Friday, February 28, 2020

Discussion: Writing for All Ages


This Week’s Topic:
WRITING FOR ALL AGES

Since last year, I have been seeing more and more of my favorite YA authors crossing over into adult romance. It's been very exciting for me! But, my go-tos aren't just writing adult romance, many of them are writing for different age ranges, and I admire their ability to be successful for a myriad of age groups.

So far, many of my experiences have be on the plus side. Some fairly recent successes:

Julie Murphy - YA to middle grades. I adored Dear Sweet Pea, and thought Murphy's middle grades debut was simply wonderful.

Gayle Forman - YA to adult. I love Forman's books, and ended up really enjoying her first adult novel, Leave Me.

Christina Lauren - I have read YA, NA, and adult books from these two, and was very happy jumping from age group to age group with them. Standouts: Love & Other Words, Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating and Autoboyography.

Jenn Bennett - Adult to YA. I found Bennett via her YA contemporaries, but I have enjoyed her adult paranormals as well.

Julie Buxbaum - I sought Buxbaum's backlist after reading Tell Me Three Things, and her adult novels were quite wonderful.

Though, I view this as a largely positive thing, there are pros and cons, but it seems like more of a win for me, and so far, my crossover experiences have been successful.
  • Pro: I have already had success with these authors, and therefore, it's not that great a risk
  • Pro: It's great to switch between age ranges, since I don't really like genre jumping as much
  • Pro: I love to read across age ranges, with YA and adult romance being my favorites. 
  • Con: What if their talent doesn't work well in different age range? 
  • Pro: These authors have written books, which I have loved so much. 
  • Con: Could a bad experience in a different age range sour my love for them? 
A few age crossovers I am excited about:

Now it's your turn!

Do you have any favorite authors,
who are amazing at all age ranges?
Let us know in the comments!

40 comments:

  1. I think authors who jump from middle grade to young adult or to middle grade when previously writing young adult novels has seemed to work really well for me previously. I loved when Sophie Kinsella tried her hand at YA, Finding Audrey was so lovely and funny, she made the transition seamlessly. There's nothing that Jenn Bennett can't do! I haven't read her adult series as yet but have it on my shelf. Brilliant list Sam, looking foward to checking these out!

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    1. I forgot about Finding Audrey. I loved that book, and Kinsella does that children's series as well. Jenn Bennett is a great storyteller, and for me, it's all about her characters. She creates fantastic adults and teens.

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  2. So far I've had a good experience with authors writing across age ranges, but I also read across age ranges, so it feels normal? There's a few authors, such as Gayle Forman, who I love both their YA and Adult books. Jay Kristoff has done a great job as well {though because he is known for YA, a lot of people try to classify Nevernight as YA and it is not}. I've just started reading Victoria Schwab in YA and I'm excited to try her adult books {under V.E. Schwab} as well.

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    1. It is odd, when an author writes in a different age group, and others won't accept that the target can be outside of their norm (I'm looking at you ACOMAF). Schwab did middle grades recently too, City of Ghosts, which I saw lots of raves for.

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  3. I actually don't think I've come across this much, or maybe I just haven't noticed, but I think it's awesome! Jenn Bennett kind of does YA and NA, so maybe that counts (I haven't read her paranormal books). Even if it doesn't always work out, it's fun when authors try something new, like an age rage or genre.

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    1. Hmmm, NA is such an interesting classification. I know why you are saying NA for Bennett, as Serious Moonlight had two college aged protagonists, but then there is the idea of the target market, and Bennett's, for that book, was YA. That fine line makes my head spin, as they try to avoid calling anything NA for the most part. I suppose authors want to stretch their wings and try something new, being an age or genre jump. If they are beloved authors, I will usually jump with them. Though, if I am being honest, I am more likely to do it with age than genre.

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  4. I think my favorite authors usually stick to one age group, but if they ever write outside their comfort zone, I’ll happily read it. I was always impressed by the wide range of stuff my college professors published. Some of them wrote EVERYTHING.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. I was just thinking I am more likely to age jump than genre jump. I always seem to enjoy contemporaries, whereas, some other genres feel like a chore for me. It would take a lot to push me across that line.

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  5. a good book is a good book...i do wonder if it is difficult for them
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. It seems like they would have to switch it up a bit, but I guess the same applies for authors who genre jump.

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  6. I haven't read many adult titles from my favorite YA authors (who write them), but I've definitely read down to MG. I might have to try listening to some of the adult books!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. I have just been seeing more and more of my YA faves throwing their hat into the adult contemporary ring. But, when I sat down, and looked, there were lots of instances of authors jumping across age groups, I just hadn't noticed it. I have also picked up quite a few MG book, because they were written by authors I have read in YA. There's some sort of comfort in knowing I have had prior success, that let's me trust them more than a new-to-me author.

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  7. I think this is really interesting too! Jacqueline Woodson comes to mind as someone who writes for a range of target audiences. And as a kid/teen, I was fascinated by the essays of E. B. White, the extremely adult short stories of Roald Dahl, and the entire range of C. S. Lewis's work. I'm really looking forward to both Clean Getaway and Sweet Pea.

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    1. I knew Woodson age jumped (though I have not read any of her books...yet). Oh, I have read adult stuff rom Lewis too. I forgot about those, since I think I read them in school. Sweet Pea was very charming and Murphy did a great job with that heroine.

