Chick-Lit is Six Feet Under

maddythemad · Oct 16, 2006

OK, everyone's been telling me that chick-lit is dead, and I believe you, but what about YA chick-lit? Not only do I see lots of new titles showing up on shelves, but I know that several reputable agents (Kristin Nelson comes to mind) rep YA chick-lit.

Futhermore, if YA chick-lit is just as dead as its adult counterpart, then can I just call my YA chick-lit plain YA? And what do people think of when they hear "YA" with no other categories? Is Meg Cabot's work YA chick-lit or just YA?

Thanks!

Christine N. · Oct 16, 2006

YA chick-lit, AFAIK, is alive and kicking. I think some of Meg's books are chick-lit; certainly the Princess Diaries series. Gossip Girls and A-List series are HUGE among teen girls, and then there's Lauren' Barnholdt's new Reality Chick. Incidentally Lauren also teaches an online class on writing YA Chick-Lit.

As long as YA girls like going to the mall, picking out lip gloss and talking about boys, there will be a market of YA chick-lit.

maddythemad · Oct 16, 2006

I admit I'm a big Gossip Girl fan.

badducky · Oct 16, 2006

It's only dead until someone comes along with a really exceptional story that blows everyone's socks off.

Except mine. I don't read chick lit.

Miss Java · Oct 16, 2006

Chick Lit Dead?

(gulp)

Geesh I hope not. I just started one. Well, no matter the status of the Chick Lit market by the time I am done, I am sure I will have had fun writing it.

Gwenzilla · Oct 17, 2006

Dead? I dunno. It's all I ever see on display tables at bookstores or at Tesco. That doesn't spell 'dead' to me.

ATP · Oct 17, 2006

Questions about chick lit and its viability have also been discussed in other forums.

Try an all-forum archives search: chick lit, chick-lit

aadams73 · Oct 17, 2006

Fresh and original chick lit is alive and kicking. The me-too chick lit is dead, so make sure you have something new to offer.

I just love Meg Cabot's books. And her blog is pretty hilarious too.

maddythemad · Oct 17, 2006

Thanks everyone! I dunno, my chick-lit is sort of a mix between, like, Meg Cabot and staight old Gossip Girl. Except it's not either one of those, of course, because it's not as good.

Love, love, love Meg Cabot. I will have to check out her blog.

~ Maddy

And thanks for the suggestion, ATP. I'll look into it.

emeraldcite · Oct 17, 2006

Keep in mind: anything that shows up on the shelf today was bought about a year ago.

Basically, the shelf is about a year or so behind what the market purchases. From the looks of various agent websites, the buying trend for Chick Lit is decreasing. Things are getting cramped in the genre and they're getting pickier.

Elektra · Oct 17, 2006

I think YA chick-lit is a bit of an oxymoron. There's YA directed at teen girls, but chick-lit is, by definition, directed toward a slightly older market. It's like saying "chick-lit women's-lit". So have no fear. Even if chick-lit dies away, the door for YA will still be wide open (I hope!).

Chick-Lit is Six Feet Under

maddythemad

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover

maddythemad

badducky

No Time For Chitchat, Kemosabe.

Miss Java

Awesome R Us

Gwenzilla

Rarely a leaf on the wind

ATP

What happened to my LIFE?!

aadams73

A Work in Progress

maddythemad

emeraldcite

Art is Resistance

Elektra

Don't Call Me Sweetheart