What Genre am I?

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chevbrock

chevbrock

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'Evening Viewers,

My current WIP sees and saws from the present day to the main characters' teenage years (generally the idea is that no matter how bad things get, there is always light at the end of the tunnel). So, am I writing an adult novel, because my characters are now all grown up, or am I writing a YA novel, because most of the story happens to them while they are teenagers?
 
reenkam

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Depends on the tone, pacing, and (in some instances) the length of your book. It's not uncommon for adult books to be about teenagers (like Prep...I forget the author) or for the book to go back and forth between adult lives and childrens' lives (I think Stephen King does this frequently).

You have to ask yourself, Would teens or adults be more interested on the story I'm telling? You have to figure out if it's more about when they were teenagers and what happened then, or if it's more about when they're adults with the past material more supplimentary instead of central.

You can also try getting a few beta readers from each age group to see which is more interested in the storyline. Or maybe even just summarize the story for a few people from each age group.

Generally, though, YA novels tend to focus on teenagers only. I'd say high school to freshman year of college. Past that and you're getting into adult book territory, though teens may still read. But, generally, I think they'd be considered adult books.

I'll try to think of some YA books that deal with adult characters. Maybe if you take a look at some of them (if there are any) you'll be able to tell where in the spectrum your own WIP sits.
 
Spiny Norman

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Worry when it's time to submit and you're choosing agents, though... But I would say not to write to a genre. Just write the story you'd like to read, leave it alone for a while, and figure out what sort of animal it is later.
 

The Review Guy

(I think Stephen King does this frequently)
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He certainly does. For example, Dreamcatcher.

I have to echo the comment on looking for the tone of your book. That should give you the answer as to whether it's Adult or YA. I don't see why people are suggesting you don't focus on a genre until you're finished. You should always set out with one in mind, but most people find they incorporate other genres into the story by the end.
 
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