Thoughts on YA
Thanks so much to those who commented on my question. I think you're right, I should just go for it.
As far as YA, I didn't express what was in my head when I talked about it earlier. I started writing YA in 2000, and back then was different than now as far as what was taught. Now you can break any dang rule you want. The books out these days are proof.
I wrote a YA novel a few years ago that has remained on Bookscan for three years, and I still get more letters from teens about it than any book I've ever had published and I've had quite a few books published. The book is written in first person, present tense, two POVs. I separated each scene by the name of the character whose POV it was and everything was divided by days, not chapters. I also co-authored a series told in first person from two different POVs. One chapter was the male protagonist, the next chapter the female protagonist, and so forth. So I'm no stranger to this.
I have a friend who is multi-published and is an award winning author with Bloomsbury in YA and she felt the same way as I did about writing for adults vs teens because she now also writes award winning books for adults. It is harder writing for teens than any other genre, IMO. There are different things you look at when you want to reach a teen audience. You never talk down to them, don't try to teach any lessons, and some may argue about this, but it's been said to go for a "hopeful" ending rather than a "happily-ever-after," because of what teens go through--they may not necessarily believe in such a thing as a happy ending, My oldest son is proof of that.
My friend, who speaks across the country at conferences and so forth, said that now days nothing is sacred in YA except for two things that I won't mention here as I don't feel right about posting it because the thought of them make me ill.
So my babbling boils down to my adult writing--having the MC in first, yet having other POVs in third. I have been hesitating doing it because I've always written in close third or first, but never both. Except with the last "Magic" book, but it doesn't count because of the nature of the beast. :o) My publisher does let me get away with a lot. :o)
Thanks again for your responses, and you're right. Why even worry about it? Just do what feels right.
As far as YA, I didn't express what was in my head when I talked about it earlier. I started writing YA in 2000, and back then was different than now as far as what was taught. Now you can break any dang rule you want. The books out these days are proof.
I wrote a YA novel a few years ago that has remained on Bookscan for three years, and I still get more letters from teens about it than any book I've ever had published and I've had quite a few books published. The book is written in first person, present tense, two POVs. I separated each scene by the name of the character whose POV it was and everything was divided by days, not chapters. I also co-authored a series told in first person from two different POVs. One chapter was the male protagonist, the next chapter the female protagonist, and so forth. So I'm no stranger to this.
I have a friend who is multi-published and is an award winning author with Bloomsbury in YA and she felt the same way as I did about writing for adults vs teens because she now also writes award winning books for adults. It is harder writing for teens than any other genre, IMO. There are different things you look at when you want to reach a teen audience. You never talk down to them, don't try to teach any lessons, and some may argue about this, but it's been said to go for a "hopeful" ending rather than a "happily-ever-after," because of what teens go through--they may not necessarily believe in such a thing as a happy ending, My oldest son is proof of that.
My friend, who speaks across the country at conferences and so forth, said that now days nothing is sacred in YA except for two things that I won't mention here as I don't feel right about posting it because the thought of them make me ill.
So my babbling boils down to my adult writing--having the MC in first, yet having other POVs in third. I have been hesitating doing it because I've always written in close third or first, but never both. Except with the last "Magic" book, but it doesn't count because of the nature of the beast. :o) My publisher does let me get away with a lot. :o)
Thanks again for your responses, and you're right. Why even worry about it? Just do what feels right.