Thursday, April 30, 2009

This will probably be short. I'm at the hospital with my son today. Just read the post from Elana Roth entitled; The Lost World of Middle Grade. ARGH! That's what I'm writing, but as I read through, I discover it is talking about the reasons that agents aren't getting too many MG subs. They're begging for middle grade stories. YA is so popular now, due in part to the Twilight series. And she even talks about some Adult literary fiction agents crossing over to represent YA. Whoa! All because of Twilight. Also the fact, that YA sells better than adult. Plus, I know MG kids reading young adult now. Better stories, they tell me.

One blogger wrote that she believes J.k. is part of the problem. After her success, the market was flooded with MG series, causing some writers to back down from MG.

She ended saying to consider this post a call for smart, voice-driven middle grade. YAY! I'm going to answer that call--long about June! :)

11 comments:

  1. Robyn - I hope everything is all right with your son. Nothing serious, I hope.

    I really think J.K. started an unintentional landslide with the Harry Potter series. The market became, and still is, flooded with similar books.

    I think if you stick with your instinct and write the best you can, then you'll succeed. Every writer has a unique perspective. Your perspective will shine through.

    Isn't it sad that certain people are jumping on the YA bandwagon? I see it all as a necessary phase. I don't write YA or MG, so I'm hoping some agents keep looking for adult literary fiction.

    Good Luck!

    S

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  2. Hope you're okay!

    I love MG and YA. They're my favorite genres. MG is harder for me to write than YA is, though. I admire those that can. I think MG is one of the hardest genres to write in. Good luck in June!

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  3. Hope the hospital visit goes smoothly, Robyn!

    I do think J.K. had a huge impact on the changing market. She's so unbelievably impressive. Whether it's a tough market or whether your particular genre is in demand, if you write really well, I believe it will work out.

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  4. Hospital? Hope it's not serious!

    I didn't know you wrote MG -- me too :) What kind?

    I wish they'd stop telling everyone they want MG so our manuscripts would have less comepetition -- jk!

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  5. I'll be praying for you and your son!

    And LOL @ Tess: every time I see one of these calls for genre, I always think "Yay! That's what I'm doing!" and then, immediately afterwards: "Shh! Don't tell anyone else!"

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  6. Aut, but, but... I write adult. *sniffles*

    Good luck with your son. Hope all is well.

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  7. YA really is exploding right now. Even Harlequin has added a YA line.

    Hope everything's okay at the hospital.

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  8. To all who commented wishing everything is okay at the hospital, THANK YOU! It made me feel so good! They believe something could be wrong with his central nervous system. Scary stuff! Many more trips back to the hospital!

    Scott, I agree with you. The writing is what counts!! :)

    Windsong, Is MG harder to write? I don't know, hopefully I'll do it RIGHT! Thanks for the good wishes! :)

    Davin, I agree with you. It all comes down to the writing! :)

    Tess, I write action-adventure. Two girls lost in the wilderness and have to survive while finding their way out. What do you write? :)

    Beth, SHHHH! :)

    Lady Glamis, But you might write YA or MG SOMEDAY! :)

    Linda, Harlequin has a YA? I didn't know that. :)

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  9. Just a personal opinion. :) The writing has to be cleaner and tighter. And less wordy. (More complicated words.) I'm just not a good judge of what words that age group would be familiar with. My six-year-old sounds like a middle-aged man sometimes which is no help! ;-)

    *hugs* I hope the docs are able to figure out what's wrong and be able to help!

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  10. I'm sorry to hear about your son. I hope everything is okay. Take care of yourself!

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  11. I am an adult who reads (and writes) YA. I think that what is most important to readers is the quality of the storytelling and whether or not the reader feels a connection to the characters, rather than the genre per se.
    Just my 2 cents. :)
    Beth Fehlbaum, author
    Courage in Patience, a story of HOPE..
    http://courageinpatience.blogspot.com
    Ch. 1 is online!

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