MELODY CARLSON has an uncanny gift for getting inside the hearts and minds of today’s teens — and great respect for youth ministry. She is an award-winning author of more than 150 books for young adults, with sales topping $2.5 million. Her string of successes includes the Diary of a Teenage Girl Series (Multnomah), The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor Series (Multnomah) and the TrueColors Series (NavPress).
Carlson admits she keeps thinking she is done writing teen books. Then she will hear or read
YOUTHWORKER JOURNAL: Even though you are the mother of two sons, you write Christian fiction for teen girls. Why?
Melody Carlson: Oddly enough, I was first inspired to write when my older son—about 13 at the time and an avid reader —was searching for new books. What we found at the bookstores was either boring or far too “adult” for him. But when I started to write, I gravitated more toward girls’ stories. I think it’s because I became a Christian during my teen years, and that era remains indelibly imprinted in my mind. So much happened during that time—so many changes, weird relationships, and spiritual growth—and that provides a lot of fertile material for my stories now. Sometimes I do wish I could write for teen boys, but the way I like to write—more relational/internal stories—lends itself more to girl readers.
YWJ: What have your own experiences with youth workers been like, either when you were a young person or as a parent?
MC: After proclaiming myself an atheist at 12, I found Christ through Young Life when I was 15. As a result, I have great respect for youth ministry. During college and afterward, I volunteered as a Young Life leader and actually met my
YWJ: You also seem to be a student of youth culture. Why do you think that is important, and how do you keep on top of key trends and developments?
MC: I try to put myself into the minds of today’s teens by exposing myself to their culture. And to be honest, it can sometimes be pretty disgusting and discouraging. Whether it’s MTV, popular movies, teen magazines, Internet Web sites—I try to stay on top of what’s going on. And I’m sure that surviving my own sons’ teen and young-adult years has contributed additional fodder to my ever-growing pile of material to draw from.
YWJ: What do you think youth workers could learn from you about understanding and addressing the spiritual needs of young people?
MC: I’ve had parents and youth workers tell me that it’s been helpful to read my teen fiction themselves. I think, as adults, we forget much of the angst, pain, and ongoing challenges that teens face daily. Often, as I’m writing a teen’s story and getting into a character’s head, I am surprised myself. It’s never been easy going through adolescence, but I think a lot of the “usual” teen troubles have been greatly amplified and magnified thanks to media exposure that is far more influential than it used to be. Add to this the degeneration of family values and the stress of modern-day culture, and it’s not surprising that many teens struggle.
YWJ: Do you have a process for “getting into a character’s head” that would be helpful for youth workers to emulate?
MC: Like an actor preparing for a role, I try to put myself in the shoes of my character. I try to feel and think like the person I am writing about. This process most often inspires empathy. As a youth worker or counselor, you are so busy trying to lead and have answers. Sometimes what teens need is a hug or for us to just listen to them and say, “I know.” We try to prescribe when we should empathize.
YWJ: Your books touch on the issues of eating disorders, cutting, teen pregnancy, loss of a parent, drug and alcohol abuse, stardom, homosexuality, witchcraft, mean girls or bullying, and materialism. Which issue do you feel the greatest sense of urgency about, and what insight into that issue would you want to share with youth workers?
MC: While there are many, I think the most common teen issues statistically are alcohol and drug abuse and body image issues. It’s not easy to hear or write about tough issues; but because of the ever-growing increase in numbers, I don’t think we can ignore them either.
I think a lot of teen issues are rooted in low self-esteem and a deep need for God. But add to that problems like family dysfunction or a chemical imbalance, and you have a formula for serious trouble. What I try to do in my books, and what I encourage youth workers to do, is to initiate the conversation and don’t steer away from tough questions. Be open and honest as you offer hope, acceptance, love, and grace. And remember, no problem is too big for God.
YWJ: Your books avoid clichéd endings and last-minute altar calls. Instead you let issues remain open-ended. Is this just a fictional technique, or is this something we could learn from for how youth workers should minister to young people today?
MC: I’m trying to be true to life. While I do believe God can and does do miracles, I also know that sometimes a miracle takes time, hard work, and genuine commitment on our part. God partners with us to overcome tough stuff, but we can’t just sit on our hands. I guess I want teens to see that. I don’t want to set them up to expect that there is some secret, instant formula to success. And yet I want to give them hope, too.
YWJ: When you think about the way in which churches and youth groups try to help young people grow spiritually, are you hopeful, worried, or both?
MC: I am eternally hopeful! But to be honest, it’s not because I think churches and youth groups are all doing a perfectly fantastic job. The truth is they’re not. But that’s only because they are run by humans. I have regrets for things I said or didn’t say when I was a Young Life leader. And yet I don’t regret that I was a leader or that I tried.
The reason I have hope is because God is bigger than all of us. All we can do is the best we can do at that time. Then we have to trust God to take our feeble offerings to the next level because He is able to do that.
YWJ: Any other thoughts?
MC: Here’s what I wish I’d had a better grasp on when I was being a youth leader. I wish I had understood better that I didn’t need to have all the answers. Good grief, I was in my 20s; how could I possibly have all the answers?
All these years later, I still don’t. But I remember feeling overwhelmed when a girl had a severe problem—and unfortunately there were plenty of them. Still, I tried to encourage these girls that God could do anything, that He could solve any problem, that He could bring good from evil—if we would just let Him. I still believe that.
I encourage today’s youth workers to lean heavily on God, to trust Him to lead them as they lead others. Then just love and listen to those kids, teach them the best you can—and then point them toward the One with all the answers.
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Mary Huebner has been involved in youth ministry for 26 years. She and her husband, Pastor Denny Huebner, live in Lutz, Florida. Sons Kenneth, Jon, and Will are also involved in youth ministry.
