still here

[cornerofmadness]

Oddly enough from the tornado storms I didn't get much but a short amount of heavy rain. Then after RPGing all night I go to get into bed at 3AM and I hear the weather alert again (It had been hours since the last time it sounded) so I sit up in bed and listen (I listen to classical music as i sleep. I can't bear a silent house). Another set of severe storms are on their way. Oh boy were they ever. They hit at 430AM with 60 m.p.h. winds. I'm still here, the house is fine, heck I didn't even lose any trees that I can easily see and the fish are all still in the swimmng pool.

I've been thinking about YA novels a lot as some of you know, getting interested in writing them, been reading a lot of them. Naturally there's huge differences in them because the maturity levels between a 12 year old and a 16 year old is vast. I just finished the last of the Lemony Snicket books (for my reviews chek out the daily pulp) that I know are published. Book 12 will probably be out soon if it isn't already. Can't for the life of me figure out who they're aimed at. The writing style is more simplistic but the subject matter way older. Then again I'm not sure the appeal isn't more to older geeks than anyone. Took me awhile to get into the series but as you go it becomes darker and more convoluted (so long as you can accept that adults in this world are both useless and nuts)

Then I saw one on the shelf, (YA novel that is) brand new and I almost borrowed it from the library but the subject matter isn't of interest to me (looked like boy coming of age) but just flipping through it there was more over sexual references and the word fuck a number of times and it just took me aback. Yes, kids have sex and say fuck but the publishing world has always been very reserved to put that in YA novels. Then again I borrowed one from the library in FL rated YA (why do I think it was a Christopher Golden book, non-Buffy stuff) can't remember the name now but it contained erotica and mentioned it to the librarians (FL is kinda Bible Belt and I didn't want some crazed mom causing them trouble) and they said the books come marked from the publisher and they have to list it as marked (which explains why Linda Fairstein, John Sandford and both Kellermans are usually in fiction instead of mystery as if being genre is bad).

So why am I bleating on about all of this? I dunno. I guess I'm finding it difficult to get a handle on what I can and can not do in YA. (Not that I plan on shoving tons of sex or swear words into my novel). My subject matter is darker but I'm beginning to think that's okay. speaking of that, here's my word count.

1,289 / 1,500 (85.0%)

and I'm still debating if I'll be going to Madison. I need to call the Canterbury Inn. I don't think they have their half price special any more and it looks like they raised their prices. Almost every hotel in Madison (except one in a bad area such as it is in Madison) are significantly more than 100$ plus all the parking fees if I want to go to State Street which I do...I just don't want to be over 400$ for three days when I was just there a few months ago. Sigh.

Comments

*Shocked Aura*

[druinsanity.livejournal.com]

Hey Dana! :) Good Morning! So I read through this post in a hurry this morning when I woke up. I'm really glad you're okay with the storms that happened!. We get those kinds of winda LOTS here in West Texas. The skies turn all brown and ick.

Anyways I have to say that when I went to take my shower I could not quit thinking about what you had said about YA novels. I am so shocked that you foud things like that in them. I do not have children yet but I seriously plan on starting to try yet. I also know that Kristi would never let Dustin read that kind of crap. If that is what YA novels are coming to these days, then I'll stick my kids with ancy Drew and the Baby Sitters Club. They worked great for me. :)

You have to remember that most of America and even the world are very conservative where children are concerned. Not in other matters mind you, but children are different. I would never let my child read a book with the kind of content that you found in those books if I could help it. And now that I know, I will be sure to scrutinize what he/she reads very caresully when they are here.

I thought for a moment that you could ask yourself what would the elementary schools allow on their reading lists? But then, I'm not sure what schools allow these days. My mother is a 3rd grade teacher. The town she lives in is very conservative and I know that they wouldn't even allow a book like that on the reading lists. As a matter of fact, they are very careful about what they allow on the reading lists. I am not sure about the rest of America though.

You could also ask yourself, What would you let your own child read if you had one? I'm not sure about your opinions on that matter. If you are in it for the money, I would keep subjects like that out, honestly. I just can't see most moms allowing their children to read it if they know about it. And if they do... they probably DON'T pay attention to the books their kids read.

Just wanted to give you feedbak to let you know how strongly I feel about this and my opinions. Sorry it got so long. Hope it helps you in deciding what to put in your own YA novels. Hope you have a great day. I have to finish getting ready for the dance recital now. Love ya! *hugs*

Re: *Shocked Aura*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with it and it would depend on which YA group I'm aiming at to be honest. Frankly if they're in the 16-19 year old end I wouldn't mind so much. That would be my target audience but still I wouldn't want it chocked full of profanity. Sex maybe if done right (or the perils of sex) since this age group are sexual beings. Hiding it away serves no purpose. Over gloryfing it doesn't either.

NOW the younger age group is a different ball of wax. I like the Snicket books but I wouldn't want younger kids reading it. Hell, I wouldn't want younger kids reading the later Harry Potters now that he's in his mid-teens. They're getting more intense.

I think the young adult is problematic because it's an umbrella genre for everything once you get past Golden Books to true adult books. I think once the kid is about 15/16 they can make their own decisions about what to read within reason. Certainly I was allowed to but I was reading adult books since I was 10 with guidance from mom as to what she felt was appropriate. Younger kids...I guess it would help to have books broken into groups like 8-10, 11-13 and 13+ but it isn't done that way.

That said I wouldn't want someone younger than 15 reading my stuff

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I wasn't too worried. I'm more worried now about the ants in the kitchen.

[esmerelda-t.livejournal.com]

That level of sex and language in a YA book is surprising, especially in the states, which is notoriously more conservative than over here. Publishers must have some sort of guidelines though, maybe you could try contacting one to see of they can email you a copy of what their's is?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I could but I think what I'll do is err on the side of good taste. Yeah seriously we're practically Puritanical compared to the UK (thanks for starting us off with YOUR religious rejects). There are books detailing what you can do in YA but I can't get them here. I'm hoping to get to a better library system but given where I'm looking to work, I might as well bite the built and buy them but i'm loathed to buy writing books sight unseen since so many suck

[librissimma.livejournal.com]

I think the Snicket books are for the intermediate grades (4-7), but that they would also work well with older kids who struggle with reading.

[lejlkwiet.livejournal.com]

Youch, that weather sounds nasty :/

And well, over here I don't think people take too much notice of what kids read. I'm sure you remember me telling you how the Anita Blake books are put in the kids section! And I guess nowadays having a bit of sex in a YA novel but nothing over the top is the way to go, especially with your target audience. Though it always depends on the book's theme etc, it's quite possible to leave it out completely I guess.

Hmm, I think I just rambled a bit over there O.o Hope you get what I mean.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah I think if the story IS about coming of age, sex needs dealt with. Murder is the theme of mine so...and the fact that Blake is in the children's section...

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Most parents i know don't want kids that age to be reading things as dark as Snicket's books, hence the confusion. Every parent I know put the kibosh on them until the kids are older than 12