Changing your YA to Adult

[The_Ink_Goddess]

Originally Posted by Smiley0501

Is it bad but I would love to see your book as adult? When I think of youngish protagonists in the adult book world, I think of The Magicians, The Lovely Bones, Atonement (one of my faves of all time), White Oleander, The Virgin Suicides, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (granted that has multiple protagonists since its centred around a family), etc.

I think you can totally age up your characters but not make them too adult. I'm 23 but I still feel 16 The point is that you can age up your characters but keep your plot and have them not be too 'over the hill'ish. What if you had your MC looking back on this particular year in her/his life as it changed them forever? (Okay that sounds like a Mr. Movie trailer voice in my head, but you get the picture) I'd suggest tweaking your puppy love/first love, but other than that I could really see the book you're speaking of (um, at least I think so?) being made for an adult audience.

I'm sorry it's not working out with YA editors, but I am so glad you are getting positive rejections that they enjoy your writing style and look forward to work from you. Don't give up hope yet.

Interestingly, though, a lot of those books deal with very young (too young for YA) protaganists: Briony in Atonement is 13; Susie in The Lovely Bones is 14; granted, The Virgin Suicides' boys are 15-18, but to me, that's adults reflecting on their teen years from an adult perspective; White Oleander (I think) ranges from 12-20s, so it straddles several different audiences/genres 'age-wise.' Not quite sure how MD would fare on sub with a teenage protaganist in adult fiction...not saying it wouldn't work, I don't know enough about AF to say that, but I think some aging up might be in order to make it work better.

IDK, Missesdash, if it doesn't sell, it doesn't sell (way to go with the insightful comments there, Beth!) but going to AF would make me sad in a way because from what I've read of your novel (on SYW and QLH), it's about very YA themes, like self-harm in such a unique way...but, hey, selling is the most important thing.