Author: Catherine Knutsson
Date:   01-12-05 11:38

Hello everyone,

I've started writing a YA novel, and have to address the issue of violence. It's a urban fantasy style thing, and one of my characters kills someone.

In my current treatment, I've skipped over the gore/blood/guts for the most part, concentrating on the conflict that goes on between the combatants and within the individual characters, but for YA, how much violence is permissible? Any? None?

I did a search of similar books online & figure some is allowed, especially since Lord of the Rings is classified as young adult (I didn't know this!) I've done some searching on the net and there doesn't seem to be any hard and fast rule, so I was hoping one of you knowledgable folks would know or have some guidelines.

Thanks,
Catherine

Author: Catherine Knutsson
Date:   01-12-05 18:45

My goodnes, I didn't expect such a sarcastic and frankly, nasty, response, but perhaps I left myself open to it by not being specific enough.

Sorry to ask a legitimate question, especially because from what I've read, many publishers a looking for books that deal with the problems of teen violence, bullying, etc.

I've found most people to be very helpful on this forum, but I do believe this is uncalled for, especially since I referenced Lord of the Rings which is a readily accessible and profoundly pacificist work that must deal with some violence in order before of its pacificist nature.

Author: Granny
Date:   01-12-05 19:56

Catherine,

Mondo doesn't work and play well with others and is just trying to be irritating. He's not normally a part of this forum and gets booted periodically.

Young adult generally tries to avoid gore but they do deal with a considerable amount of violence. Edgy YA can be startlingly violent. I read one recently where the book ends with the protagonist being shot by his disturbed girlfriend (or she may have shot herself in front of him -- the reader is left to guess which). In The Chocolate War (certainly not a recent book), the protagonist is beaten nearly to death because of his unwillingness to bow to peer pressure and false authority.

So, if you believe violence is not gratuitous and is necessary to the plot and theme...do what you need to do.

gran

Author: Catherine Knutsson
Date:   01-12-05 21:10

Thanks gran,

It's been a while since I've read much YA (just made a visit to the library, though!) and I know that the stuff out now is considerably different from the stuff I read way back when. A teen I know was just telling me about a book with vampires and mist that kills everyone...eek! She really likes it though...go figure.

Catherine

Author: Irese Sheridan
Date:   01-13-05 03:47

Catherine -- You need to read more recent YA novels of all types to get a feel of what publishers accept now. Going to the library was an excellent idea!

I have an edgy, violent YA manuscript making the rounds. Only one complaint on the violence. Queried one agent and he said he couldn't take on such material because it "hit too close to home," or something like that.

Granny's right. Cormier wrote many intense YA novels. Look at S.E. Hinton, too. She wrote her best stuff many years ago, when she was barely out of her teens (or maybe was a teen), THE OUTSIDERS comes to mind. As for YA fantasy, with all the sword fights, dragon slaying, etc., there's plenty of violence. Harry Potter has a share of it, too, and the action grows gorier with each novel.

I wouldn't worry too much, but I'd read as many YA books as possible so you know the genre inside-out.

Good luck.

Irese

Author: Catherine S
Date:   01-19-05 14:57

I'm hopping in a little late on this, but I'd like to pass my opinion as a parent, not a writer. I'd love to see less violence in YA books. I'd like to see more positive messages. The video games, the music, movies, TV shows - all the media focuses on hatred, death....dark messages.

It would be nice for someone to write something fresh, but still entertaining.

Pirates of the Caribbean was a good example of it being done - it was a very entertaining movie with a lot of swear words or sex....

I also made my youngest son read Hardy Boys (he was NOT happy..hahah) recently and he was hooked!

CS