AdrienneW

I am curious to know what is appropriate for certian ages. I have a couple of novels in the works that I feel are geared toward young adults, but I don't want to misjudge that based on their content. Does any one have any where I can either compare or use as a reference? Both novels do have death in them, but also there are suggestions of abuse with some characters and another character who is male but dresses and acts like a girl. Will these "topics" be to risque for a 16 (there abouts) YA novel?
Thanks

Krim

Write what you want to write and don't worry about dumbing it down just so your audience won't call you a misogynist or a racist or whatever, because people complain about everything even if it's the character's opinion and not your's as the author. Young Adults? No hardcore porn, gruesome deaths, or explicit vulgarity. A crossdresser? Sounds good. Abuse happens in real life, and often to children. Sounds good (at least for a story idea, not in actual practice, mind ya). Of course, an editor may not exactly like it, but it's your idea; if people don't like what you wrote, you can change it if you want to to accomodate their needs or you can find someone else to represent you. But as for a crossdresser and for abuse, sure, as long as you don't get into gruesome detail or anything right down to the last drop of blood the father spills. I'm pretty sure sixteen year olds realize there are people in the world that crossdress, and that there is child abuse, and that it happens; it's like trying to censor out reality. Television has worse.

Hey, there are young adult novels about dry humping, teenage male sex drive, and abusive parents (it's usually the drunken father and abused mother, but I think it'd be slightly humorous to see a drunken mother and an abused father. Maybe not haha funny, but more original, granted.) I see no reason why you couldn't. You may want to look into these young adult publishers, check out some potential books represented by a publisher/agent you have in mind, and see if it's your style.

Hope that helps somewhat.

PamHKyle

Krim's advices is good.
Let others (read: publicists) do the labeling. Search for those who have already put out the kind of story you've written and give it a go.
BTW the topics you name can appear in stories from about 12 years on (death even earlier), it just depends on the way you handle them. The more explicit you become, the older the audience should be.
One last word: write whatever you like however you like. When you feel uncomfortable with the words/themes you write with/about, it'll show and harm your story.

__________________
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Being frustrated is disagreeable, but the real disasters in life begin when you get what you want. (Irving Kristol)

Keep a stiff upper lip, because your lower one is trembling. (William Shatner)

Krim

Personally, how old are you? In the teenage range? Because if you can handle writing an indeph traumatizing story about an abused/crossdressing teenager, I'm sure others at least that age can handle it. And yeah, Pam is right; it depends on how explicit you get. The subject matter is fine for around thirteen year olds up, even though society does tend to be a bit homphobic about crossdressers and whatnot.

'Mommy, why does the writer say that woman in the wig can't control her election?'
' - mother faints from shock. -'

PamHKyle

Krim
good example
only, you should be surprised what 13 year olds DO know

__________________
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Being frustrated is disagreeable, but the real disasters in life begin when you get what you want. (Irving Kristol)

Keep a stiff upper lip, because your lower one is trembling. (William Shatner)

Krim

I know what I know, I was one not too long ago. But that's off-topic, so I'll finish with this:

Goodluck getting published, Adrienne. I'll buy a copy if you inform me of it.

AdrienneW

I am well out of my teens..thats for sure

Krim

Yes well, it's a bit difficult to tell over the internet, and I daresay I'm too lazy to actually investigate.

But yes, it is age appropriate depending on how explicit you get...

Young Adults can handle it if it's not hardcore and whatnot. And if not, leave that up to your publisher/agent/editor.

Spooky Cactus

As a member of the target audience, I say go for it.

Mind you, I should warn you that this particular member of said audience was reading 'Little Women' when she was eight.

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No... I'm a mocker.

Fantasy of You

Hmm. I agree to some degree, but I think ignoring the markets you want your books to appeal to is stupid. I mean, look at LoTR or Harry Potter. Although I don't like the books myself, they achieved massive fame by appealing to many ages and types of people.

And I'm 16 and I have no problem with the concept.

Fantasy

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