rj_anderson | I am an Idiot, Fit the Second

In 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,

friede has kindly created some fan art based on the chapters I posted in the previous message. Go look!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's great news. YA or adult, who cares? As long as it is good and people read it. :)

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.

isn't there a thing against publishing this online if you intend to publish the novel?

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!

Ah, okay! Better safe than sorry. :-)

I hope you get published.

First of all I must say that YA fiction is my favorite fiction. Period. In my mind, YA fiction is much more difficult to write than adult fiction for the simple reason that teenagers won't give you the chances that adult readers do. Adult books nowadays are supposed to be heavy, with all sorts of hidden meanings and "deep" messages that the story gets lost-- if there is a story at all. Adults who have any pretentions to being a "reader" will read a book that completely bores them because it's supposed to have some kind of a psychological or emotional effect. YA just don't do that. There has to be a story, and an intriguing one at that. They have to be entertained. They have to be sucked in and held spellbound, or they don't care. So kudos to you, Rebecca, for writing a YA book.

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!!!!

Thanks a lot, Emily! I appreciate the vote of confidence. And I hope you're right! :)

That's fantastic! When picking up my library degree I took a class in Young Adult literature and it's very tricky to classify what is Young Adult and what isn't sometimes... and Young Adult tends to stretch from preteens to eighteen-nineteens sometimes. Personally, I've read as many 'juvenile' or 'young adult' books in the past year as I've read adult books and honestly, when it comes to fiction I've probably read more. I just enjoy them so much, so there's certainly nothing wrong with a YA market.

That's so exciting!

Good luck with getting it published!

YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

That's all I can manage for now. (Except for, Holy Snot, a real live editor? No agent to convince first? Holy Snot.)

Congrats!

*grins* Thanks!

Oh, what a relief. I was still trying to think of what to say to your first post that would have any more effect than anything else I've said.

It's a good time for YA, I think.

Pamela

Pamela, by now you should get some kind of award for patience, after watching me drag my heels about this book for ten years. :) I really appreciate all the help and encouragement you've given during that time, too.

And I agree -- it does seem like a good time for YA.

Many congratulations

OK, sign # 1 you're going to be a success:

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 cannot find the reference, but in one of her non-fiction books,
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

Thanks, Ann! And I quite agree about the "respectable neighbourhood". I'm an HP fan, after all. :)

What perfectly exciting news from one of your on-line "fanatics". Now I'm glad that I didn't read the spoiler chapters, so I can read the "real" book! I know you'll keep us posted.

Liz E.

*cheers wildly*

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

Oh, hurray! I'm so very, very happy for you! I hope it works out - if not with this publisher, at least with some publisher. And there are no words for unspeakably awesome it is that a Real Life Editor was actually reading your LJ and decided to see the book.

And anyway, YA or not, Knife is just wonderful. I want it to get published so I can start madly recommending it to people :)

Congratulations! That's wonderful!

Like every other new Young Adult Fiction author, Rebecca J. Anderson has been been either blessed or tarred with that catch-all tag, 'The New J. K. Rowling'...

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...

I am an Idiot, Fit the Second

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I am an Idiot, Fit the Second

Re: I am an Idiot, Fit the Second

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Finally!

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