How much violence?

Zoombie

Zoombie

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How much violence can I get away with? I want to thrill my readers with exciting chases, thrilling gun battles, lots of explosions and giant space lizards. But I don't want to never be published. Are there any rules and guidelines?

Speaking as a YA myself, seventeen years as of today, I think I should know what's appropriate for my age group. But publishers might not have the same view as mine...seeing as how I watched Night, Dawn and Day of the Dead when I was fifteen and saw progressively gorier and gorier movies, rounding it off with a trip to the Grindhouse last week. So I'm taking my ideas on what's appropriate for children as being warped from the outset. What are your ideas?
 
Toothpaste

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Okay so here's what I'm thinking. I'm thinking why not write a pulp book that's an adult novel, but meant sort of for the younger set? The thing about YA books is often while fun and cool, deal with issues of growing up and socialisation etc. Basically what it's like to be a teenager. Now there are action adventures out there: Alex Ryder etc. And there are horror books out there too (in fact they are super popular). But just cause you are a teenager doesn't mean you have to write for other teenagers. Do you really want to write a YA?

Maybe if you told us the basic plot it might help a bit (just so you know, I've written an MG where a heck of a lot of people die, and the MC is almost tortured - but the gore factor is zero. It just all depends . . . )
 
moondance

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Read Melvin Burgess' 'Bloodtide'. You might be surprised how much violence you can get away with these days ;)
 
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Just look at the later Harry Potters. Lots of dying and violence. I say, write what you like. If you like it and your friends like it, chances are lots of other kids will as well. If it's too violent for you, then don't write it.
 
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