Day 2 of YALC - Sex, Crossover and Heroines.

As Day Two of the Young Adult Literature Conference at Earl's Court Two comes to a close, I'm going to try and keep the spirit of the event alive, with this round up of today's events. We're talking, more panels, more authors, more books and the most mentions of 'sexy time' ever. Leave your judgements at the door and settle in.

Today's queue was, not surprisingly, much more organised and despite taking us to the back of beyond, it only took 28 minutes, not the 58 minutes of yesterday. I know this because my partner and I had a bet going for if we would get in before or after 9.30. I said after. I lost. The prize was pride. Oh......

The YALC section today was buzzing, even more so than yesterday. And I think after the success of day one, there was a hum of expectation on the air, a little fizz of wonder and enchantment, of what YALC would conjure up today.

The day kicked off with a completely rammed book area for 'How to get published' with Phil Earle, Sally Green and Ben Horslen. I did hear the latter stages of the talk, but having been to several conferences and literary festivals around this topic, I was happy to offer a seat to someone starting out in writing, so they could hear from the guys in the know.

Then the next three panels, back-to-back were what I had been waiting for, and believe me, none of them disappointed. Just so many great YA authors on one stage over the course of two and a half hours, and some amazing subject matter.

Panel: I'm too sexy for this book. 
With Cat Clarke, Non Pratt and Beth Reekles.
Chaired by Queen of teen himself, James Dawson.

This is about the third event where I have seen James speak and every time I end up giggling my ass off. This was no exception. 

The subject: Sex within YA. The authors: acclaimed and extremely talented. The tone: pretty much as low as you can go. The innuendos: flying about like a tennis ball at Wimbledon.

From left to right, James, Cat, Non and Beth

Starting off with the simplest question of: should you go there? There was of course an expected and resounding, yes, of course you should. 'Some teenagers have sex.' (Cat Clarke) 'I think you should always go there.' (Cat Clarke) But what was interesting was the completely different ways that sex was handled in each of their books. Non admitted that her sex scene was particularly graphic, whereas Beth knew that her readership was often 12 and under and went for a more 'fade to black sex scene', a more romantic approach. Cat talked of revenge sex in one of her books but also insisted that 'the character still liked it.'

When asked how the authors get in the mood for writing a sexy scene, there were a variety of answers, but I think Non's excellently phrased, I just 'hammer it out,' won the prize for most direct. Cat mentioned that she had asked people on Twitter what songs got them in the mood and said she was creeped out by some of the tweets back, but that a 'sexy times play list' could help her to write those scenes.

Taboo was a word that came up a lot within the panel. But whether they were discussing why sex is still seen as taboo, or any subjects they as authors would avoid, the general consensus was that in YA no topic should be off the table. Anything that a YA reader is experiencing or may experience, should be out there for them to access in story form. Non marks 'fear' as one of the reasons sex is still a controversial subject in YA. And Cat raised an interesting point that sex in books seems to raise more eyebrows than sex on TV, as though 'books need to be good for you. Worthy.' Yet how many teens watch Game of Thrones?

All the authors gave a resounding NO to age ratings on books, and they all admitted they were lucky enough to not have anything strike a red flag with the gatekeepers, but that swearing and sex scenes can often cause problems when trying to publish overseas, especially in the American market. 

Finally they were asked if there was anywhere they wouldn't go, any topic they wouldn't write about?

Non and Beth agreed that religion would be difficult for them to broach as they weren't religious themselves and it was not the sort of book they would feel comfortable writing. Cat added that 'tortury stuff is a bit icky to me', but also said that was a personal preference, because she doesn't like those kinds of books or films herself.

James finished with the possibility that Asexuality could be the last taboo in sex? 

Q&A

There were some good ones, but by far my favourite answer to: what fictional character would you go on a date with? was Cat Clarke's hysterical: 'Cersei Lannister because I went for a wee next to her in the green room.' Giggles galore. 

The term New Adult was discussed as basically being YA with added sexy time, and being more a marketing tool than anything useful. The authors gave some great recommendations for further reading within YA: Courtney Summers, Laurie Halse Anderson, Liz Banks, Leila Sales, Maureen Johnson and Dave Shelton. They discussed LGBT sex and whether there will be more coming through within YA. (Oh yes there will.) And finally they talked about violence and sex, where scenes that are graphically violent, often alarmingly so, are not even questioned, but a sex scene is met with controversy.

Lots to think about, and giggle about after this panel. But a really sensitive subject, handled beautifully within the hands of the Queen of teen, James Dawson. One thing's for sure, sex in YA is not going anywhere. And rightfully so. 

Panel: Crossover: not just for adults

With: Meg Rosoff, Matt Haig, Anthony McGowen. Nick Lake

Chaired by David Maybury

First of all I think it's safe to say David Maybury had no control over his panel, but with quick witted Meg often battling with bad cop, Anthony, he never had a chance. 

Left to right: Nick, Anthony, Meg, Matt and David

The great thing about this panel was that no one seemed to know what crossover is, or for that matter what YA is. It almost feels like it means something different to everyone, which I like. It feels like YA and crossover are just labels the book world uses to make it more convenient for themselves to place books and market them. Most of the authors agreed that, they write a book and some one else decides who is going to read that or who it is suitable for. Anthony on the other hand said he was quite sure that he wanted to be 'making sixteen year old teenagers laugh.' He had a very clear view of where his books were aimed. And Matt added that he had to make a decision when starting a new project because he has two publishers, one for YA and one for adult. 

