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Writers Discuss - YA versus Adult Fiction (#16)

• Okan-Zeeus

  

  Member
   

  October 7, 2015

  Writers Discuss
  

  Topic #16 – YA versus Adult Fiction

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Generally speaking, most fiction is divided up into young adult (YA) and adult categories. Whether we realize it or not, our writing is going to fit into one of these. Let's discuss the differences between these two categories and how each can affect what we write.

  Here are some questions to consider:

  What is YA? What is Adult Fiction?

  Which category do you enjoy reading/writing the most?

  How can we tailor our writing to our targeted age group?
  

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  If you have any suggestions for future topics include them in the comments section!

  Writers Discuss - Archive

  Writers Discuss
  

  Topic #16 – YA versus Adult Fiction

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Generally speaking, most fiction is divided up into young adult (YA) and adult categories. Whether we realize it or not, our writing is going to fit into one of these. Let's discuss the differences between these two categories and how each can affect what we write.

  Here are some questions to consider:

  What is YA? What is Adult Fiction?

  Which category do you enjoy reading/writing the most?

  How can we tailor our writing to our targeted age group?
  

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  If you have any suggestions for future topics include them in the comments section!

  Writers Discuss - Archive

• Ben W

  

  Member
   

  October 7, 2015

  It all really depends for me on Young Adult fiction and Adult fiction. But...

  What is YA? What is Adult Fiction? Young Adult fiction (to me) is the type of writings directed to a younger audience and (mostly) scraps the idea of long, drawn out battle, blood and gore, and several other things. I believe mild on the romance as well. Adult fiction is more of the writings directed to an older audience who are not afraid of being scared of wars, romances (including sex but that's all I'm touching on that), blood and gore. Very different I know

  Which category do you enjoy reading/writing the most? Adult fiction, without a doubt for reading and writing. Don't get me wrong, Young Adult fiction has its merits, but preference and all. 

  How can we tailor our writing to our targeted age group? That all depends on the writer. It starts with what you want the story to contain. Will it be filled with everything that make Young Adult fiction that or will it entail the machinations of Adult fiction? The choice is always up to you.

  It all really depends for me on Young Adult fiction and Adult fiction. But...

  What is YA? What is Adult Fiction? Young Adult fiction (to me) is the type of writings directed to a younger audience and (mostly) scraps the idea of long, drawn out battle, blood and gore, and several other things. I believe mild on the romance as well. Adult fiction is more of the writings directed to an older audience who are not afraid of being scared of wars, romances (including sex but that's all I'm touching on that), blood and gore. Very different I know

  Which category do you enjoy reading/writing the most? Adult fiction, without a doubt for reading and writing. Don't get me wrong, Young Adult fiction has its merits, but preference and all. 

  How can we tailor our writing to our targeted age group? That all depends on the writer. It starts with what you want the story to contain. Will it be filled with everything that make Young Adult fiction that or will it entail the machinations of Adult fiction? The choice is always up to you.

• Sotek

  

  Member
   

  October 10, 2015

  The best way I can describe Young Adult and Adult is by going straight to the heart of the matter. Young Adult is the toned down version of the world whether its fact or fiction. It gets the point across without the mid numbing details and descriptions of acts which would seem overly harsh, barbaric or sexual in nature. Can it contain Romance? Sure it can, even children stories have romance at eth centre. Take Beauty and the Beast the story of a strong willed girl and a werewolf type creature... Like that’s ever going to work..

  Adult fiction.

  The gauntlets come off and the claws come out. Welcome to the real world. This is where the truth of the events play out. Scenes of fighting with horrific injuries, sexual encounters, torture, rape, murder. But there’s a whole lot more to it than that.

  Adult fiction gives me an opportunity to fully explore the characters in detail in every aspect of their lives. It allows me to dwell into various relationships and show the differences within them. Take Sotek and Aela’s relationship. Theirs is vastly different to Vilkas who often visits the maids in the Bannered Mare. Every aspect of their lives is different and the adult world gives me the scope to show the differences.

