Wednesday 25 May 2016

'Children's Books are Quite Boring' by Tamsyn Murray

So it seems Simon Cowell wants write a children's book. He's read some with his son and thinks they're quite boring. It will be about animals, he says.

Children's authors were naturally raging a little put out. Lord Philip of Ardagh wrote an open letter urging Mr Cowell to consult a librarian to find some exciting children's books. Michael Rosen welcomed Simon to the party, pointing out that there were some great children's books already but that celebrity interest in reading was never a bad thing. Generally speaking, the conversation about children's books (already fairly buoyant) took a spike following the publication of Cowell's comments.

Anyway, taking a leaf from his book (geddit?) I've decided to write a pop song. I've thought about it and now I think I'll do it. It will be about rabbits dinosaurs Lola Mr Blobby love. Having ears, I've had to listen to a lot of these pop songs and they're quite boring, I think I could do better.

So here's how I think I'll do it. First, I think I'll find some monkeys with typewriters songwriters to work with. The song will be based on an idea I've had, so obviously I'll do all the hard work, but they can contribute all some of the notes and the lyrics;  these should rhyme 'you' with 'true' and possibly 'ooh' ad infinitum. No poo, though - that's better in children's books. Then I'll get some musicians in to play the music - I could probably do that better myself but I'm very busy. Lastly, I'll hold auditions for victims singers to sing the song once I've written it - actually, there could be some TV mileage in that: we'll call it Tamsyn's Got Music. Get my minions ITV on the phone, quick.

And of course, this song will be a smash hit - why wouldn't it be? After all, writing a successful pop song is easy, just like writing a book that children will love. It doesn't take imagination, skill and years of practice. You don't need to constantly think about your audience and their levels of understanding, finding the right vocabulary or creating a generation of readers or whether that toilet scene is a poo too far. It's as easy as falling off a log.*

I'm off to get started right now. All lyrics gratefully received!

*Not a poo joke. Or is it?**

**I don't think children's books are all about toilet humour but, rather inexplicably, kids love it. Parents have advised me to write poo jokes into my books before now.

15 comments:

Sue Purkiss said...

Excellent!

Penny Dolan said...

Well said!

Joan Lennon said...

You'll be going to the bank, bank, bank
Even if your prose is rank, rank, rank
Celebrity's a, er, prank, prank, prank
You'll be going to the building society
I predict
(I got bored.)

Tamsyn Murray said...

Thanks Sue!

Tamsyn Murray said...

Thanks, Penny. Want a job? I need positive people like you around, telling me how great I am!

Tamsyn Murray said...

Hmmm. Look, Joan, I'll be honest here - this performance didn't really do it for me. I'm not sure you really gave it 110%.
Sorry, but it's a no from me.
(😉)

Elliott said...

Absolutely brilliant response!

:)

Lynne Benton said...

Brilliant, Tamsyn! Very well put!

Tamsyn Murray said...

Thanks Elliott :)

Tamsyn Murray said...

Thank you, Lynne - I could habe gone on but didn't want to attract the attention of anyone's lawyers ;)

Tamsyn Murray said...

Thank you, Lynne - I could habe gone on but didn't want to attract the attention of anyone's lawyers ;)

TalyaB said...

Well said. I think What really matters is that you put your heart and soul into it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttmsiU-GZlg

Sue Sedgwick said...

Ha ha! I blogged on this myself, but I think you've nailed it. Not a particularly good strategy of Mr C's to alienate the community (of children's writers) before he even joins it, but I think we've handled it with wit and dignity ...

Tamsyn Murray said...

Agreed, Sue! X

Tamsyn Murray said...

Agreed, Sue! X