Afterword, or not?

Hey all:

I'm finishing up a book of horror stories for the middle grade audience. I expect it will go over like a lead balloon due to the fact that the stories are all very grim, but it is more of a personal labor of love because my kids always complained that stories they read weren't scary enough and these are some I developed from telling tales to them.

In any event, my work for children is typically very upbeat and pleasant. My other product for the same market is unfailingly optimistic and happy. As I've thought about this horror project, I've considered a short "afterward," for lack of a better term, thanking the child for going along on the harrowing journey in the book but reminding the reader that we can enjoy the vicarious scares that come with grim stories while still recognizing that the world is a beautiful place. I haven't thought through the exact wording yet. I'm not even sure it is needed or desired. What do you all think?

 

This reminded me of an article I read recently about the works of Roald Dahl, shared below.

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160912-the-dark-side-of-roald-dahl

 

I thought of Dahl a few times while working on these stories. I loved his work as a kid. Where his stories have a strong element of the fantastic that remove the events so far from the real world that it blunts the edge of the terrible things that happen, mine are very much grounded in the real world. I mean, there are supernatural elements and the like, but they come about in stories firmly rooted in every day life. I want something in the back to the reader's mind to say "this could happen to me," while reading.

So it's a different approach from Dahl, though I absolutely loved his stories (and so did my kids).

 

It will be interesting to see how your tales are received. I shared the Dahl article to show that even the fantastic (-al?) has darker roots.

In answer to your question, it really depends how terrifying these stories are. I don't think a brief afterword could do any harm, but, would a child actually read this part or simply assume the stories are finished and not bother?

 

A child might just skip right past it. Someone suggested that I put the message into a story somehow, like as a conversation between characters, where it is more likely to be read. But that seems artificial.

I don't know whether they're truly terrifying stories or merely disturbing. My beta readers, who are adults, have responded positively, though one told me that while she really liked one of the stories she wouldn't let her child read it.

As I said, it's more of a personal project--something that had its origin in stories for my own kids. If it isn't received particularly well, that's OK. But I do want to do the best job with it I can.

 

I agree about not slipping the message inside a story, that could easily feel forced and out of place.
If your audience is children, then surely you need beta's who are children? Can you make like the Pied Piper and 'borrow' some?

Edit: is it not afterwOrd like in foreword?

 

I have a couple of nieces in the right age range, and my sister is a teacher for that same age group. When it's all done I'm planning to have them all take a crack at it and maybe make adjustments based on what they say

 

Can't tell you what to do for your audience, but I'd be looking out for your book and I'd very much like an afterword

 

*Yes, afterWORD Sorry about that.

 

I never read those. My kids liked them. I'll have to take a look.

 

I remember at least two different times I clicked this thread because I was confused about a grammar-thread being put in general writing

 

Haha. I wonder if I can edit the title to prevent confusion...?

 

The answer is no.

 

Maybe a foreword instead? Putting it after seems a bit too late, unless we're assuming the stories are all going to be read in one big binge.

 

I thought about that, but putting it there kind of spoils the set up and tone of the book, imo. I'm not convinced to do it at all, yet. It's just something I'm mulling over.

 

Gracias!

 

Yes. I think the over the top, fantastic nature of Dahl makes the horrible things more palatable. My characters are every day kids leading every day lives until some part of their world goes very wrong.

 

You’re no longer part of the demo. Except that, you know, someone has to buy the books for their kids

 

I don't think it'll hurt at all, though I think I'm with Bayview in that this bit in particular:

Feels like it would make more sense at the start than at the end.

 

Thanks, I'm glad you think it is workable. I understand the sentiment about the front of the book, but it'll mess up the whole tone I'm trying to establish at the outset so it can't go there. Has to go at the end.

 

The point about putting it at the beginning rather than the end, I reckon, isn't so much about ruining the tone, but more about 'warning' the young reader that these stories can be unpleasant and very scary—but that they are just stories. By the time they've read the book, it's a bit late, isn't it?

I remember going to movies (not so much books) and being reminded beforehand that it's 'just a movie' and that 'nothing in that movie ever really happened/happens.' Scary stuff gets put in movies because some people like being scared like that. There are no witches, or vampires, or giants or monsters, etc. Any more than there are fairies or elves or magic wands. It's just fun to imagine there might be.

As a child, that was reassuring to hear. Beforehand.