or she says something about the human condition that we all share. 

From Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" to the works of William Shakespeare to John Green, the hottest young adult writer ("The Fault in our Stars") at the moment (and a prominent YouTuber, by the way), classic and/or successful writers and novels last because they hit a nerve - raw or otherwise.  That's my ambition as a writer.

While I understand why someone might ask, "Do you have kids?", I wonder what someone would have asked had I written a novel about a serial killer....

The Vlogger Interview Goes Rogue: Spiggitz the Cat [TheSchwartzcaster]

About this interview:

Well, okay - this is more a parody than an interview - but it brings up one of the challenges to doing the Vlogger Interviews as I move ahead - many people seem to think that I have some sort of worthiness test. The fact is that I'm more interested in enthusiastic vloggers than their subscriber count.  It's also a bit of an experiment to see I can exploit the cat thing on YouTube!

Special thanks to Spiggitz the Cat (via TheSchwartzcaster) for taking time out from the litter box for me.

The Vlogger Interviews: Martin [Princeword]

 Martin is a  dedicated vlogger from Karlskrona, Sweden. He's actually been vlogging since before YouTube existed.  His interest is also academic - he's written a these on vlogging and social media, and is now preparing a documentary exploring the subject - he's seeking your participation.  Martin also discusses the Nordic vlogging community.


Some supplementary information about Martin not covered in the interview:
Though Martin has had an interest in the power of media for quite some time, he was, briefly, the center of a media firestorm during the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007.  He had arrived on the campus a day before on a educational collaboration, and was on campus, with his video camera, during the shooting.  He provided the video, free of charge, to the media (he says he never wanted to be accused of profiting off of the tragedy), and was interviewed by media in the U.S. and in Sweden.

He had what he describes as a surreal experience being interviewed by various reporters from CNN and other outlets:  One reporter, in interviewing Martin, referred to Olaf Palme, the Swedish Prime Minister assassinated over twenty years earlier, perhaps looking for a parallel between the two entirely unrelated events.  Martin, however, wasn't entirely critical - he singled out CNN's Anderson Cooper as a particularly compassionate reporter.  Martin intends to explore his personal experience at Virginia Tech in an upcoming documentary.

Martin's Primary Channel is PrinceWord
His Secondary Channel is TheSwedishLad

Outside the (Storytelling) Box

Are you stuck in one dimension?

On a recent visit to a Barnes and Noble bookstore (to actually buy something, rather than target titles to download!) I came across a display for a new young adult novel that signals a developing option in storytelling.

"Chopsticks," by Jessica Anthony, is a mystery about the disappearance of Glory, a teen piano prodigy, and her relationship with Frank, an artistic boy next door.  According to the official description, "nothing is what it seems, and Glory's reality is not reality at all."  Through words, pictures and photographs, the reader has to determine the line between what is real, what is imagined - and and what is madness.

The display at Barnes and Noble drew my attention, however, because it suggests far more than a straightforward literary experience: "A Book.  An App.  A Website. A Love Story. Read It. View It. Experience It."  Storytelling, in this case, expands beyond the page and engages the reader through other platforms.

A cursory view of the description for the $6.99 iPad/iPhone app suggests that it offers additional features to help readers solve the mystery at hand, and delve deeper into the lives of the central characters.   For example, readers can explore hidden clues in Glory's scrapbook, drill down into the CD mix she shares with Frank, or watch their IM conversations "live." In some cases, there's even video.

I haven't read the book, or bought the app - but the concept of storytelling across platforms is intriguing - for the right premise.   Differentiating true storytelling with a promotional gimmick, however, will be the challenge.

Both traditional and online content creators involved in creative storytelling seem to remain focused on building linear, platform-specific product, providing only supplementary and fan-related content across other platforms.  Few, it seems, are looking for ways to enhance or expand the story experience across these platforms.

What do you think?  I'd also like to hear about vloggers or other online content creators who are experimenting with multi-platform storytelling.  Let me know - I'd love to share your experience.