Current YA vs. Adult Market

Erin · Nov 19, 2008

I'm taking a consensus to help me decide!

With the economy the way it is right now, and agent blogs mentioning they are pickier than ever....which novel would you shop around to agents at this time? A YA Fantasy (which genre is ubber hot right now); or an adult Urban Fantasy (which is also hot, but maybe more competitive).

I plan on writing in both age brackets, taking the lead with whichever one I (hopefully) can place first.

So what are your thoughts?

Shady Lane · Nov 19, 2008

why not query both?

I never queried one ms at a time...when I got my offers, 3 were on one book and 1 was on another.

You'd be querying different sets of agents for both books (for an agent that reps both you'll just have to make a choice) so I don't see any reason this isn't idea...2x the chances.

Nakhlasmoke · Nov 19, 2008

Both.

Not at the same time though. (eta: by this I mean, don't query both to one agent at the same time, sorry if that wasn't clear)

Or whichever one is stronger.

*is very helpful*

Claudia Gray · Nov 19, 2008

ITA that the stronger book, the one you feel most passionately about, is the one you should shop, regardless of genre. (My answer might be different were one of your genres something that was markedly less commercial, but both of these markets are quite strong now.)

reenkam · Nov 19, 2008

I'd say query both, but (as said) don't query the same agent or the same agency with both books. Make two seperate lists of different agents/agencies, then send them both off. If an agent reps both YA and adult, send whichever one you think they'd like the best based on research.

Good luck!

Maprilynne · Nov 19, 2008

I vote for both as well, if--like Claudia said--you feel they are both equally strong.

Erin · Nov 19, 2008

Thanks all for the input! I'm devising a new plan of "attack" for January.

I definitely wouldn't query both books to the same agent or even the same agency. But I may try a select few YA agents while I'm shopping the UF.

Danthia · Nov 19, 2008

I'd pick the best one and shop that first.

I'll play Devil's Advocate here and ask what happens if both books find agents who love them, then what do you do? You can't really have two agents unless you write in drastically different markers, like non-fiction health and romance. You could end up in a very difficult situation and if it goes badly, you minght find yourself with a bad reputation in a very small world. Agents want the author, not just the book, and they'd probably not take kindly to finding out the author they just fell in love with is negotiating with another agent on another book.

Shady Lane · Nov 19, 2008

Danthia said:
I'd pick the best one and shop that first.

I'll play Devil's Advocate here and ask what happens if both books find agents who love them, then what do you do? You can't really have two agents unless you write in drastically different markers, like non-fiction health and romance. You could end up in a very difficult situation and if it goes badly, you minght find yourself with a bad reputation in a very small world. Agents want the author, not just the book, and they'd probably not take kindly to finding out the author they just fell in love with is negotiating with another agent on another book.

I had absolutely no problem with this. My agent knew I had other offers--I happened to mention that they were on another book. She was thrilled that I had more than one book that was publishable. The book we ended up submitting first was the one the other agents saw and she didn't. Next, we're subbing the one she originally offered on.

I suppose it could be different since both my books were in the same genre, but I can't imagine an agent would be angry that a potential client has more than one publishable book.

Erin · Nov 19, 2008

Danthia said:
I'd pick the best one and shop that first.

I'll play Devil's Advocate here and ask what happens if both books find agents who love them, then what do you do? You can't really have two agents unless you write in drastically different markers, like non-fiction health and romance. You could end up in a very difficult situation and if it goes badly, you minght find yourself with a bad reputation in a very small world. Agents want the author, not just the book, and they'd probably not take kindly to finding out the author they just fell in love with is negotiating with another agent on another book.

Thanks. I've considered this issue, and am factoring this into my plan going forward. Although, I've seen people with 2 agents, it's not something I want. Some agents just don't rep YA, though, even if they rep comparable adult fiction.

My main concern here was what editors are buying in this economy. The trend from agent blogs I've read shows that YA seems to be the hot seller now. If there's pull-back on adult books contracts, but not on YA, then I'd rather shop the YA.

Danthia · Nov 20, 2008

That's good to know Shady

Thanks! I would not have expected that response at all from agents. And I don't think agents would be upset about two publishable books, I just thought that it fell into the "wasting our time" category" if they knew another agent was bidding on a second book. But I suppose two books isn't that different from one book at two agents, is it?

Current YA vs. Adult Market

Erin

Listening to my other selves

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

Nakhlasmoke

yes

Claudia Gray

reenkam

aka cupcake

Maprilynne

Author Waiting in the Wings

Erin

Listening to my other selves

Danthia

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

Erin

Listening to my other selves

Danthia