when writing a novel for children, how should I handle alcohol and drugs?
I’m currently writing a children’s novel. The readers’ age group will probably be 10-14. The main character is a teenage girl who lives with an alcoholic mother. So there will definitely be alcohol, and maybe pot, in her enviroment. Also, an important part of the story is a chapter where she drowns her sorrows in a bottle of wine. That part won’t be glamourized…it will be portrayed like she’s doing something stupid. Do you think I’m overstepping the bounds?
- cirque de lune
Tags: Age Group, Alcohol And Drugs, Alcoholic Mother, Bottle Of Wine, Pot, Teenage Girl, Writing A Novel
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
write it how you like and let the age group be chosen after you write it
January 25th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Would it be appropriate to have kids ages 10-12 reading about drugs?
January 28th, 2009 at 12:05 am
I think it’s possible to handle this subject matter with sensitivity for that age group. Be very careful though, your publishers may not like it and may request an edit.
January 28th, 2009 at 4:56 am
No, you won’t overstep your bounds with the proposed novel. To get a feel for your question, why don’t you interview children in that age group and learn their opinions about drugs and alcohol?
The answers may surprise you.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:08 am
do children read novels?
January 30th, 2009 at 8:01 am
portray it as accurately as you can. 10-14 years old’s aren’t stupid and a lot try to at older than they are. Remember this is the age where drug and alchohol decisions happen. You don’t want to sugar coat anything, but dont scare them away from reading the book. The best advice I can give you is to talk to a number of 10 to 14 year olds from different backgrounds and see how they are copping with this issue. Then go from there.
January 30th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
handle it realistically hopefully there will be help for the girl and her mother, that is a real part of peoples lives, unfortunately, but if it isnt made to look appealing then i wouldnt think you’re overstepping the bounds. *man some of the stuff people print and put on tv and radio is tho’*
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
No you are not overstepping boundries due to the fact that you’re not glamourizing alcohol and drugs. However you really need to show the consequences and repercussions that using and abusing drugs can have on the family as a whole. Not just the immediate family. Include the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents as well. It touches and affects everyone in the family. Not just the mom, dad and kids.
Hope your book sells!
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
No, these are the things that today’s youth must face. If you want to write realistic stories, I think that you have to write realistically — not necessarily aggrandizing but I think that you already get that.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
no I’m 13 and we read stuff like that in school all the time just don’t make it sound like a good thing and then teachers might use it in class rooms because I’m in 8th grade and we read A LOT of novels with drugs in the environment so just write the book how you want to…good luck
February 8th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Reality is something you should never make excuses for. Write the book truthfully, and let your message of hope shine through!
February 9th, 2009 at 8:14 am
It is highly likely that parents will be uncomfortable with the theme, treatment, and blunt acceptance of the notion that a minor would “drown her sorrows” in anything other than tears.
That drugs and alcohol do exist, and that they are dealt with by persons in this age group is factual, but not universal. Your attempt to publish a book where this is a ‘norm’ for the protagonist is going to have a rough go, particularly from parents who don’t appreciate you usurping their parental imperative to manage these questions on a personal basis with their child.
They will doubly resent an anonymous author attempting to insert this situation in their childrens literature, unless there is an overwhelmingly good reason for the tawdriness and misery to be a part of their learning.
I would be willing to put money on it.
Best wishes!
February 10th, 2009 at 11:17 am
In my opinion, certainly not, unless you’re writing a fairy tale. These are real problems of real adolescents; deal with it honestly with no whitewashing. Just my two cents.