It was never really my intention to become a Young Adult writer.
When Skim was first published I wrote the story for myself. I had the story of this teenage girl, this goth girl stranger in a strange land, bumping around in my head for years. I was very lucky to get to tell it with Jillian Tamaki, and make a comic of this story with her. Which of course turned it into something beyond what I could have ever imagined.
I will note that the original comic, when it was published by Kiss Machine, had cover with the word "fuck" on it. As in, "This is the Diary of Skim Takota: So Fuck Off."
So, yeah, not so much for kids. From a cover standpoint.
When Skim was sold to Groundwood books, and became a full length graphic novel, so began my Young Adult life.
(We changed the cover)
And, again, being published by an incredible YA publisher, didn't, to me, make SKIM a YA book. But I was super happy that it was being put into the spaces that YA books go. That being a YA book meant I got to talk to, amongst other readers, kids. I got to do readings for kids and go to classrooms and talk to kids about creative writing.
I will add that, at one of these readings, I was given a warning that, because I was reading to grade 8s, there was to be no "fucks." Or any other inappropriate language. And the VP of the school maintained a close proximity, in case there was an accidental swear and she had to yank me off the stage.
(There were no accidental fucks that day. I know how to handle my fucks when I need to.)
Because SKIM is a comic, I also got to talk to a lot of adults, comic readers, who loved the book.
So, really, best of both worlds. Comic readers rule. They are the fashion forward I love to love. And they pay attention to detail, man. (OK - enough sucking up).
Post-SKIM, I've been doing a lot of writing for publishers who are focusing on a YA market, mostly a market for girls.
Emiko Superstar was part of a specific line of comics for girls - MINX. I think being a part of that line got me to thinking more about what it means to write specifically for teens. Mostly because it was the first time I had discussions with people, other writers, editors, and so on while on panels and at conventions, about what you couldn't include in books for this age group.
And to be clear, "this age group" is pretty vast.
People ask me all the time, what is "YA"? What's a Young Adult?
Also they ask me, "how old are YOU?" As in, "you look kind of immature."
(36)
What is Young Adult? Young adult is anything over 12 years old.
Isn't that kind of nuts?
Mind you, it varies. There's all different kinds of categories that relate to books that aren't for adults.
A couple months ago I was on a Kidlit discussion on Twitter. Up until then I had no idea that there was such a distinction. Although I do know about the whole Middle Grade (ages 8-12) and YA (12+) distinction in terms of books for kids.
This argument ended up being kind of fascinating. We had an extensive discussion about whether or not Kidlit needed to have a happy ending.
Many people said, "yes" and "of course." Because the fragile minds of kids are at stake. Probably.
I am firmly on the disagree on that one. Why does any story need to have a happy ending? What's a happy ending?
I love the ending of The Paperbag Princess. But I like the ending to Charlotte's Web as well.
Grimm fairytales had super sad endings. Great article about that in the New Yorker here.
Also there's this whole discussion with YA about the ages of characters affecting who the book is for. Like a book about a 12 year old is for a 12 year old, a book about an 8 year old is for 8 year olds. Which I find kind of curious....
Anyway, I'm currently working on a course on this, and it's been pretty interesting putting the whole thing together.
And, of course, I'm torn. On the one hand, I think it's an incredible task to write books to be read by Young Adults. I'm super into the idea of that group as my audience. On the other hand, I typically don't want to think about my audience when I'm writing.
It's not that I don't want to think about them.
I don't want to worry about them, I guess is what I'm saying. I don't want the borders of any genre to affect what I put on paper or how I construct the story I want to write.
I want to think, also, that what makes a book for kids is something beyond just an avoidance of certain topics, words, etc.
I will say that there are lots of amazing publishers out there who are not of the mind that there are things that are "bad" for things to hear. I appreciate them much.
Thanks y'all.
All this is to say, it's on my mind right now. This YA thing.
Upcoming I've got two great events with two great promoters of writing and young adults.
On September 19, 2012, I'll be at Small Print Toronto's I Haven't Read the Book Club, hosted by the amazing Emily Pohl-Weary. Event info here (sign up early!)
On September 22, 2012, I'll be at The Academy of the Impossible, which is an incredible new learning/creating space for Young Adults in Toronto. Event info here
Come by and say hi and you can get a copy of my new book, (you) set me on fire, which is about a girl moving from her weird life in high school to an even weirder life in college. It's my first book about college, which I've always wanted to write about, because for me college was such a crazy whirlwind.
See you all soon!
xo
mariko
And now... a slow loris eating sticky rice.