Hello all,
Normally I graze in the fantasy and sci-fi sections, since those are my genres of preference, but today I post here for a crucial reason. Can I and should I also tag my fantasy novel as a young adult novel? Fantasy is a darn popular genre for the youth out there (The Harry Potter and Narnia series being most outstanding boxoffice smashes), but I'm not quite so sure that it's best to take that direction, as I never really intended to.
About the Story:
There is a great deal of monotheistic religion in it, like CS Lewis, but instead of being a hinted at and symbolized by a Lion, the God in my novel is just a god, but to the people he created he is -the- one formless, omniscient God, though he has a wife and kids who are also highly regarded, similar to human figures of worship (Jesus, Buddha, etc.). My MC, the prankster Prince Rajab of Ahe (aged about 18 or 19, having just recently "become a man" in his society), keeps hearing a strange chant, which just about drives him up a wall. On the same day that he learns his father, the King of Ahe is leaving on a quest with only a few oracles and a handful of guards, leaving his family behind. The two get into to a very heated argument and then Rajab decides to leave secretly, to follow his father. Unbeknownst to Rajab, his journey will become his own quest: to lead the people under God against a world-destroying plant known as the Amarante.
Rajab encounters demons, trolls, giants, dragons, genies and other monsters as well as Warlords, Bandits, and other misguided men and women. The fights would be pretty bloody, and I've guaranteed several not-so-clean deaths in my plot outline. However, I haven't started any of these battles, so I'm not sure yet what tone I will be setting for them.
Rajab and most of the other characters don't typically curse (at least in English), and what would come out of their mouths anyways would be rather obscure outside of context. (e.g: 'By the Fire of Shams!' (their Sun))
There is fairly minimal use of alcohol and mild sedative drugs. For example, everyone in Ahe breakfasts on a glass of Palm Wine during the temple gatherings.
I can't exactly say that there won't be sexually suggestive scenes...lust being a highly portrayble temptation and all, especially as Rajab is 18. However, there won't be any scenes where Rajab has sex because that would be an incredibly long tangent anyways. He may rescue a few women from being raped by bandits (or trolls or giants), but I suppose I could cut that part out if it gets too dicey.
So...what's your verdict? Young Adult or Old Adult?
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NaNo 2008, what will you bring?
More WKRC? The Triumphant return of Siegfred's Giant? The Misadventures of Hans and Greta? Or the newly discovered From one Architect to Another?
50,002 / 50,000
Mai 29, 2008 - 09 29
Sounds like YA to me. However I'd like to point out you can have sex, drugs, rape etc and it can STILL be YA. Obviously not graphic sex, but YA is aimed at a wide age range and it does have an upper band (15+). There is sex and drugs in Holly Black's Valiant as well as in Kris Reiz's Unleashed.
Fal x
1,645 / 50,000
Mai 30, 2008 - 21 10
I see...well then, it very well could be a Young Adult Novel. We'll see what happens as I write.
0 / 50,000
Jul 5, 2008 - 12 03
Looks YA to me.
Wow, this looks really cool!!
25,000 / 50,000
Jul 9, 2008 - 10 49
Hope you don't mind, I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I'm having a similar issue...
My novel, Requiem, is basically about a guy, Ian, who was taken from his home and thrown into a POW camp by the evil dictator who is trying to purge the land of evil by killing everyone. He escapes and joins in with the rebel group. His best friend is killed by the dictator so he joins the rebel army. He quickly rises through the ranks before being captured and starved. Through a traitor in Resnor's ranks, Ian manages to get back home and recovers just in time for the final battle against Resnor, where he is given control of the entire army.
There's more to it than that, and I know that it's science fiction, but is this YA?
6,313 / 50,000
Jul 13, 2008 - 08 59
Both of those COULD be YA. It's not really the idea that makes it YA, it's the way it's written and the characters. If the characters are teens, it can almost always be YA but if it's written more towards adults, it'll go that way, I wouldn't really worry about it too much, atleast until you finish it. Just write what seems natural.
1,645 / 50,000
Jul 31, 2008 - 13 09
Thanks everyone. To get a feel for the style, you can take a glimpse at my old excerpt on my profile. I have revamped it and added a bit more to it. I'm still finishing the chapter. This month has been crazy busy for me but maybe August will give me more time.