What's Action Adventure?

Barber · Apr 17, 2008

OK, I'm a bit embarrassed to ask, but I googled this, tried the search engine here, and I'm still not clear on what it is. Please say it isn't a children's genre!

LOL, the reason I ask is because I received a rejection stating '...this is not well-written for a YA novel; as it stands, it's Action Adventure, which is something we don't represent.'

On the one hand, it's great to be sent in the right direction, but on the other, if my book seems geared to children even with all the violence and teen issues, I think I need to go back to writing class! Eek!

Thanks for any light you might shed on this genre.

Sarpedon · Apr 17, 2008

hmm, I'd say an action adventure is kind of a story like Raiders of the Lost Ark; there's lots of fights, chases, and stuff like that. Then there's the going to exotic locales, seeking treasure or something like it. In general a fast-paced, thinly characterized entertaining piece that isn't so deep.

Seif · Apr 17, 2008

As above, read: Indian Jones

Barber · Apr 17, 2008

Thanks for the response!

I guess I can live with that type of genre. It doesn't necessarily mean my book is a poorly written piece of crap...not necessarily. LOL.

I'm getting a little confused over this YA thing. My original understanding was it's a demographic, not a category, and that was recently reiterated by somebody's explanation of YA.

I've never seen agents who represent something called Action Adventure, though. Hmmmm....

Toothpaste · Apr 17, 2008

Also remember, it's just one agent. Don't go about changing everything just because one agent happened to choose the descriptive words "action adventure".

BlueLucario · Apr 17, 2008

Action Adventure.

Read bourne series, even though it's more thriller than adventure.

Simple

What's Action + Adventure?

triceretops · Apr 17, 2008

How about James Rollins? I think he typifies this, with exotic locals, the hunt/quest, danger and problem solving. At one time Richard Curtis told me I was a better action/adventure writer that I was a SF writer. I didn't know whether to take that as in insult or not. But I guess I have a ton of it in every book I write. My characters cannot stay in one setting before getting the hell out via, planes, trains, bikes, automobiles, boats or hot-air balloons. We're always on the fricken move.

ETA: Journey to the Center of the Earth--same stuff.

Also, believe it or not, I've heard that King Kong is solid action/adventure.

Tri

AncientEagle · Apr 17, 2008

Seif said:
As above, read: Indian Jones

Cherokee?

Seif · Apr 18, 2008

Lol,

Didn't you know they were doing a Bollywood version of one of Hollywood's most successful film franchise?

Phaeal · Apr 18, 2008

Barber said:
LOL, the reason I ask is because I received a rejection stating '...this is not well-written for a YA novel; as it stands, it's Action Adventure, which is something we don't represent.'

I'd guess that the agent is pointing you more toward the adult market than the child market. This particular agency apparently doesn't rep adult action adventure.

YA is a category that encompasses all genres: YA Fantasy, YA Romance, YA Mystery, and so on and so forth and including YA Action Adventure. The agent saw something in your book that to him disqualified it for YA. Could be too violent, could be the language or the tone, hard to say without further details.

What's Action Adventure?

Barber

Timing is everything...

Sarpedon

Seif

Barber

Timing is everything...

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

BlueLucario

Blood Elves FTW

triceretops

AncientEagle

Old kid, no need to be gentle.

Seif

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.