Comments on: Can I have a Young Adult please? (24/8/2010)

By: David A. Bedford

David A. Bedford — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:06:27 +0000

I fully agree. My newest release is YA because the main character is 15, but it is meant for anyone who likes good literature. As an author, I am more free to write what is given to me. Please visit my blog and leave a comment. Thanks!

By: Stephen Deas

Stephen Deas — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:03:13 +0000

Hmmm. “The content and the style of the prose” might be a little ambiguous. I will expand. I am writing each sentence as I would write it for an adult novel. I’m not changing the language I use or the way I structure it. I’m not writing shorter sentences and using smaller words. I suppose I did concess on the swearing, in that it’s been replaced by some ripe rhyming slang. Moving up a level, the description of each scene doesn’t change, the underlying events of the plot don’t change, the characters don’t change.

To my mind, what makes TTA YA is the point of view through which those characters, scenes, plots and the world in general are viewed, and the way in which the character who gives you that point of view is treated.

Trouble being, the more I think about it, the more I confuse myself, since seeing the world through Berren’s eyes does indirectly change the language I’ll use in that it’ll be the language HE would use, same as seeing the world through the eyes of any other character.

Oh, I don’t know. It’s YA because the protagonist is YA. Can I get away with that?

As for why write YA? Crikey, why write anything? I know what story I wanted to write. Labelling it as YA came afterwards.

By: Adam Christopher

Adam Christopher — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:41:13 +0000

A very good point there about YA reviewers and bloggers – I’m sure they exist! Good luck with find some lucky recipients of TTA.

However, I’m curious about one thing you said:

“The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice is intended to be a YA book. That’s not to say adults shouldn’t enjoy it too, but in this book, I’m specifically writing for teenage boys. I happen to think that teenage boys who read fiction probably deserve to be treated pretty much as adults. The content and the style of prose remain as they would be for an adult fantasy novel.”

I don’t know if it is just me misinterpreting this, but if teenage boys deserve to be treated pretty much as adults and the style of content of TTA is the same as for an adult fantasy novel, what makes it YA, and why write a YA in the first place? It is just a question of marketing?