I still get asked about New Adult on a regular basis. So here’s my notes about what it is:
- New Adult is about characters from age 18-25 engaging in the next step of their lives
- It’s about many firsts (like romance and going out into the world to live alone)
- It’s intense, 1st person writing, dramatic fiction and very fun.
- It’s about high intensity, lots of stakes, a passionate journey, and strong desires.
- New Adult readers are an engaged readership. They are loyal readers and fans.
- New Adult readers should go to their bookshops and tell booksellers what they want to see in stores. Booksellers need to know what readers want.
- New Adult editions are original trade paper. Editors are looking for authors that can write and produce fast, good work.
- New Adult readers don’t care if books are self published or traditionally published. They’re looking for great books no matter the format (e or p). They are a digital age group.
- Repurposed chick lit or things that didn’t sell before aren’t New Adult.
- Many agents who represent both YA and Adult books are interested in NA because it’s that college age gap.
- But not all agents are interested in NA if they rep YA. It’s a different category with different editors.
- Review agent guidelines and check the deal reports for agents that are repping and selling NA.
Required reading: See Abbi Glines, Cora Carmack , Jamie McGuire, Katie McGarry, and Tammara Webber.
Thanks! Informative.
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Thank you for this insight! It helped me designate my speciality within the YA writing world. Would love to hear more about how I can attract and promote this specific type of work to agents, if you would oblige sharing some insights with me.
Sincerely,
Jenn
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Great description … I feel like I’ve had a vague idea about New Adult lit, but nothing clear until now. Thanks so much!
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I just read about New Adult in a recent issue of Writer’s Digest. And I liked what you said about “repurposed chick lit.” haha
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It’s so true.
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I remember a time not so long ago when authors had a hard time selling work with protagonists in this age group. They were too old for YA and too young for women’s fiction. It’s great that this new genre has taken hold.
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I agree.
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Question: does NA have to be set in the 2010s?
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Right now, most NA that is selling well is contemporary. That’s not to say the market might mature for NA in the near future. But right now, yes contemporary is the way to go.
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I heard that New Adult also has a lot of explicit romance. Is that completely off base?
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This is the first time I’ve heard of New Adult…and you just answered the question I’ve been asking myself of what genre the manuscript I’m currently working on is in! Very encouraging.
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Thanks for helping to spread the word about New Adult books and their authors. And for clarifying the category. #NewAdult popularity is spreading like wildfire but an occasional shot of verbal gasoline never hurts :)
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Thanks for clarifying what this genre is about. I have contemplated it for some time and even tried to do my own research, but came up empty handed. This has cleared up things for me.
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