  Here lies the problem though. When is too much detail too much. Even in adult fiction a graphic scene don’t have to be graphic whether its sexual, violent, bloody or not. At the end of the day it’s a balance between the two. In my story U.O.T.W. there is a powerful love scene in ch 25. From that point on do I bother writing a powerful love scene between Aela and Sotek? No, there’s no need to as the precedence is already set in that scene. As such I can skim over it with just the basic use of markers. Fights are the same, if you decide to go full  bore in a bloody fight scene then you don’t need t have that every time. Basic references will easily suffice once that scene is in place.

  That’s where balance comes into it. So truth be told I prefer Adult, however I usually write both.

  EDIT:

  One thing I feel it's improtant to add, don't write a sex scene or a bloody gory fight because you can. It has to make sense and siute the mood of the story. Because I want to write it is no excuse or reason.

  The best way I can describe Young Adult and Adult is by going straight to the heart of the matter. Young Adult is the toned down version of the world whether its fact or fiction. It gets the point across without the mid numbing details and descriptions of acts which would seem overly harsh, barbaric or sexual in nature. Can it contain Romance? Sure it can, even children stories have romance at eth centre. Take Beauty and the Beast the story of a strong willed girl and a werewolf type creature... Like that’s ever going to work..

  Adult fiction.

  The gauntlets come off and the claws come out. Welcome to the real world. This is where the truth of the events play out. Scenes of fighting with horrific injuries, sexual encounters, torture, rape, murder. But there’s a whole lot more to it than that.

  Adult fiction gives me an opportunity to fully explore the characters in detail in every aspect of their lives. It allows me to dwell into various relationships and show the differences within them. Take Sotek and Aela’s relationship. Theirs is vastly different to Vilkas who often visits the maids in the Bannered Mare. Every aspect of their lives is different and the adult world gives me the scope to show the differences.

  Here lies the problem though. When is too much detail too much. Even in adult fiction a graphic scene don’t have to be graphic whether its sexual, violent, bloody or not. At the end of the day it’s a balance between the two. In my story U.O.T.W. there is a powerful love scene in ch 25. From that point on do I bother writing a powerful love scene between Aela and Sotek? No, there’s no need to as the precedence is already set in that scene. As such I can skim over it with just the basic use of markers. Fights are the same, if you decide to go full  bore in a bloody fight scene then you don’t need t have that every time. Basic references will easily suffice once that scene is in place.

  That’s where balance comes into it. So truth be told I prefer Adult, however I usually write both.

  EDIT:

  One thing I feel it's improtant to add, don't write a sex scene or a bloody gory fight because you can. It has to make sense and siute the mood of the story. Because I want to write it is no excuse or reason.

• Sildriel

  

  Member
   

  October 15, 2015

  Whew! I'm late! Very late. 

  What is YA? What is Adult Fiction?

      The situation I find myself most unfortunate in is that I personally have no experience in writing adult fiction, and thus do no understand it completely. One: because I've yet to reach the age of adulthood; and two: I find it difficult to find an adult fiction novel that both interests me and doesn't lean so heavily on sex and frankly uncomfortable things. Because, you know; can't have my innocence thwarted.  But, as always, I'll try my best.

  YA fiction is known as young adult fiction, yet seems to not live up to its title. "Young adult", by my definition, would reach an age span of 20 to 23 years old. I would expect so, since that seems the most accurate literal interpretation of those two words. But, YA fiction seems to attract mainly older teenagers, from ages 16 to 19. YA fiction leans more on what these age groups identify with: the struggle of learning who you are, wondering what you're going to do or what destiny is in store for you, and merely the frustrations of what a teenager endures during this time. It seems they lean heavily on anything: romance, gore, violence, darker themes, etc. Rarely do I see a moderation of themes. Writers of YA fiction seem to curse moderation.

  Adult fiction, then, is naturally attached to adults, and thus lean on themes that adults can relate to. It deals deeper into the more mature themes, but in a lesser amount than YA. Perhaps. There are exceptions, of course, but it has been my experience. 

  Which category do you enjoy reading/writing the most?