Issues of book snobbery came about, and issues of swearing within YA, and a lot of losing track of the discussion and keeping bad cop Anthony silenced. 

Nick Lake made some interesting points about YA readers being more open minded, especially with regard to genre, whereas a lot of adults find themselves only reading crime, or only reading literary fiction. 

Meg Rosoff told us, 'good things happen when you blur boundaries.' She also outed Hamlet as a 'dithering teenager' and suggested that YA has an 'urgency', a fast pace that perhaps lends itself to appeal from wider audiences. 

A real clatter of personalities and again some big big laughs in this panel. Just amazing to see in the flesh, people I've been reading for years, people I follow on twitter and even amazingly that follow me back, and to hear them talk about their work. Well done to Meg for her attempts to reign Anthony in. 

Final Panel (for me): Sisters are doing it for themselves

With: Holly Smale, Tanya Byrne, Isobel Harrup and Julie Mayhew

Chaired by Sarra Manning

Yay! This was an all X chromosome panel, about heroines in YA, and it was fantabulous!

From left to right: Sarra, Julie, Tanya, Isobel and Holly

Again the emphasis was on variety. All these writers are women, they all write YA, but they all write very different YA and of course very different heroines. We heard about their favourite and most influential heroines from when they were younger, again very varied, and how if they influence their writing now. Answers ranged from Sweet Valley High and Judy Blume, to Stephen King, Anne of Green Gable and Jacqueline Wilson. Chair, Sarra Manning admitted that she always liked reading books about 'gobby' girls and now enjoys writing about 'gobby, mad girls.'

We then delved into how the authors get into their teenage stride - not much of a problem for 19 year old panellist, Isobel - but some interesting comments from the ladies. 

• Julie said that no matter how hard you try not to, 'you always start with yourself.' She talked about writing for YA as 'working out something that you never quite solved,' almost as if she had some unfinished business with her fifteen year old self. 
• Holly openly admitted that 'there's a huge part of Harriet that is me at that age', and that she essentially still feels like a fifteen year old inside. 

There is also an element of writing to a younger version of yourself, or even just something you would have liked to have read when you were that age, but it wasn't around or those issues weren't being addressed. 

• Isabel said that her book came from a sense of 'real girl honesty' as well as being 'slightly fictionalised', but also that it wasn't too difficult to get back into the frame of mind of a fifteen/sixteen year old version of herself due to technology that has recorded her feelings at the time, so she can go back and read them and delve back into her younger self.
• Tanya felt that her writing age was more about the seventeen mark, and she insisted that, 'I don't write for teenagers, I write about teenagers.'

Then we got onto the nitty gritty. What makes a heroine and can it be just one singular thing? Are heroes given as much criticism as heroines? Do you have to be physically strong or attractive to be a good heroine? 

• Holly kicked us off with her take on bravery and how it doesn't have to manifest itself as the ability to wield a bow, have physical strength, or save the world, but that it can be 'brave in a different way.' She said it is 'scary to do something you find hard', no matter what that may be, and that is something she explored within her heroine Harriet.
• Julie backed this up by saying a story should contain 'small victories [for the reader] to identify with', and that she also wanted her heroines to 'provoke a reaction.' She doesn't want to create heroines that are perfect. 
• Tanya further supported these points when raising the notion, of a teenage girl not being one thing. She said it was the 'shades of grey' that make a character interesting. The 'mistakes and decisions' that make that character real and allow the YA audience to relate to them. Tanya also added in that she very rarely adds in physical descriptions within her books and tries not to use words such as 'beautiful' and 'attractive'. She wants her readers to conjure up their own image of the character and quite often their appearance is irrelevant to the story. 
• Isobel aptly noted that male heroes are very rarely analysed in this way, but that it seems like female protagonists are often given grief.
•  Holly agreed that 'qualities that are not particularly attractive need to be shown too.' She talked about character weaknesses and strengths and that is okay to be you, even if you are anxious and perhaps even self-destructive. We all have many sides to us and these should be explored. 

Final thoughts and comments from the panel:

Holly is 'happy to be underestimated. Always!'
Julie feels that within her publishing house she is 'taken very seriously,' as a woman, but that 'crossover can be a little sexist.'
Isobel hinted that branding can sometimes be a little sexist and there are definite areas of improvement for women within the literary world, especially YA. 
Tanya said that often men get the best, or just more choice of cover art, and that is actually a really important selling point. 
Sarra finished by saying she thinks women are 'taken far less seriously.'

So as you can see, lots of talking points to be continued beyond these panels and explored within YA, but the resounding messages to come from this YALC, are:

• YA is not one thing. It is not rigid. There is room for expansion, exploration, and nothing should be taboo. 

• No one knows quite what crossover is but we like it. 

• YA writers, write for the story and the characters, not necessarily the age group. 

• YA encompass a wide variety of styles and genres within it, meaning there really is something for everyone. 

• A heroine doesn't need to save the world in order to be a heroine. It's the imperfections and idiosyncrasies that make a character memorable, as well as their dazzling good points, if in fact they have any at all.

• YA is brilliant!

Thank you for reading. Normal Rants will resume as and when they happen, and thank you to YALC and everyone involved. An incredible couple of days and hopefully the first of an annual conference for YA readers and writers. 

Tired now. 

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