"Reportedly, She's Doing Some Kind Of Artwork Now..."

That was the buzz when I quit Perfectly-Good-Day-Job about eleven years ago to go to welding school, then secluded myself away in my lair and refused to show anyone anything I was working on for nearly a year.

There's been a bit of a repeat performance regarding my writing. I haven't shared it with any of my friends or family. I haven't wanted to talk about my stories, which are predominantly about teenagers, and pretty dark, and maybe even weird. I've felt a bit isolated about it, even if it has been self-imposed. Now I've learned there is a name for this kind of writing called YA (Young Adult) and it's not only widely read by adults as well as teens, but also can be very literary.

Now I'm feeling more secure about sharing my writing--which I have been working quite hard at for several years now. It feels more ready than before. My first beta (test reader other than my crit partner) is in her fifties. When she picked up my novel for a quick scan, she got well into chapter 4 before she put it down. That gratified me to no end. This person has very sophisticated, adult taste, and she is really enjoying my story. (insert big goofy grin)

When this article appeared last week it ignited a firestorm of protest within the writing community. Read this excellent post for one author's very thoughtful reaction. Most people I know, don't know what YA is-- don't know, in fact, what any genre is because they aren't writers. For those of you who don't, I sympathize. It is confusing. Those books in that other section of the book store-- you feel a little dumb even going into that section don't you-- like venturing into the Jr. department with all the low-rise skinny jeans? Get past it-- it's just marketing. It's much bigger than Harry Potter and Twilight and not all of it is kiddie fare.

Why "Joy School" or "Durable Goods" by Elizabeth Berg or "Glory goes and Gets Some" by Emily Carter, or "Our Sometime Sister" by Norah Labiner or even, maybe, "The Little Friend" by Donna Tartt are exclusively "adult" makes little sense when you take a really good look at what's over in YA. It isn't based on quality of writing-- as evidenced by Don Delillo being shelved in the same section as Candace Bushnell? What the--?

Actually, the jeans metaphor works pretty well for this. Some are "mom jeans", some are definitely "kid jeans", but some, like levi's, are universal. The industry knows kids will buy the most jeans- so they want to market to them. They stuff their section with kid, as well as other more universal styles that seem "cool enough". Stores selling jeans have caught on that it behooves them to stock levi's in both the jr. and misses departments. Catch-up publishing.

One thing I love about this category, that seems to define it really, besides young main characters-- is the immediacy of the writing. Also, some of the more edgy aspects of my writing that I was concerned would be off-putting to an exclusively adult audience seem quite welcome in this genre. I've always felt a special affection for teens, especially those on the fringe girls-- the ones that everyone wonders "what happened-- they used to be so nice." They need someone in their corner. I very much like the idea of smart, literary YA.

Can any of you think of any books you've read that may be "undercover" YA reads?