Admitting It's Edgy?

Skodobah · Sep 24, 2009

Hi Everyone!

In your query letter, would you actually state that your work is "edgy YA," or just keep it YA and let the agent figure it out for themselves?

Just a little, tiny question that's burning my brain today! Thank you!

- Julie

suki · Sep 24, 2009

Skodobah said:
Hi Everyone!

In your query letter, would you actually state that your work is "edgy YA," or just keep it YA and let the agent figure it out for themselves?

Just a little, tiny question that's burning my brain today! Thank you!

- Julie

Depends on the agent and why you are putting it in. But for the most part, I think your pitch part of the query (the 1-3 paragraphs about the plot/MC) should show the book is edgy, if it is. So, that would make it unnecessary to tell the agent it is edgy, because the plot parts would show it is edgy.

But, if the agent said they were especially looking for edgy YA, I might add that to the line re why I am querying this agent. But otherwise I think it is probably redundant if you're accurately pitched the plot.

~suki

Danthia · Sep 24, 2009

Ditto Suki, because everyone's definition of edgy will be different.

lonestarlibrarian · Sep 24, 2009

Another vote for letting the story elements speak for themselves. Others may feel differently, but when I see someone talking about how "edgy" their book is, it feels very self-conscious, if that makes sense? Like they're deliberately pushing boundaries by dealing with controversial subject matter. Whereas if someone says, "My book is about a junior high school student who gets sucked into gang life and prostitution due to low self-esteem," it has more impact because it's all about the ideas themselves, rather than the perceived "edginess" of those same ideas.

sydney · Sep 25, 2009

I agree that you shouldn't say it's edgy lol
I don't know why, but I don't like it when people say that. To me it comes off as "oh my god like, my novel is SO edgy. It has sex, drugs, and abuse, I'm so controversial."
Show them it's edgy... don't tell them.

Angela_785 · Sep 25, 2009

suki said:
But for the most part, I think your pitch part of the query (the 1-3 paragraphs about the plot/MC) should show the book is edgy
~suki

I agree. But as suki also says, it wouldn't hurt to mention once in your 'I'm seeking representation for' line that it's edgy if the agent you're going after is looking for edgy.

bethany · Sep 25, 2009

I called mine edgy, I think, but it was more of a buzz word 3 years ago when I was querying...

motormind · Sep 26, 2009

Just tell what the story is about. Let others decide whether it's edgy or not.

YAwriter72 · Sep 26, 2009

sydney said:
I agree that you shouldn't say it's edgy lol
I don't know why, but I don't like it when people say that. To me it comes off as "oh my god like, my novel is SO edgy. It has sex, drugs, and abuse, I'm so controversial."
Show them it's edgy... don't tell them.

YES! Every time I see someone posting about their "edgy" YA it makes my skin crawl.

Admitting It's Edgy?

Skodobah

I don't dream for nothing!

suki

Opinionated

Danthia

lonestarlibrarian

senior bean supervisor

sydney

Angela_785

bethany

:)

motormind

YAwriter72

someone let me off this crazy ride