Twilight

[Holly Stacey]

I was talking to a friend last week who was amazed that I liked Twilight. ‘Really?’ he said. ‘And you’re a published author and all!’

It struck me then, how snobbish the book world could be. I’ve heard people slate the Twilight books before I read them – the characters are unreal, the language is too advanced for teens, she made up folklore, she broke rules….

The last whinge got my wind up and I read the books. What happened to me then, proved how easily it is to be rule-obsessed and miss the entire point of writing. I loved it. No, I ADORED it. Stephanie Meyer is now one of my favourite authors. The public responded well to her books. But the population of teens in America, and now in Britain are so taken with her world of vampire and romance that Meyer has achieved a status that resembles sainthood.

Why? In my opinion, although she ‘broke rules,’ she followed the most important rule of all: to write with passion. I think writers forget to do this sometimes. They get rejections, they go to writing classes that tell them to do this or do that. Basically, their individual style gets to banged about that they seem frightened to write from the heart; worried that it might not come out right. Meyer just wrote for the love of it and got published only because her sister nagged her to get an agent. She didn’t set out first to be published, then to write.

Which brings up another point – if she didn’t follow the basic rules of writing for teens, why do teens love it? Well, the passion in probably top, her characters may not be realistic to adults, but to teens, her main character Bella fits the bill perfectly. ‘So, Bella doesn’t speak like they do on Jerry Springer, so how can she be realistic?’ I am often amazed how often teenagers are spoken to as if they are small children. They feel adult, their emotions are highly developed, and although it seems like the masses of teens only used foul language and the word ‘stupid’, I say that those are simply the teens making the most noise. There are others who are at home, curled up on their duvets, reading a good book. Let’s write them one.

[Jeannette Towey]

I've just started reading Twilight (about half way through) and I confess I only really bought it and the other 2 because (a) Waterstones had them on a 3 for 2 offer and (b) I was feeling guilty in Waterstones because I've been badgering them about doing a publicity event for a Suitcase Full of Stories (out May 13th!!!!!!!!! - shameless plug etc etc)

I confess I found the writing rather clumsy to start but then I got into it. I don't agree that it's sexist. Bella isn't submissive. If anything she's the opposite. She knows that everyone will think what she's doing is wrong but she also knows that she is right and she is going to do what she thinks is right regardless. That shows strength of character to my mind and not weakness. Also I think you should bear in mind her background. Isn't Edward a way out for her? Isn't it possible that he might provide her with something that her scatty mum and pretty much absent dad can't?

Of course, it could all go very differently in the next half of the book and it may turn out to be horribly sexist after all!

[Holly Stacey]

Well, she does conform well to the damsel in distress. However, it's a love story in the most concentrated form. Point being, it speaks to teens and gives them exactly what they want, not what adults think they SHOULD want.

[Gina Allnatt]

I agree with Candy. My main problem is the horrible sexism in the books. Bella doesn't seem to have any goals other than being with her man.

[Susan K Franklin]

I read new moon first. I bought it to match my bedroom décor, sad I know. However, I did eventually read it after I'd run out of other books. I enjoyed it. So I went and bought the other two Twilight and Eclipse. I'm halfway through Twilight and it seems much longer and much like the second. I'm hoping it will get better towards the end. Maybe Eclipse will be the best. They look lovely on my bedside table, they enhance the room. :)

[candygourlay]

i wonder if twilight's success is a desire to go back to older more romantic values ... the reason i was put off by twilight was the heroine being so un-dynamic ... but then i'm a middle aged so and so and teenagers do love it.

[Tracy Ann Baines]

I have to say I fall into the 'disliking' Twilight camp. I've only read Twilight, couldn't face the thought of reading any more of the series. I do think the writing is bad, there's an awful lot of repetition, badly constructed sentences and very little actually happens. In my opinion it needs a really good edit but then it would probably only be half as long and that's just when you take out all the times she goes on and on about Edward's eyes and chest, and blah de blah. I got to the stage where all I could think was - 'enough already, I get it.'
I get the overwrought teenage love angst but I think Meyer portrays some extremely worrying aspects of what is acceptable within relationships. Bella displays a distinctly unhealthy and worrying kind of submissive behaviour. I would be concerned about the message teenage girls are getting from this book, I hasten to add I can't comment on the other books in the series.

[Dulcinea]

I agree. With everything! It seems strange that we all get so paranoid about following the rules (after reading too many articles and books on how to get an agent/ get published?) that we forget that we are writing for the very people who break, bend or question the rules - teens.
How many of us used to question why, why, why? Anytime we thought we could put the world to rights or fought against an unreasonable curfew we were questioning the rules.
Cring back writing from the heart and writing for the love of it. I think this is a little reminder we all need at some time or another.