Starting to decode the YA category (young adult)

When I started working on my first book I did not really think about the age range of the readers who might be interested in reading my story. I guess I just sat down and began writing what I might want to read. As I have been exploring different book blogger and author websites and Facebook pages I wondered who my audience would or should be. So far I think that my story is appropriate for a younger reader but who knows, I might want it to get a little nasty as it progresses. This led me to investigate the YA (Young Adult) category.

As for my current work-in-progress, I am still not sure if it will be YA but there is a good possibility. I do want it to have a dark and sexy feel but I don’t think I am interested in writing anything graphically violent or erotic, at least not right now. I am sure when I finish this piece there will be plenty of opinions on what category it will belong to. I can always go back and edit it to be whatever I want it to be. 

The age range for the YA group is 12-18 according to the YALSA (http://www.ala.org/yalsa/aboutyalsa). Of course we all know that there are people younger and much older than that loving books in this category.

 I reached out to a few bloggers about their opinion on this topic.

Never too old for Y.A. Books.  Marni Rost Jarman emailed me with this

Hi there! YA...I went through high school 84-88. Teen books of that time were Judy Blume and that style. The books geared for teens were geared to help teens know that what they are feeling and the things they were dealing with were normal.

Flash forward to 2012. YA has evolved as has society. Teens deal with a whole lot more than before. Growing up, most moms did work, I'm a mom of 3 adult/teen daughters and have been working pretty much since they were born. Teens don't want books telling them about things they already know, YA nowadays lets the reader leave reality behind and treats the readers as if they have brain to understand life as it is.  

YA was once just teen reading. It is now a genre read by just as many adults as teens. In fact, I'm usually the one suggesting books to my 18 yo. People like to smirk about Twilight, but that series has gotten more people reading YA than ever. The Uglies series is actually what brought me back to YA. Yes, I tore through the Twilight series and wanted my own Edward, but I started the series to see what the big deal was when the first movie came out. By the time I saw the movie, I had the entire series read. 

What is acceptable? For the teens, light sex and light language. Why? Teens have sex and teens curse. It's also no longer a hush hush subject. While not every teen has had sex, they know that some of their friends have. Cursing may not be allowed in my household, but working in the judicial field, I've heard some coming in saying things that would make a truck driver blush. For the older teens, and actual YA's, there seems to be a new genre being created. I think it's called New Adult. The romance is a little harsher, language a bit more in use, and sex a little more graphic. Again, the targeted reader is dealing with these things in their own life, but don't want something patting them, telling them it's ok, but a story to dive in to.

YA is great for the young and old alike. Different worlds are created for the reader, not twenty pages on how one place looks when someone walks through the door, etc. It goes straight into the story, allows a certain liberty in how the reader visions the characters and surroundings, and just ropes you in.

Coming back into YA. There is one continuing item that I find very annoying. So many series! Trilogies, fine, but so many just keep going and going and going. But I must say, YA is the playground for the self published author. So many Asreaders, who are just looking for a good book, not worried about the authors credentials. I've found myself reading more indie authors than published and the authors are so generous with their time. They love hearing from their readers and return emails, messages, etc. How many can say their favorite published author took the time to respond back to them?

Mera's YA Book List  Mera had this to say:

In my opinion, YA books are YA for a simple reason. They are written for young adults. Young adults are simply just teenagers, and young adult books are books based on what and/or whom they can most relate to and what they most like. They may not be able to relate to the paranormal worlds of the characters in some of their favorite books but there are characters that they identify with going on these insane journeys they fantasize about. And the characters in contemporary fiction fall in love and out of love and finally have that ending all girls wish for. Things like this define the YA category.

There's going to be kissing, because teenagers kiss. There's going to romance because we all want it. In some cases, there is even going to be sexual intercourse. What separates YA from Adult Fiction is this topic. How an author handles the topic of sex is what makes a book suitable or non-suitable for the category. If a scene is too descriptive or too graphic then it shouldn't be in a YA book. There's a delicate balance, and it's the reason why so many YA books that we think are amazing are on banned book lists.

I don't like banned book lists because everyone should be able to decide what they read, and I haven't come across a book that I've thought was too explicit in the YA category (though the Nora/Patch scenes in Hush, Hush made me blush profusely). There's a reason however why YA and Teen books are still sold in many children's aisles. It's because we 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and even 20, and 21 year olds are still transitioning. What is appropriate for those 16 and above may not be appropriate for a younger YA audience, which is why I always call a book lower YA or upper YA in reviews. I specify the difference between children's, YA, and New Adult books because even though they are usually grouped together, how certain topics are handled are completely different in these different categories.

A special thank you to Marni and Mera for getting back to me with your thoughts on this topic and for your time reading and reviewing books to help others make choices on what will fit their reading needs.

http://www.merasyabooklist.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Never-too-old-for-YA-Books/202043493185903

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/

                                                                                                                                              

Why Novella?

