| When it comes to writing books for children, | | | | Craig describes Jasper Jones as "a coming of age |
| there's more to it than simply typing out the | | | | regional mystery southern Gothic love story" and |
| stories you tell to your kids before they go to | | | | a "mongrel of genres". "The best way for me to |
| bed. A children's book has to be well structured | | | | describe it is to give the opening where we start |
| and provide a compelling story and characters | | | | with Charlie, who is our book's narrator and he is |
| that will keep children truly engaged. | | | | 13 years old. He's sort of waif-ish and bookish and |
| Australian children's book author Craig Silvey was | | | | tall and very thin. He lives in a country town called |
| only 19 when he finished his first award-winning | | | | Corrigan. |
| novel, Rhubarb, which was published two years | | | | "He's ostracized in this town for being this |
| later. His second novel was released in 2009 and is | | | | intelligent, sensitive boy who loves books and |
| called Jasper Jones. | | | | wants to be a writer. So we open the book late |
| Making sense of the world"I'm not sure if I ever | | | | one night, he's reading in his sleep-out and there is |
| expected to be an author," says Craig. "It's just | | | | knock his window and it's Jasper Jones. |
| something that I have always done and sort of | | | | "Jasper Jones is sort of the antithesis of Charlie. |
| how that I personally try to make sense of | | | | He's more or less an orphan. His mother has |
| things. When I'm writing it's the place where I feel | | | | passed away and his father is next to no good, |
| best about myself... though it sort of strips me | | | | so he's a very rebellious, independent spirit in the |
| down and almost kills me. I'm genuinely happiest | | | | town." |
| when I'm working on a novel or doing something | | | | Advice for aspiring writers and novelistsCraig's is |
| creative." | | | | modest about providing advice to aspiring writers. |
| Honing the craft of writingCraig believes you need | | | | "All I've done is read and practice the craft and I |
| to practice the craft and read as much and as | | | | think maybe that is the best advice that I could |
| broadly as possible. "[You need to] imbibe as much | | | | offer anybody," he says. "I'm under no illusions |
| information as your body can handle and reading | | | | about my intelligence or talent or anything of the |
| as broadly as you possibly can," he says. "And | | | | sort. I think it's just the fact that I'm willing to |
| that is going filter into something unique, hopefully, | | | | sequester myself in a hovel of my own making |
| if you practice the craft enough." | | | | for a year or so to write something which may |
| Compared to literary greatsCritics have compare | | | | or may not be read by anyone rather than |
| Craig to Australian author Tim Winton and Jasper | | | | well-meaning friends and relatives. |
| Jones has been likened to Harper Lee's To Kill a | | | | "I think that it is rare for a young person to have |
| Mockingbird. There is a lot for the young author | | | | that kind of impulse. But I think as an author you |
| to live up to. "Look, it's slightly insane. First of all | | | | have got to be prepared to have that kind of |
| it's very, very flattering - well less so for Harper | | | | sustained focus. It's not something that you can |
| and Tim," says Craig. "But I think that I tend to | | | | do part-time. It's more than obsessive. |
| be fairly grounded about that sort of thing | | | | Write honestly and remove your ego |
| especially since we tend to live in a kind of | | | | "But other than that I think that you have got to |
| hysterical media culture where things need to be | | | | write honestly and maybe you have got to try |
| instantly acclaimed as the 'next something' or the | | | | and remove your ego from the story and be |
| 'best since'. It's a way for people to identify with | | | | brutal with yourself. You have got to be your |
| a piece of art that they know nothing about. | | | | best barometer and try and write the book that |
| Writing for a young audienceMany children's books | | | | you yourself would like to read and that means |
| are written for young people but can have fairly | | | | that you have got to have faith in your instincts |
| adult or complex themes. Craig says he's never | | | | and your intuition because when you are staring |
| had the luxury of thinking about an audience. "I | | | | at a blank page it is really all you have. |
| think that sort of thing never really occurred to | | | | "I'm not sure that it is my calling but it's certainly |
| me during its inception and its development," he | | | | my compulsion. I feel absolutely blessed that I |
| says. "It's always just really about the story and | | | | have been able to do it for this long. I feel so |
| about fleshing out the characters and working out | | | | grateful that I'm in a place that affords me the |
| why I wanted it to be told... I don't think that I'm | | | | opportunity to indulgently spend all this time |
| at the stage where I can be really fussy about | | | | working on something that I want to work on. It's |
| which group of people reacts to it the best. I just | | | | so rare in the world I think. If I can do this for |
| sort of hope that it reaches everybody and I | | | | the rest of my life I will be the luckiest little man |
| don't want it to be exclusive of any group." | | | | that ever picked up a pen. |