New to QT Forum

[jj]

JJ here - posted first few pages of literary/historical novel called "The Corregidor Assignment" yesterday. 

Not so sure about posting comments myself just yet - I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, and to just say "this is great" or "this stinks" won't help much.  I undertand the purpose of the QT forum is to add insights, or just two cents, to help out fellow scribblers, but I'm probably better suited to easing in rather than jumping in.  Plus, I can't say I've ever critiqued someone else's stuff before, so I am a tad leery about my "authority," shall we say, to do so. Lastly, from reading some of the other comments, it appears there are certain rules for specific genres I may not be aware of, so I'm not so sure I'm the right person to comment.  (And if you don't follow the rules - no agent/book deal for you?)  I'm not  really sure  how the genre subdivision thing works, either.  Is Rich Riordan's "The Lightening Thief" YA or MG?  My 11 year old son read it two years ago when he was in the 3rd grade (and loved ever word).   

JJ

[Zooks]

Welcome to QT, jj.  Ease in when you feel ready.  Here's for 1st karma. 

[Mere Joyce]

Welcome JJ!

Easing in is fine...I am fairly new here myself, and I definitely understand about not wanting to jump in and then say something rude/useless/doesn't make any sense!  I think you know when it "feels right" to make a post, and the comfort with doing so will likely come as you get to know more about the lovely people here, and the guidelines/generalities of posting or talking about specific rules/genres.

And here's some Welcome Karma to you!

[lexcade]

Welcome to the party, JJ! Take your time, feel it out, and jump in whenever you're ready to. It took me a while to actively participate. Karma #3

[dscanon1]

Welcome jj. I hid in the shadows for a while before commenting as well, so take your time. We're happy to have you. Karma to you.

[MaryL]

Hi! Welcome to QT. Glad you joined us.

To answer your question about genre: Lightning Thief is upper Middle Grade. It's been forever since I've read it, but I believe Percy is 13 at the start of the series.

There are never true black and whites in this business, I've found, but the dividing line between MG and YA is almost always determined by the age of the main character. in most cases. Kids read up, which means they prefer to read about people older than themselves. MG has characters 11-14. (general readership is 7-13 for younger MG and 9-13 for upper MG) Crushes are common, but not sex. Violence and darkness are okay to a point.

YA's target audience varies as well. Traditionally, it is 12+, but some books are much more mature. Mine is labeled 14+ so that it will be in the high school libraries and middle school librarians know to check the content to be sure it is okay for their clientele. YA characters are 14 on the low end, but most are 15-18. No topic is taboo. Graphic sex and violence is accepted depending on the project.

There are always exceptions. Hope that helps.

Welcome again.

[jj]

Thanks everyone, and MaryL, that's the best, most succcinct genre explanation I've ever heard - you saved me hours of googling!

[Midwest]

Welcome, jj!!

[LateToTheParty]

Welcome and karma kookies to you. 

[RPG123]

Welcome jj.  I only comment when I feel I can actually help someone.  I think that's normal.  No pressure.

[Falen]

WELCOME!! 

[TDDewmer]

Hello and welcome! 

[ClaudeDancourt]

Hi JJ

Welcome aboard
Just be honest. Or if you don't think you can do justice to the author/poster but feel like giving feed-back, just send a PM :D

Have fun!