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rj_andersonIn case you missed it, Fit the First, which explains a lot of the background to this post, is here (though I've had to screen some of the comments because they were spoilery -- wonderful, but spoilery).
Anyway, just to confirm to the world my complete and utter stupidity, I'd like to announce that after ten years of living in denial for absolutely no good or sensible reason, I have finally broken down and admitted to myself that Knife is fundamentally a Young Adult novel. I didn't write it with that intention in mind, and for a very long time I resented and resisted all the suggestions made to me that it was or might be better marketed as a juvenile, but now I've been given a very good practical reason to reconsider that view, and once I stopped struggling the whole thing suddenly made a lot more sense.
The good practical reason? A couple of days ago, after I wrote the previous LJ post, I received an e-mail from a Real Live Editor at a major children's and YA publishing house, saying she was impressed by the first reader's report I quoted and liked what she'd seen of the sample chapters, and if I didn't mind the idea of having the book promoted as YA instead of adult fiction, would I like to send her the rest of the manuscript?
So after I finished running around the house pulling at my hair and squealing (hubby and the kids were pretty confused, I can tell you), I sat down and started thinking about what I would need to do to get the manuscript whipped into shape for the YA market. And what did I conclude?
Not a whole lot.
Ten years ago, when I first wrote the novel, things might have been different in the YA market -- or maybe they weren't really that different, I just imagined that they were. But it seemed to me then that the themes and concepts in the book were too adult for a younger readership. Now, however, I realize that it's really quite the opposite -- the book's central concerns and themes are in fact the typical preoccupations of adolescence. Feeling like an outsider, wondering who you are and what to make of yourself; sexual awakening, first love, questions of gender identity; questioning authority, choosing between tradition and conviction -- it's basically your classic coming of age novel.
Which is not to say that there aren't novels dealing with the above-mentioned themes which are decisively adult in nature, but when your book is about faeries and the approach is fairly straightforward, plus nearly everybody who's read the book has used the phrase "reads like YA fiction" at least once, it's kind of a no-brainer.
Anyway, the upshot of all this is that I am currently at work cleaning up messy bits of prose, over-wordiness and florid phrasing and such left over from ten years ago when I first wrote the book, and getting it ready to submit to the aforementioned major YA publisher. It's not a sure thing, of course -- nothing is -- but it's a fantastic opportunity, and at the very least, an encouragement.
I hope to have the book ready to mail out within the month. Here's hoping!
P.S. With her usual thoughtfulness and speed,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
friede has kindly created some fan art based on the chapters I posted in the previous message. Go look!
Anyway, just to confirm to the world my complete and utter stupidity, I'd like to announce that after ten years of living in denial for absolutely no good or sensible reason, I have finally broken down and admitted to myself that Knife is fundamentally a Young Adult novel. I didn't write it with that intention in mind, and for a very long time I resented and resisted all the suggestions made to me that it was or might be better marketed as a juvenile, but now I've been given a very good practical reason to reconsider that view, and once I stopped struggling the whole thing suddenly made a lot more sense.
The good practical reason? A couple of days ago, after I wrote the previous LJ post, I received an e-mail from a Real Live Editor at a major children's and YA publishing house, saying she was impressed by the first reader's report I quoted and liked what she'd seen of the sample chapters, and if I didn't mind the idea of having the book promoted as YA instead of adult fiction, would I like to send her the rest of the manuscript?
So after I finished running around the house pulling at my hair and squealing (hubby and the kids were pretty confused, I can tell you), I sat down and started thinking about what I would need to do to get the manuscript whipped into shape for the YA market. And what did I conclude?
Not a whole lot.
Ten years ago, when I first wrote the novel, things might have been different in the YA market -- or maybe they weren't really that different, I just imagined that they were. But it seemed to me then that the themes and concepts in the book were too adult for a younger readership. Now, however, I realize that it's really quite the opposite -- the book's central concerns and themes are in fact the typical preoccupations of adolescence. Feeling like an outsider, wondering who you are and what to make of yourself; sexual awakening, first love, questions of gender identity; questioning authority, choosing between tradition and conviction -- it's basically your classic coming of age novel.