There does not seem to be a clear definitions or strict parameters as to what a novella is. Basically a novella is a short novel, a fictional narrative that is longer than a short story. The novella seems to range any where between 8,000-30,000 words (75-100 pages). They don't seem to have chapters and are great for someone looking for a quick read.

The novella typically focuses on one story line. It does not usually have multiple points of views.

Some novellas are simply just written as a stand alone story, while others complement a series or trilogy. I have been finding that they are a great outlet for authors to write a back story for popular characters from an ongoing series.

This can benefit both the readers and author. The author is able to put out a shorter piece of work in a shorter period if time or between novels. It can also be a great way to put out a cheap or free down loadable books to entice readers to want more.

I think it would also be a great approach for someone who has always wanted to write a novel but was intimidated by the undertaking. A goal of maybe 20,000 words can seem like a more obtainable goal.

On the flip side writers more accustom to writing short stories might find that the have a story that needs more time to develop. A novella might give them enough time to build the world or setting in which the story will take place and some characters need time to build a romance.

I am wondering if maybe one of my not so supporting characters in my book might need their own novella.......

Do books need chapters?

I was thinking about how and where I have started placing chapter marks in my book. Some seem too long and others too short. Of course I still have a long road of writing and then editing to figure it out.

None the less, It made me wonder if I need chapters at all. I have been doing most of my reading via e-book and I am trying to think back to a few books that might not have had chapters. I will have to check it out on a reread.

Here are some reasons that I have come up with for benefit a chapter could provide either the reader or writer. (In no particular order)

-A chapter break can provide a good stopping point for the reader. We have all had those late nights where we say just one more page or I will close my eyes after I finish this chapter. This helps to keep the reader interested.

-If a book is written from more than one point of view it would certainly need some form of chapters or parts to separate multiple characters pov.

-It is a good way to heighten suspense. Perhaps by leaving a character in a compromising or exciting moment. What might happen next... (an interesting example of this from a film prospective was on the last two episodes of True Blood. The end of the episode lest Sookie and Alcides are making out. Viewers couldn't wait to see the rest of this long awated romance scene only to find in the following episode she pukes on his shoes. The break in the middle of the scene allowed viewers to use their imagination to anticipate the rest of the scene.)

-Chapters can show an extended period of time between scenes or travel time between locations.

-They can help to set and divide scenes.

-Chapter length can help a writer determine if a scene or subject needs to be expanded on or if it is over written.

Maybe I do need chapters...

Realistic accuracy while writing paranormal fantasy

It almost seems like an oxymoron to think about making sure that elements of my book are realistic. Even though I am writing a book with paranormal and perhaps some supernatural elements, I want it to be believable. I think there is a fine line between fantasy and reality. Something about a fantasy world that "could" be true seems easier for a reader to relate to. It is more likely to be drawn into a book and a world in which you can imagine yourself a part of.

Here is where the super natural elements can be tricky. We all have a preconseived notion about what supernatural creatures there are, how they might look, and how they act based on what we have previously read or watched on television.

As a writer and a director if you will of this new reality there are choices to be made. Will my charcters possess charecteristics that follow the main stream expectations, will they be a twist on the old, or will I divert and create a new world with new supernatural entities?

There is something comforting in the old, but we all crave the excitement of something new and unique.

Thoughts of a series

I am currently at a road block. I have too many angles I want to go with this story. Maybe if I make a list and map it out I can brake them down with the possibility of future books. This might help me not feel like I have to force it all into one package.

Funny I never knew how people decided ahead of time how many books they would write in a series. Perhaps I just figured out one way that happens. I just don't want to get ahead of myself assuming I can write a series of books when have not even finished one. I guess you can't get to the stars without reaching for them.

Writing group

So on the advice of Amber Lynn Natusch I hunted for a writing group. I did find one that meets once a month. It is about a half hour away, a bit further than I would like to travel. I went last night for the first time. Funny how there was a time I would have been super nervous to go to something like that.

It was an eclectic group of both male and female ranging from mid twenties to maybe 50's. I was happy to find two writers actually writing paranormal. The platform is more of a critiquing session which is great. I am also look for a group or community that is discussing the actually writing process not just the mechanics of writing.

I did like that everyone's literary background seemed a bit different. I was able to take away a few things to think about while I am writing or when I go back and start to edit.

As long as I have child care I will return next month and bring a piece of my work to share with the group. I will also continue to peruse another option closer to home.

Back to the books

Well, it was a mistake to think I could give up reading or that it was a good idea. I realized I just need to approach reading in a slightly different way. I am trying to be more aware writing style and how the author is narrating the book. I am trying to slow my reading down a little. Sometimes I read so fast I miss things. I am trying to notice the details in the writing along with enjoying the story.

I just keep trying to find a balance. If only I didn't need to sleep I could do it all while my family sleeps.