Whats the main difference between writing for that medium and writing novels for young people?
AH: Well, there are huge differences and huge similarities. Actually, it’s easier to talk about the similarities. When you are writing for a television audience, you have to keep up the pace. If people aren’t interested in what they are seeing on the television, they will either switch channels or have a cup of tea and do something else. When you turn on the television, you want to be entertained, and you want the entertainment to be fast and easy. I think that is similar to writing books for young people. These days, young people have an enormous amount of things to do: sports, studies, and a lot of pressure to use their time wisely. But they also have other entertainments, such as computer games, television, movies, and friends to visit. So if a book doesn’t grab them very quickly and hold them by the throat (which is how I always think of my writing — as reaching out and grabbing a kid by the throat and dragging him or her into the book), then they will go away. I think both telev