Which is not to say that there aren't novels dealing with the above-mentioned themes which are decisively adult in nature, but when your book is about faeries and the approach is fairly straightforward, plus nearly everybody who's read the book has used the phrase "reads like YA fiction" at least once, it's kind of a no-brainer.
Anyway, the upshot of all this is that I am currently at work cleaning up messy bits of prose, over-wordiness and florid phrasing and such left over from ten years ago when I first wrote the book, and getting it ready to submit to the aforementioned major YA publisher. It's not a sure thing, of course -- nothing is -- but it's a fantastic opportunity, and at the very least, an encouragement.
I hope to have the book ready to mail out within the month. Here's hoping!
P.S. With her usual thoughtfulness and speed,
friede has kindly created some fan art based on the chapters I posted in the previous message. Go look!
Tags:
- feedback,
- knife,
- publishing,
- writing,
- ya
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no subject
Date: 2003-11-18 08:38 pm (UTC)But I was wondering... isn't there a thing against publishing this online if you intend to publish the novel? First publication rights and all that? I am not sure about the laws but maybe it'd be wiser to remove those chapters from the net.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 09:09 am (UTC)Well, the editor read the chapters off the web herself, and she didn't say it was a problem, so I think it should be OK. Of course, if I'd published the novel in its entirety, and a lot of people had read it, it could be an issue -- but even that's not certain; I know a couple of people who had their writing up on the web, even complete novels, and then had the work picked up by a regular publisher.
Anyway, this is only four chapters and so it's really just a teaser -- not a substitute for reading the book. If the book sells, though, I'll take the chapters offline. Thanks for your concern!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 09:21 am (UTC)I hope you get published.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-18 08:58 pm (UTC)Besides, I think Harry Potter has changed the way people look at YA fiction. It's not considered to be "inferior" as much.
I haven't had time (or the chance, my laptop died. :( ) the past few days to completely read what you posted-- I only got to the end of chapter two-- but I love it so far. I want to know background, I want to know what *happens* I want to know why the faires lost their magic and if and when they're going to get it back. Most of all I want to know about Knife and what she will do.
I think you've got a winner, here, RJA. Even if this publisher doesn't take it, you'll find one. And I'll tell everyone I know to buy it. 'Cause you're amazing.
Congratulations, and GO GET 'EM!!!!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 09:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-18 08:59 pm (UTC)That's so exciting!
Good luck with getting it published!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-18 11:01 pm (UTC)That's all I can manage for now. (Except for, Holy Snot, a real live editor? No agent to convince first? Holy Snot.)
Congrats!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 09:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 12:05 am (UTC)It's a good time for YA, I think.
Pamela
no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 09:12 am (UTC)And I agree -- it does seem like a good time for YA.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 12:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 12:52 am (UTC)Within days of posting a chapter of your (original! original!) work, you've got fan art.
oh...oh. Just oh. I'm so, so so so soooooooo happy for you, if my capital letters and really loud screaming didn't say it enough. :P
I am an Idiot, Fit the Second
Date: 2003-11-19 02:51 am (UTC)Madeleine L'Engle wrote that if she had a truly difficult concept to write about that it would be in a "children's" book. George MacDonald's Curdie books were children's books, but the level of writing in them would be suitable for a college literature class. YA is a very respectable neighborhood.
Just dropping in - I enjoy your Darkness & Light trilogy and your blogging.
Ann in GA
Re: I am an Idiot, Fit the Second
Date: 2003-11-19 09:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 10:14 am (UTC)Liz E.
Finally!
Date: 2003-11-19 10:49 am (UTC)I am so excited for you! Ever since I started reading your stuff I hoped for the day when people outside our fandoms would get a chance to see your writing. This could be it!
Also--I have to agree with some of the previous comments: YA is something I read a lot, because it's an audience that has to deal with life and morality in a way that adult fiction doesn't always bother with.
I'll be praying for you and your novel--and hoping to see it on my local bookstore shelf in a year or so! :D
Sarah Perkins
no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 12:18 pm (UTC)And anyway, YA or not, Knife is just wonderful. I want it to get published so I can start madly recommending it to people :)
no subject
Date: 2003-11-19 11:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-20 02:14 am (UTC)Erm, excuse me. Just scared the flatmate with my squealing.
I should buy more printer ink and print out your sample chapters. Stupid eyes, can't handle computer text anymore...