Although I won't be doing this every week, Tuesdays will be when I discuss all things YA related. Which of course is a bit like cheating for me, because I mainly write YA.
But then, I've always been a fan of leeway. ;-)
So... there are more than a few things that I'm wondering about YA, so I'll probably get around to it eventually, but for today, I think the Why I Write post is a good idea.
Why do I write YA? It's actually a question that I have asked more than once since I started Doorways. See... when I saw my one main character and he got me considering the idea, I thought I'd write a modern Chronicles of Narnia.
Within a few days though, I realized my mistake. See... the character who inspired me is... well... Not standard hero material. Nor, for that matter, is he standard brooding hottie material.
Oh no, don't get me wrong. He broods. He's hot. He's heroic. When he wants to be. Which is interesting because more often than not, he doesn't give a...
Also... he grew up in a pretty much medieval world. So... eighteen is plenty old to do certain things. Certain things that puts Doorways in a very interesting situation where it's YA, but for older audiences. Doorways itself isn't that bad, but the rest of the series will definitely push limits of what a lot of people consider to be "rules".
But you know what? I decided to be brave and write it anyway. Because it's a damn good story. Even if I say so myself. And the characters are awesome. And they happen to be teenagers.
So, I guess I could post about how I want to influence young minds (uh... optimistic), or how I love the possibilities of coming of age (I do), or how it's an interesting market to be in (don't care). Instead, I'd say I write YA because my biggest story idea is YA. And because my inspiring character holds my mind hostage and only characters with guns and wicked cool super powers survive in my thoughts with him guarding them. Sounds like I'm complaining, but then, there are worse things than having a hot guy cruising around in my imaginary world. Much much worse things.
Do you write YA? Why or why not?
Sounds like you have a good reason to write YA. :)
ReplyDeleteI do write YA for most of my novel-length works. It's what I enjoy reading and the characters fall within the age range. In the end, the novels call for them to be YA.
I don't know if what I write could be considered YA just because my narrators have been teens.
ReplyDeleteI love that you decided to write it, anyway. Kudos for you! Thanks for participating in YATT!
ReplyDeleteI'm still debabting if mine is YA/Crossover but before it's published, it will be determined.
ReplyDeleteYou seem passionate about what you write and to me that is what matters most.
ReplyDeleteI don't at the moment. But I do have an idea for a YA story tucked away. It's just that I have a few other things on my to write list at the moment :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't write YA because I've never had a YA idea. Yet. Good for you for writing the stories you love :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a damn good story with awesome characters. Keep going and do your thing...without apology.
ReplyDeleteThere are many books out there which aren't meant for the YA market and yet have YA main characters. I do write YA because I love the teen mind, the issues they have to face, the whole coming of age thing.
ReplyDelete"I write YA because my biggest story idea is YA." I'm there with you. Most of the ideas I generate feel younger, but the "big one" right now is more YA.
ReplyDeleteBy the way you are talking I can see you have an ardent approach to writing YA. I'm confident you will do as you say.
ReplyDeleteMy spouse, the Education Tipster is eight chapters into a YA novel.
I would try one but do not have a good premise.
Good luck on your efforts Misha.
I would love to attempt writing a YA, but feel like maybe I can't curb the adult in me for very long before I start wanting to swear a lot. Not that I swear a lot in my writing now... I just want to try my hand at all sorts of different genres, if I get around to it will be another story. ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't write YA exclusively, but I love it because it's the genre with the most freedom. Not that you can do whatever you want, but you can do things that vary from "expectations" as long as it works your audience is with you. Plus, I think some of the best writing around nowadays is YA.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! :)
ReplyDeleteI've written some YA--though it's not the genre I automatically gravitate toward. One novel where the characters were teenagers, and another that could be considered YA or "New Adult".
Sounds to me like you're passionate about writing YA, which is something that every writer needs about their genre. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteAll the voices I've had for past and present manuscripts have always smacked of YA, even if the plot material bends the genre confines. I never really sit down to think how old the protagonist is until well after I've brained stormed everything else.
ReplyDeleteI usually opt to write adult or MG instead of YA, but I do love the idea of YA with more adult-leaning content.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could categorise my writing. I'd like to call my work a fiction for all kinds of audience. But inspite of that I do find that my story would interest a lot of teens and young adults. There! So maybe I do write YA. I don't know?! Anyway I'm eager to see your hottie hero in action soon :)
ReplyDeleteCheers!
I enjoy reading YA. If it's mystery or romance- I just love it!
ReplyDeleteIt just seems to come to me: YA. I also like adult but I find myself writing more and more in the YA genre and liking it. It's such a chaotic time for teens, they deserve a voice, hopefully mine fits.
ReplyDeleteI don't write YA only because the voices in my head are older...women specifically. My first book however was for the age group older than YA, whatever that is.
ReplyDeleteJust dropping back by to let you know that I gave you an award over at my blog!
ReplyDeleteI love writing YA, for all those reasons and more. Maybe I just haven't grown up. LOL I have a teen living in my head. Or, lots of them!
ReplyDeleteGreat answer! I love writing YA because I don't know how to write for any other age group. Or rather, the 17 year old in my head won't let me write for any other age group. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you! (love the idea of a hot brooding guy roaming around in my mind) but I also write YA because that just seemed to FIT, not for the other maybe more practical reasons
ReplyDeleteMany wishes and luck for the same... its good to have this decision as final...
ReplyDelete