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  8. I think it takes such talent for authors to be able to cross over in to different age ranges, and genres too! I agree that my experiences have been positive with this reading experience. If I genuinely like an author, I tend to enjoy their books, no matter that age range. Some of my favorites are Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Sophie Jordan! Great post, and I like are of your examples with visuals of the books, as well as your pro and con list Sam!

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. I know JLA writes YA, NA, and Adult, though I have only read her NA novels for some reason. And, both JLA and Jordan age AND genre jump, and to be success in both shows a lot of talent.

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  9. LOVE this post! And, Christina Lauren cannot go wrong; YA or adult! And you gave me more authors who've crossed over! :)

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    1. They have been really solid for me. I don't think I have gone below 4-stars for them, and I have at least three of their books sitting on my favorites shelf.

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  10. I started reading Jenn Bennett's adult paranormals before she published YA. I was surprised but I think she's wonderful with either age range. Just a great story teller! Great discussion, Sam! :)

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    1. She creates fantastic characters, and that is the quickest way to my heart. I also love her humor. It jibes well with my own.

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  11. I'm trying to think of authors I've read who have written across age groups, but there's none coming to mind that I've read recently enough to remember what I thought 😅
    I do worry when it comes to this about a bad experience souring my love for an author, like you mentioned, but seeing how you have had mostly positive experiences, I may have to give this a go.

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    1. More, who I have actually read, are popping up in my head as I respond to these comments. I am so gun shy after a bad experience with an author. I am so weary of picking up another book by them. Maybe it's not totally fair of me, but I only have so much time, and I cannot bring myself to waste it.

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  12. Well I think indeed that if you are talented and want to write another genre, you should! Like Leigh Bardugo did this year with Ninth House for example!

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    1. I have only read two books by Bardugo, both YA, but I have heard good things about her adult book. I definitely agree that a great deal of talent is involved, but it also requires really understanding the audience, which I think I would find difficult. I admire authors, who can hop from age to age, and genre to genre.

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  13. I think the only author that I can recall jumping between age ranges (other than the YA/NA jump) was Kim Harrison. She had a YA UF series long ago which I adored every bit as much as her adult UF but it got cut at book 3 as the publisher didn't renew the contract... That sucked for it was getting REALLY good. :(

    I don't think I've read many others who've done it!

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    1. Boo! I get so sad, when the authors don't get to finish their series. I have a few I had to write an ending for, as no additional books have been published.

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  14. I'm always excited when this happens. I think some writers succeed more than others outside their original age range, especially those who already write books that appeal to a crossover audience. Some adult writers don't seem to "get" YA, but overall I think it's exciting when an author tries something new.

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    1. Ashley Herring Blake just announced that she is writing an adult book. I can say, that I have loved both her YA and MG books. So, obviously, I have high hopes for her adult romance.

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  15. Fun topic! I did really like Gayle Forman's adult book, Leave Me. I think it's fun when authors write for different age groups though I know it won't work for every reader. Another author I love is Victoria/V.E. Schwab and so far I've loved the MG and Adult books I've read by her. I still need to read her YA though. I STILL need to read Christina Lauren - though I own Autoboyography, and I want to read some of their adult titles too.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. It seems like Schwab can do no wrong. I read one of her YA book, and it was very, very good. OMG! Read Autoboyography. I promise, you won't regret it.

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  16. I like that authors sometimes change things up. I mix up my reading so I don't get bored with it so it makes sense that they would want to mix up there writing a bit. I love Katherine Arden's Winterwitch trilogy but also have had a good time with her middle grade books. Harlan Coben is a favorite author and I enjoyed his YA series based on a relative of the main character in his adult series.

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    1. I can see wanting to do that as an author. I knew Harlan Coben wrote YA and adult, but I did not know about Arden. I think it's such a plus if you read across age groups.

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  17. Great post idea! I really need to hurry and pick up a Jenn Bennett!

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  18. I am totally fine with reading stuff by authors who I have known as YA writing as adult (and vice versa!) but I must admit that I usually skip middle grade stuff by authors I love. Which is probably unfair of me, but here we are. I just have to REALLY love the premise to pick up a MG on my own (that is, without reading it with one of the kids), so I just tend never to get to them. But you are right, I should branch out more often! Glad it's been such a positive experience for you!

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    1. When my daughter was pushing the Percy Jackson books on me, I was like, I'm too old to read MG, but I have to say, those authors probably are the best at dealing with issues. I never felt preached to at any point, and I thought I got a good understanding of the issue at hand. They always leave me warm and fuzzy, and I guess, I have a new found appreciation for MG books.

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  19. Great topic and I think you covered most of my favorites with Jenn Bennett, Christina Lauren, and Gayle Forman. The only other one I can think of off the top of my head is V.E. Schwab.

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    1. I have only read one YA book by Schwab, which was great, but no others. I have seen all the raves though.

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  20. How did I not realise that the author of Dumplin' is the same author of Ramona Blue? Consider me temporaily mind blown by this revelation! Patrick Ness is another one who writes for all ages, and Malorie Blackman too. Love their books <3

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    1. I have only read one Ness book, a YA. I didn't realize her wrote across age groups.

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