  
  I've begun to lose my love for YA fiction, and have slowly inched my way to adult fiction. There is a massive appeal in the amount of complexity an adult fiction has to offer. Young adult fiction has become slow, boring, and over-simplified to me. It could be because I'm too picky, but I also haven't found a fondness for the prose as of late in young adult fiction. I've simply felt more of a story inside of adult fiction than I have of young adult, lately. Which is sad, because it's so hard to find a good, moderate adult book. ;-;

  I've come to really want to write an adult fiction novel simply for its depth as well.

  How can we tailor our writing to our targeted age group?

  Think: what does that age group think about the majority of the time? That should become a large theme in the story that you write; or at least an implied theme. 

  I honestly know very little towards either. I'd love to scan more on the subject.

  Whew! I'm late! Very late. 

  What is YA? What is Adult Fiction?

      The situation I find myself most unfortunate in is that I personally have no experience in writing adult fiction, and thus do no understand it completely. One: because I've yet to reach the age of adulthood; and two: I find it difficult to find an adult fiction novel that both interests me and doesn't lean so heavily on sex and frankly uncomfortable things. Because, you know; can't have my innocence thwarted.  But, as always, I'll try my best.

  YA fiction is known as young adult fiction, yet seems to not live up to its title. "Young adult", by my definition, would reach an age span of 20 to 23 years old. I would expect so, since that seems the most accurate literal interpretation of those two words. But, YA fiction seems to attract mainly older teenagers, from ages 16 to 19. YA fiction leans more on what these age groups identify with: the struggle of learning who you are, wondering what you're going to do or what destiny is in store for you, and merely the frustrations of what a teenager endures during this time. It seems they lean heavily on anything: romance, gore, violence, darker themes, etc. Rarely do I see a moderation of themes. Writers of YA fiction seem to curse moderation.

  Adult fiction, then, is naturally attached to adults, and thus lean on themes that adults can relate to. It deals deeper into the more mature themes, but in a lesser amount than YA. Perhaps. There are exceptions, of course, but it has been my experience. 

  Which category do you enjoy reading/writing the most?

  
  I've begun to lose my love for YA fiction, and have slowly inched my way to adult fiction. There is a massive appeal in the amount of complexity an adult fiction has to offer. Young adult fiction has become slow, boring, and over-simplified to me. It could be because I'm too picky, but I also haven't found a fondness for the prose as of late in young adult fiction. I've simply felt more of a story inside of adult fiction than I have of young adult, lately. Which is sad, because it's so hard to find a good, moderate adult book. ;-;

  I've come to really want to write an adult fiction novel simply for its depth as well.

  How can we tailor our writing to our targeted age group?

  Think: what does that age group think about the majority of the time? That should become a large theme in the story that you write; or at least an implied theme. 

  I honestly know very little towards either. I'd love to scan more on the subject.

• Andrew Shepherd

  

  Member
   

  October 17, 2015

  I think Sildriel has the best answer to this one. I agree it's a matter of personal perspective related to your experience. Adult fiction appeals to those of us out there that are older and had more worldly experience. If depends on the genre of course. In terms of YA fantasy fiction a good example would be the last few Harry Potter novels and adult would be GRR Martin. But I must admit, in terms of gratuitous sex and violence, especially sexual violence it is too OTT. These days it turns my stomach. Also reading a lot of sexually explicit and violent material as a young adult can warp the mind. I've seen this first hand in some young adults I have talked to that have seemed to normalize some acts which are actually very degrading and disrespectful. Off topic I know but still a valid comment I think.

  I think Sildriel has the best answer to this one. I agree it's a matter of personal perspective related to your experience. Adult fiction appeals to those of us out there that are older and had more worldly experience. If depends on the genre of course. In terms of YA fantasy fiction a good example would be the last few Harry Potter novels and adult would be GRR Martin. But I must admit, in terms of gratuitous sex and violence, especially sexual violence it is too OTT. These days it turns my stomach. Also reading a lot of sexually explicit and violent material as a young adult can warp the mind. I've seen this first hand in some young adults I have talked to that have seemed to normalize some acts which are actually very degrading and disrespectful. Off topic I know but still a valid comment I think.