I'm certain it will come as no surprise that I love YA literature. I write for the YA audience, after all. But, this cannot be stated enough, we should read and practice writing outside of our normal/comfort zone parameters. I write science fiction and fantasy but I have written poems, short stories, a novella...all for the sake of practicing. But also as a tool to learn. The more you do something the better you'll get at it. Right?
Some of my favorite literature isn't found in the YA section at the library. I thought I'd share some of my literary favorites that aren't YA. Maybe you've heard of a few. If you haven't, you could check them out for yourself. They are rich with symbolism, uncommon/ingenious metaphors, and some are a bit satirical.
Short Story/Essays:
The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Lagoon
A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
The Canterbury Tales - The Wife of Bath's Tale
Poetry:
Daddy by Sylvia Plath
The Flea by John Donne
Lord Randall by Anonymous
The Ladies Dressing Room by Jonathan Swift
We Wear the Mask by Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Mythology:
Greek: Herakles - Hercules
Greek: Theseus
Greek: Daedalus and Icarus
Plays:
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
Did I list any of your favorites? Did I leave your favorite off my list. Please let us know in the comments.
Have a great day! Read a book and laugh.
I'm always reading and writing out of my comfort zone. I think that's why I ended up writing everything from PB to YA. ;)
ReplyDeleteKelly,
DeleteYes, I see the diversity in what you write. It's great that you can write so well in different genres.
How true. I read adult fiction, NA romance and some nonfiction. And I've written an adult novel that I have yet to shop around, though I publish my YA.
ReplyDeleteCatherine,
DeleteI've yet to write an adult novel but I've written poems and short stories.
Great point and great reading list. Still being in college myself and being the book nerd I am I read everything. I also have read most of your list, in class or otherwise and it's actually the non-YA reading I do, ex. mythology, that has shaped my writing.
ReplyDeleteIt usually comes as a surprise to people that my favorite type of books are Adult Urban Fantasy even though I love to read and prefer to write YA.
Patrice,
DeleteWe're like sisters! Seriously. I love to read and will read anything that has a good storyline. I majored in English in school and that was where I was introduced to some of the above authors. People are surprised by my reading selection too because I only write YA. Oh and I absolutely love to read YA everything.
I love this blog. Finnaly, a good blog on the internet that is not only about books but also everything else. By the way, i love mythology.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anonymous. I try to mix it up but honestly this blog is more about books and writing than anything. But I do share my love for movies here, too. Thanks for commenting.
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