Is anyone writing a clean YA?

jenniiyq2 · Mar 26, 2009

And by clean I mean seriously G/PG. Has anyone sold a clean YA book recently? And if so what genre was it? I've got some editor interest in mine (Thanks to my awesome agent, Kirsten Manges) but they want revisions, not sure what the revisions will entail... Just curious how super squeaky clean--still make your heart race like mad when they kiss--books are doing?

Thanks in advance! Jenni

Mumut · Mar 26, 2009

Mine is clean. I don't even have a kiss (I don't advocate spreading diseases orally). Mine is historical fantasy. I've a growing fan club. I've written two books in the series and I've a list of names of buyers for the third. Both books are available in Australia but wil be in print in USA/Canada in the very near future and also available in e-book form and via Amazons. I've been reviewed in a UK Historical Re-enactment magazine!

Danthia · Mar 26, 2009

Clean is a very subjective word. You mention sex, but what about violence? Or mature themes? If you're writing a thriller, there may not be any kissing at all, but it would still be a PG book due to other subject matter. A romance will have kissing, but depending on the story it could be adult type romance or first blush sweet kiss type romance.

Twilight (book one) is pretty squeeky clean by your post standards, and you see how well that did. The Gallagher Girls series is also clean, and that's a huge success. And I don't think there's a lot of kissing going on in Harry Potter. Kissing will occur in any genre heavy on romance, as kissing is a major part of romance. Genres that don't focus on romance will have less kissing, if any at all. Genres that mix the two will have a variety of kissing, from sweet to hot and heavy.

The story is what matters, not the movie-style rating. If kids want racy they have plenty of avenues to get it, same as if they want pure. When they pick up your book, it'll be because they want to know the story, not because it has or doesn't have kissing. It can be squeaky clean and still be successful.

Don't fret over it

Just give them the best story you can.

Horseshoes · Mar 26, 2009

Ooh, I don't fit in G-rated. In several of my YA novels, the kid becomes and adult by the end of the book...but in all of my YAs, a kid deals w/ mature themes/probs/questions. That said, I think kids deal w/ mature themes/probs/questions.

And that said, there's nothing at all wrong w/ squeaky clean either. There are a lot of audiences out there. I dealt w/ Kirsten a little bit back before she went out on her own and I think you're in very good hands.

Zipotes · Mar 26, 2009

My first book was pretty clean and when I was editing I added more 'unclean' aspects. Still, clean compared with other YA stuff I've been reading.

Sage · Mar 26, 2009

Teenagers who are like I was will appreciate the clean book, jenni.

My best friend was reading adult romances, meanwhile I was scandalized by the idea of reading about characters having sex.

I have novels that are clean about sex, clean about violence, or that have one or the other (but not both, hmmm).

timewaster · Mar 26, 2009

jenniiyq2 said:
And by clean I mean seriously G/PG. Has anyone sold a clean YA book recently? And if so what genre was it? I've got some editor interest in mine (Thanks to my awesome agent, Kirsten Manges) but they want revisions, not sure what the revisions will entail... Just curious how super squeaky clean--still make your heart race like mad when they kiss--books are doing?

Thanks in advance! Jenni

I don't usually have sex in my teen books but there is usually a sexual subtext. I'm waiting to hear back on one I submitted in Novemeber and as far as I remember there is nothing sexual at all going on between the main characters. It is a post apocalytpic adventure so it doesn't depict a particularly pleasant, safe society and it isn't an innocent sort of book, but there is no actual sex in it.

Maprilynne · Mar 26, 2009

*raises hand* Mine is very clean. Not G, there are a few swear words, but def. PG. And my whole series should be. It's been interesting, actually, because as I have talked to librarians and bookstore people, they have stressed to me over and over again how excited they are that they can recommend my book to kids not only in their teens, but down to ten, and all the way up to eighteen. I'm not saying this to brag, but to let you know that the librarians and book people are seeing a demand for this kind of book.

And, well, it's not out yet so I can't tell you how well it's doing.

It is, however, YA fantasy, set in this contemporary US.

Hope that is somewhat helpful!

(Also, just a note, you can ask to see the requested revisions before you commit to doing them.)

jenniiyq2 · Mar 26, 2009

Mumut--Wow! Congrats! What great news for you.

Danthia--Thanks and very good points. I'm not into overly violent either--definitely PG there.

Horseshoes--Really? You've worked with Kirsten? i LOVE her! Thanks

Zipotes--LOL! The other stuff I've been reading has floored me sometimes... I really don't think there is much line between adult/YA anymore.

Sage--I've had a lot of awesome response from my teen proof readers even ones who generally read much heavier stuff say they didn't even miss it. I'm with you when I was a teen I wanted an awesome story that didn't make me blush too.

Timewaster--Hahah! You sound like me... I've written 6 books the past year and people are always asking me about different ones and I'm going, "uh, I think it has this in it." Or "Oh, I think that's the one where--" Good luck with your book. Mine's been with this editor since november and I've been really patient since she's awesome, but with this ecomony... sheez.. super, super slow.

Maprilynne--hey! I know you! You're the next Stephenie Meyer--well, as far as the publishing business is whispering. You met my friend Jenn at a conference a little while back in Provo. Good luck with your book! I hear it's awesome! Or at least what you've read was... You've given me lots of hope with the librarians and booksellers... I'm always on the hunt for a great books for my 10 year old daughter, glad to see there's other people who feel the same as me.

adarkfox · Mar 26, 2009

My finished manuscript is very PG and set in contemporary US. The story itself didn't really call for anything wild, but there is a light peppering of "damn its" and a kiss or two- if sex drugs and rock and roll were significant to the plot it probably would have been filled with dirt, but the story itself didn't call for it.
My hope is that it is embraced for the ability for anyone to read it 10-100.

But don't get me wrong, there's *always* a place for a good dirty YA!

Red.Ink.Rain · Mar 26, 2009

My story is very dark, but there are very few swearwords, one kiss, and no sex. The most you get is hints about a girl who was raped, and none of those details are explicit at all.

Is anyone writing a clean YA?

jenniiyq2

Mumut

Well begun is half done...

Danthia

Horseshoes

lisapreston.com

Zipotes

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

timewaster

present

Maprilynne

Author Waiting in the Wings

jenniiyq2

adarkfox

designs books | writes books

Red.Ink.Rain

Not your kid brother's YA