-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: [ccbc-net] The barriers to writing quality NF
From: "Gardow, Pamela" <pgardow@ecasd.k12.wi.us>
Date: Fri, June 06, 2014 12:49 pm
To: "'sully@sully-writer.com'" <sully@sully-writer.com>, Heather
Montgomery <sipsey21@hotmail.com>, "ccbc-net@lists.wisc.edu"
<ccbc-net@lists.wisc.edu>

That really helps explain one of my criticisms of YA nonfiction for high school students.  So many of the nonfiction books seem targeted to middle school and younger teens, that I have a hard time finding enough YA nonfiction with the kind of complexity of ideas and language that fit common core standards.   I continue to look for and purchase great YA nonfiction, but look more and more for adult biographies and nonfiction to meet the push for increased “rigor.”

 

Pam

 

Pamela A. Gardow, Librarian

Memorial High School

Teen Literacy Initiative

Authors in the Schools

Chippewa Valley Book Festival

2225 Keith St.

Eau Claire, WI  54701

715-852-6309

 

 

From: sully@sully-writer.com [mailto:sully@sully-writer.com]
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2014 9:59 AM
To: Heather Montgomery; ccbc-net@lists.wisc.edu
Subject: RE: [ccbc-net] The barriers to writing quality NF

 

 

Heather,

 

Speaking as someone who has spent the last several months trying to find a publisher for my own YA nonfiction manuscript, I appreciate your frustration. I've been trying to find someone to take on a story I have about the Rape of Nanking. It focuses on a German businessman and an American missionary whose efforts helped save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.  I wrote it with an YA audience in mind and, given the horrific subject matter, it limits the audience to 14 and up. It's that limitation that's turning away potential publishers.

 

Here's a quote from the most recent rejection I received: "Nonfiction specifically for older 'young readers' is extremely tough to publish, as the audience is so narrow. When the content of a nonfiction book makes it for 14+ readers, a lot of high school students, especially those 16+, will read adult books about the topic if they’re interested in it. And unlike in the case of YA fiction, which has a wide adult readership, adults, we have found, generally do not read 'down' in nonfiction."

 

The editor suggests I look into adult imprints and I'm thinking he's probably right. It appears that market realities dictate that a YA nonfiction book for ages 14 and up is not economically viable. Now I have to figure out what I need to do to make my story "suitable" for an adult audience!

 

Edward T. Sullivan, Rogue Librarian

http://www.sully-writer.com 

http://sullywriter.wordpress.com 

 

 

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [ccbc-net] The barriers to writing quality NF
From: Heather Montgomery <sipsey21@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, June 06, 2014 10:34 am
To: "ccbc-net@lists.wisc.edu" <ccbc-net@lists.wisc.edu>

I feel that we are lacking in-depth, quality NF for middle grade and YA. Yes there are some good books available for those audiences, but the quantity and diversity is limited (for example, where are the great snake books for the eighth grade reader?). As was mentioned earlier on this list, we need "gateway" books to adult nonfiction.

 

This discussion has brought up many of the reasons for this (format, mothers as gatekeepers of "real" books, male versus female authors, etc.) with which I agree. 

 

Kelly brought up a good point about resistance from editors. I've, too, have experienced their aversion to topics boys and girls of this age have requested of me. One of the barriers is that in order to produce such books with passion/enthusiasm (good point Megan) you must also have an editor who is passionate about the book. Most editors are not attracted to these topics and don't see their potential or think they will only sell to the picture book market or photo-driven format. 

 

Lee's comment about the economic realities for authors points to a huge barrier. A nonfiction author can opt to write for the educational market, which can mean a more steady yet very modest income. But in the educational market, the passion/creativity/time/financial support required to write a stellar book is rare. As Kelly indicated, to write those fabulous books takes years of research and writing. When writing for the trade market, an author makes a gamble on their investment of time and energy. From my perspective, this may be one of the great limiting factors.

 

Heather

Heather L. Montgomery

www.HeatherLMontgomery.com

Nature Books for Kids
256-426-5871

Wild Discoveries: Wacky New Animals (Scholastic, 2013)

 

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