 For Authors: August 17, 2011 Issue [#4543] |
  For Authors
This week: Young Adult Novels: Myths and Facts Edited by: Crys-not really here  
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| Hello! My name is Crys-not really here and I'm excited to be your guest editor for the For Authors Newsletter this week. I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about a genre near and dear to my heart: young adult novels. |
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Young Adult Novels: Myths and Facts
When was the last time you picked up a young adult novel? If you're like a lot of adult writers who write for adult audiences, you probably haven't read one since you yourself was a teen. A lot of people who are unfamiliar with the genre make assumptions about its quality and purpose. Today, I'd like to address some of the myths about young adult novels.
 Myth: Young adult novels are dark and depressing.
Facts: Some of them are. This myth was probably born from criticism that YA authors introduce teens to controversial topics, including teen pregnancy and drug use. (More about this later.)
Myth: Young adult novels are all the same.
Facts: YA is probably one of the most versatile genres. You can find YA Romance, YA Paranormal Romance, Historical YA, Fantasy YA . . . pretty much any genre you can name. Instead of writing only romance or historical novels for the rest of their lives, YA authors have the freedom to dabble in any genre they please. That also means that teens have access to pretty much any kind of novel that interests them.
Myth: Teens don't want to read the classics. "Young adult" doesn't apply to any classic novels.
Facts: Many classic books have now been classified as young adult literature. These include The Outsiders, The Catcher in the Rye, and Lord of the Flies.
Myth: Young adult novels are "kid's stuff."
Facts: Many YA novels are enjoyed by adults as well. In addition, many novels written for adults have crossed into the young adult realm, such as The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. The line between what is "young adult" and "adult" is so blurred that experts have argued over whether 18 or 21 is the upper limit for "young adult." In general, teens like to read about other teens, so YA lit usually features main characters between the ages of 13 and 18. With main characters above the age of 18, books enter that gray area between young adult and adult.
Myth: Young adult novels are dangerous because they introduce teens to topics such as sex, alcohol, drug use and rape.
Facts: Most teens probably see worse depictions of these topics on TV. Many teens are already living these things anyway, and novels can be a good way for them to come to grips with things that are bothering them. The majority of controversial young adult novels are not written to influence teens to behave badly; they are written to make teens think, relate, sympathize and grow.
Some controversial or banned YA novels include The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormeier, and pretty much anything by Judy Blume.
So, before you dismiss young adult literature as being kid's play, why not pick up some of the novels I've mentioned in this newsletter? I think you'll find something you love, even as an adult. I also hope you'll consider writing for a teenager audience as well. I'm sure you'll find it as complex, if not more so, than writing for an adult audience. |
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Thanks to everyone who wrote in about my last For Authors Newsletter! I'm glad that so many of you see the benefit of reading about writing by other writers!
As much as is "wrong" with the Internet, I would have faded away without it. I've had minor articles published, but nothing artistic. Even so, I'm finding and friending authors I admire. It's easier than ever, since they plug on Facebook. Some are nice enough to be friendly back. A great source for folks wanting to know who "the famous writers" know. -atwhatcost
Great NL, Crys! Yes, published authors know a lot more about the writing biz than most (unpubbed) writers. Luckily, there are lots of blogs on the net or sites with advice. I'd never have learned to write a synopsis without some help from How-To sites. There's tons of help out there if writers will just look for it.  -LJPC - the tortoise 
There might be a very simple reason why professional writers write How-to-write books. They make their living by selling books. If you know how to write, then why not sell a book about it? Fortunately, there are so many potential readers who want to know how to write that there is always a market for how-to-write books. I own a bunch of them myself.  -Steev the Friction Wizurd |
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