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May. 19th, 2011
Steven Moffat on Doctor Who
May. 19th, 2011 10:16 pmYet another reason why I love Steven Moffat so much...
Because here's the thing - the thing that gets me so angry. Just for kids? What's 'just' about 'for kids'?
If you have the extraordinary good fortune to be telling a story that children want to hear, then there's one thing you'd better remember - you are talking to the future. A children's story isn't a smaller, less important thing, it's the most important kind of story there is - for the simple reason that stories are more important to children. History tells them what has happened. Science tells them what might happen. But stories tell them what ALWAYS happens.
That's why fantasy is so important to children, and so beloved by them. It's not an escape from the real world, it's a way to understand it. Drama shows you the world outside your window - but fantasy and science-fiction show you the world you have when you close your eyes. It's a great big 'what if?' There's nothing the future needs more than a 'what if?'
The other important thing about children, is that they don't stay children for very long - keep talking long enough, and you're talking to adults. And some of those adults in the future, I promise you, will understand a lot more about depression, and art and life and happiness, because for a few days in Provence, bow ties were cool.
Okay, rant nearly over. Back to silly stories and jokes about Matt's chin next month. Just one last thought. I've written for adults and for children, and in Doctor Who I've had the extraordinary joy and privilege of writing for everyone at once. And I can tell you this. Writing for an audience that goes form eight to eighty doesn't mean you have to write simply or stupidly - the fact that you have to keep whole families in mind, and keep it clear for the kids, and not upset the grannies, doesn't mean you have to be weak or bland or vacuous.
It just means you have to write better. Just that. Just BETTER.
Okay, I did have to change the Italicized portions into all-caps or bold.
Because here's the thing - the thing that gets me so angry. Just for kids? What's 'just' about 'for kids'?
If you have the extraordinary good fortune to be telling a story that children want to hear, then there's one thing you'd better remember - you are talking to the future. A children's story isn't a smaller, less important thing, it's the most important kind of story there is - for the simple reason that stories are more important to children. History tells them what has happened. Science tells them what might happen. But stories tell them what ALWAYS happens.
That's why fantasy is so important to children, and so beloved by them. It's not an escape from the real world, it's a way to understand it. Drama shows you the world outside your window - but fantasy and science-fiction show you the world you have when you close your eyes. It's a great big 'what if?' There's nothing the future needs more than a 'what if?'
The other important thing about children, is that they don't stay children for very long - keep talking long enough, and you're talking to adults. And some of those adults in the future, I promise you, will understand a lot more about depression, and art and life and happiness, because for a few days in Provence, bow ties were cool.
Okay, rant nearly over. Back to silly stories and jokes about Matt's chin next month. Just one last thought. I've written for adults and for children, and in Doctor Who I've had the extraordinary joy and privilege of writing for everyone at once. And I can tell you this. Writing for an audience that goes form eight to eighty doesn't mean you have to write simply or stupidly - the fact that you have to keep whole families in mind, and keep it clear for the kids, and not upset the grannies, doesn't mean you have to be weak or bland or vacuous.
It just means you have to write better. Just that. Just BETTER.
Okay, I did have to change the Italicized portions into all-caps or bold.
Flower, Part 2
May. 19th, 2011 11:00 pmSome of you might recall this entry:
http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/132400.html
I had an unidentified flower which wound up in an impasse because I couldn't get close enough...
BUT I found them in a new place this year as well as the old one!
Luckily, I got those because I found out today that the new location had been bulldozed.
"progress", pah
http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/132400.html
I had an unidentified flower which wound up in an impasse because I couldn't get close enough...
BUT I found them in a new place this year as well as the old one!
Luckily, I got those because I found out today that the new location had been bulldozed.
"progress", pah
Karen Gillan on Craig Ferguson
May. 19th, 2011 11:20 pmIf you didn't see Karen Gillan on Craig Ferguson last month, here it is. It's one of the best interviews...ever. I love when people forget they're even on tv and just talk.
