tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287168903003077619.post7702144505537945799..comments2024-03-06T04:58:28.830-07:00Comments on Chronicles of a Novice Writer: Genre: Age range dilemmasStephanie McGeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00056571020961572031noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287168903003077619.post-53530349497602217042010-04-02T08:38:55.775-06:002010-04-02T08:38:55.775-06:00Thanks everyone! I'm glad y'all liked thi...Thanks everyone! I'm glad y'all liked this post.<br /><br />As for age ranges, I'm skewing the same as KM. (And a little older.) I agree that there needs to be some sort of re-evaluation of divisions. St. Martin's Press launched a new imprint for new adults who might still want to read YA, but with characters who might be going through more similar circumstances, like college.Stephanie McGeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507025637411479409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287168903003077619.post-49132338311377071912010-04-01T23:40:13.249-06:002010-04-01T23:40:13.249-06:00YA is such a hard genre to pin down because it has...YA is such a hard genre to pin down because it has such a wide variation within it. Some YA is more for 14-year-olds, while some are for 17-year-olds. This wouldn't be such a big deal except there's a huge maturity difference there.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I like to write about MC's in the 18-21 age, which is college...which is a black hole of a genre. lol They should start a new Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851403823244758904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287168903003077619.post-79785501761440990362010-03-24T08:56:21.980-06:002010-03-24T08:56:21.980-06:00Actually, I find the editors and agents I talk wit...Actually, I find the editors and agents I talk with have a general consensus that most kids (particularly MG, but it can be true with YA, too) like to "read up." As in, a 12-year-old wants to read about the life of a 15-y-o, a 15-y-o wants to read about an 18-y-o, etc. And I talked with one editor recently who is really gun-hoe about having a category that is a little older than YA, Gate Keeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03808775672995741281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287168903003077619.post-80125001775840911182010-03-23T18:52:31.897-06:002010-03-23T18:52:31.897-06:00It's interesting to read the differences betwe...It's interesting to read the differences between YA and adult because I tend to have YA characters but adult-style writing with a slower pace. It's hard to match them up sometimes.<br />Thanks for a great post!Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287168903003077619.post-23106677745370171992010-03-23T15:06:02.699-06:002010-03-23T15:06:02.699-06:00It's all discovery. I once wrote a romance sto...It's all discovery. I once wrote a romance story 'cause I figured, 'how hard can that be?' Ha. It was so woeful, I hated my characters because I found them mushy and it was just bleh. I got onto writing middle grade for a uni assignment and found I loved it. I envy those few talented souls that can write anything, I'm not one of them.<br />Enjoyed your post :-)Charmaine Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06642615452680721583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287168903003077619.post-17843405214894001922010-03-23T11:29:19.851-06:002010-03-23T11:29:19.851-06:00I think that writing what you feel comfortable wit...I think that writing what you feel comfortable with is key. I have been writing YA, but that's what I read mostly and that's what I relate to the best. If you like older characters/stories, definitely go that route.<br /><br />I can't even imagine trying to write MG. I just don't have a grasp of it.Kayeleen Hamblinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652280450104899423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287168903003077619.post-78489748487079688212010-03-23T10:28:21.045-06:002010-03-23T10:28:21.045-06:00I think something that goes unsaid a lot when peop...I think something that goes unsaid a lot when people say "write what you know" is that you should "write what you're comfortable with" too. In that, I mean, not necessarily that you shouldn't branch out, but if writing YA is boring to you, then make your characters older. I mean, even in TV the shift of the high school dramas a la One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl have Windyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07684298115679477705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287168903003077619.post-20912741044665855812010-03-23T08:58:58.302-06:002010-03-23T08:58:58.302-06:00I agree with Ms. Susan. lol You do like an older c...I agree with Ms. Susan. lol You do like an older character. Maybe you should write the WIP with the 20something and see if the age does in fact call to you.<br /><br />But, I think no matter what character you write, they'll stand out because of your awesome voice! :)Sarah Simashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03702070733137961412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2287168903003077619.post-2323957653557310322010-03-23T08:53:31.790-06:002010-03-23T08:53:31.790-06:00It does seem that you prefer writing for an older ...It does seem that you prefer writing for an older audience. I love Nathan's thoughts about YA. I think he's right on the money.Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.com