24 hours
My new book takes place over the course of 24 hours and I'm feeling a little stressed about the pacing. I'm only on the first draft and I know I won't have a great sense of the whole flow until I'm done but of course I'm stressing now.
What are some good MG or YA books that take place over the course of one day? I want to study their pacing and make sure I'm on the right track.
Thanks for your help and Happy 4th of July!
xoxoxo Lisa GW
What are some good MG or YA books that take place over the course of one day? I want to study their pacing and make sure I'm on the right track.
Thanks for your help and Happy 4th of July!
xoxoxo Lisa GW
posted by lisa greenwald at
3:44 PM
10 Comments:
Big Slick takes place over only a few days. It's a quick paced one. What about Nick and Nora's? Isn't that 1 night? I Love You, Beth Cooper is a good one for quick pacing too.
Then you just have to watch Ferris Beuller's Day Off.
13 Reasons Why takes place in a short time frame.
I'm pretty sure The Fighting Ground by Avi takes place over only a day or two. And yes, 13 Reasons Why, which is well worth the time to read.
Not YA, but I just read Last Night at the Lobster by Stuart O'Nan, which is actually about YA length. It takes place over one shift at the Red Lobster. It's a good read, and might be helpful.
Just discovered your blog while searching for David Sedaris tour information.You might consider Virginia Woolf's novel MRS.DALLOWAY. She chronicles a day in the life of a woman ( circa 1925) preparing to give a party; her interior life and exterior activities are the basis of the story. If you can't slog through the book you could watch the film version made a few years back. Visit Wikipedia for details: just enter 'Mrs. Dalloway' to search. (I saw David Sedaris in Victoria B.C. last month. Yes, he stayed until the bitter end. I did too, as I was the last person in line. This was around midnight, after his 7 p.m. appearance.I was falling over from fatigue and he was fresh as a daisy.I was light-headed and dizzy for several days after the event;I suppose standing for hours waiting for his arrival,standing during his talk - I couldn't get a seat- and then standing in the signing line, must have cut blood circulation to my head.I must now categorize 'Meet the Author' evenings as " engaging in risky activity" and not particularly good for my bradycardia. Or does Mr.Sedaris have this effect on everyone? The young woman ahead of me in line was wearing her pajamas and robe. Apparently upon hearing that David Sedaris was in town,she dashed from her home a few blocks away, on the chance that he was still in the store at that late hour. And yes, he was.I now believe he is a most endearing messenger of love, sent to our town, to shine some funny little light on our literate hearts and minds... and "Funny" is a funny word,isn't it?) from Flo-e Victoria , a.k.a anonymous.
Oh dear! MRS.DALLOWAY is a grown-up book. Or is that 'a book for grownups'? At any rate, it is considered a modern classic for time structure, so don't be afraid, it's only Virginia Woolf, not the Big Bad one. The film adaptation is a trilogy,as I recall, and is potentially depressing, from my recollection, so you might just view it for the clothes and sets and 20's hair and makeup- which I love! Keeping your New Year's resolution in mind - no depressing movies- I thought I should inform you. As I mentioned in the previous post, I encountered The Longstockings blogs while sleuthing for David Sedaris information. I am so pleasantly surprised at the energy and assuredness you are all manifesting; the authors' websites are so creative, colourful, and lively! Oh, I like using exclamation marks!! I think I will do that again!! I am the 59 year old mother of a 23 year old daughter,my only child, such an amazing creation, the best thing I've done in my life! She is at the computer almost every chance she gets, chatting with friends about...what? It has been a challenge to pass on all those Scholastic Book Club books from the primary and elementary school years. Well, I still have my Nancy Drews (and Trixi Beldons?)and Little Golden books from the early 1950's. While my daughter was in primary school,1990-1994, I worked in the school library assisting the school's principal,who was also the librarian. Enrollment was around 160 children. The books were all shelved so close to the floor I was on hands and knees most of the time I was in the library. Does this explain my arthritis today?It's so inspiring to see eight (women) authors writing in the same genre supporting and encouraging one another. Thanks for letting me post to you. I'm just learning about posts and blogs, don't even have e-mail,( or pierced ears for that matter)hence the Anonymous entry. When I was your age, computers were just appearing, let alone spell-checking. Keep channeling your inner Jane Austen, ladies! Flo-e Victoria. Didn't you say you were trying to find the right flow,Lisa?
I think Leap Day takes place over well...Leap Day. But there's a lot of back and forth in it too. I liked that book...hmmm...maybe I should read it again...it's been ages.
I think The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime takes place over a couple days.
I think you might actually find more examples in theater/film of 24 hour plots. It's one of the original Aristotelian unities.
Play's written in real time without breaks between the scenes were once quite common. The device, where one group of people leave a set and another appears is known as the "French Scene," which may help you find out more about it. Famously, both *A Midsummer's Night Dream* and *Oedipus Rex* each take place in less than 24 hours.
There's also a whole genre of teen films that take place over one night. They generally involve boys trying to have sex. The best teen movie with a restrictive time frame may be *Empire Records.*
Good luck!
Newbery Honor winning Getting Near To Baby by Audrey Coulombis takes place between sunrise and sunset- with amazing use of flashbacks.
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