Have you ever changed the category?

EngineerTiger · Jan 31, 2007

Okay, I just received an interesting rejection. The agent said the "writing is charming, the story is engaging, but I'm afraid I don't handle young adult."

Now, this is a fantasy series that was written a number of years ago. I'm guessing that, with the success of J.K. Rowling and some others who are writing longer books for the younger readers, that what I have always assumed was adult fantasy has blurred the lines a bit.

So, my fellow scribes, have you ever changed the category of a book and started targeting a different market? If so, did it confuse the heck out of your brain matter to do it?

Toothpaste · Jan 31, 2007

I never have, but why not have a re-read of your book. If it may be more marketable as a YA, well why not? As long as you don't feel you are changing the heart of the novel . . .

janetbellinger · Jan 31, 2007

I have changed the category but I still met with rejection. lol

Siddow · Feb 1, 2007

Not after the fact, but during the writing of it. I had one that I started as a dramatic women's fiction, ended up being a horror novel.

If the agent said it was charming and engaging, what's the problem? Give it a read-through, remove anything that doesn't fit with YA, and submit elsewhere.

scarletpeaches · Feb 1, 2007

EngineerTiger said:
Okay, I just received an interesting rejection. The agent said the "writing is charming, the story is engaging, but I'm afraid I don't handle young adult."

Now, this is a fantasy series that was written a number of years ago. I'm guessing that, with the success of J.K. Rowling and some others who are writing longer books for the younger readers, that what I have always assumed was adult fantasy has blurred the lines a bit.

So, my fellow scribes, have you ever changed the category of a book and started targeting a different market? If so, did it confuse the heck out of your brain matter to do it?

Funny, the same thing happened to me. I wrote what could be described as a chicklit novel; I certainly said as much in the proposal and I got a rejection back on the grounds the agent didn't represent children's books.

Go figure.

I wondered if they'd even read the first chapter. Then I started submitting to other agents instead.

victoriastrauss · Feb 1, 2007

My first novel (I was absolutely certain) was for adults, and that was how I marketed it. When I found an agent, she felt it was a YA book, because of the teenage protagonist. That's how it eventually sold.

- Victoria

EngineerTiger · Feb 1, 2007

Thanks everyone for the information. After a quick scan comparing it to current adult fantasy and the more popular YA fantasy, I have a feeling I should re-write the query and market it to the YA agents that handle fantasy. Ah, the fun I've missed in my 12 year self-imposed exile. I had forgotten how much I enjoy writing and talking about writing. Very glad to have found this community. Thanks for the support.

Have you ever changed the category?

EngineerTiger

Writing HF Again, Thank God

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

janetbellinger

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

scarletpeaches

victoriastrauss

Writer Beware Goddess

EngineerTiger

Writing HF Again, Thank God