Comments on: Ask Daphne! What do you call this?

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:27:36 +0000

T.J. — again, just because it's high fantasy doesn't mean it can't also be YA. One is a genre, and one is an age range.

By: Sara Raasch

Sara Raasch — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:11:18 +0000

I WANT THOSE BOOTS.

Critique groups are absolutely vital to the writing process. I second Kate's suggestion to find one — it's never something you'll regret!

By: T.J.

T.J. — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:57:48 +0000

I can't believe I typo'd Adult with Author…I'm embarrassed.

Thanks for the clarifications Daphne, I appreciate the quick response.

I personally considered the story more of a 'high-fantasy' than a 'YA' but I didn't want to limit myself when looking for agents.

Thanks again

By: Kristi

Kristi — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:44:55 +0000

I would add one thing to do after you figure out your age range and finish your ms. Make sure to look at the agent listings on places like Publisher's Marketplace, Agentquery and Querytracker because your manuscript sounds like what agents term "high-fantasy." There are a lot of agents that will represent urban fantasy but explicitly state that they're not into high-fantasy (the kind involving alternate worlds with knights, wizards, dragons, etc). It'll save you time if you're targeting the right agents. Good luck.

By: Rissa Watkins

Rissa Watkins — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:42:02 +0000

I agree, Terry Brooks & LOTR are more adult than YA. I haven't read the Dragonlace series yet.

I am surprised to read Terry Brooks is re-releasing the Shannara books as YA- they don't have a YA feel to me. But then, far be it for me to question one of my favorite writers.

Perhaps you can find an agent who reps both YA and fantasy- that way you are covered either way?