Does your story have what publishers want? At the recent YA workshop I attended hosted by Jeni Mawter, we discussed what publishers look for in a novel. This was the consensus (for YA fiction):
- YA appeal - but what appeals to young adults? They want a story they can relate to, but also different enough from the everyday that they can be swept away. Paranormal fiction is so popular because it's dangerous, but the magic element means that the reader is safe - this doesn't happen in real life (unlike thrillers).
- Morally acceptable - What? I hear you say - sounds boring? No. There can be unethical characters, but the essence of the story will support the societal concept that this is wrong. For example, you can have racist characters, but it will be made obvious in the story that this is not the way to live among each other.
- Innovative - Vampirebots? Time-travelling monkeys that can tell the future? Every now and then a novelist hits on something fresh. The irony of this is that the market will then demand a stream of the same type of novels.
- Characters you can't forget - Who can forget Rue from Hunger Games? (sniff). Write characters that haunt our memories long after we close the last page.
- Original Voice - The best way to do this (I think) is to write true to your own voice, don't try to imitate someone else's style. The world does not need another Steinbeck, we already have his novels, write your own.
- Fresh use of language - language evolves radically, in fact 'radically' is not a buzz word anymore, nor is 'buzz word'. Although I see it in a lot of novels, none of the teens at my high school spell out OMG when they're speaking. It's not hard to see how teens and YAs speak, just check out their Facebook pages and blogs (but not in a stalky way).
- Story that moves the reader - does your story evoke emotion? It doesn't have to be sadness or joy, perhaps fear or anger?
Can you think of anything else to add to this list? I think if I was to ever self-publish I'd still use a list like this to make sure my work measured up.
Take out YA from # 1 and you could apply to most areas of kids' lit, PBs, tweens, teens. Useful as always. Should be mandatory checklist stuck above computer.:-)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list to keep in mind. Sure wish I could figure out the next "fresh" idea under Innovative :)
ReplyDeleteGood list! I know when I read I need the characters and the story to grab me. I can see where this can be applied for other age groups too. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteI think a writer simply has to love the world they've created and the characters that people it-- even the so-called villains and antagonists.
ReplyDeleteTwo cents.
#2 is especially interesting to me. I've never though of it that way, but now I see the books that portray immoral ideas usually revert back to the "morally acceptable." Great post!
ReplyDeleteThey want something fresh. Harry Potter is an example of offering something fresh. It was an immediate smashing succcess. Fresh characters. Fresh plots. Fresh settings. And wormholes too!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post!
ReplyDeleteGreat list. I like that one on "Morally Accetable." I was starting to think that YA publishers only wanted edgy and that meant stuff I don't want to lift up and make "acceptable."
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Whatever you write, make it interesting.
haha the problem with doing the same workshop is now I can't post this. Hehehe. You adapted it well :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for this list. Though what I write is mostl memoir, I think some of this applies.
ReplyDeleteLists like this are most useful. There is so much to remember when writing.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list to keep in mind. Sure wish I could figure out the next "fresh" idea under Innovative :)
ReplyDelete