What does 'The plot sounds quite young' mean?

[belledechocchipcookie]

Is it that it's aimed at younger children then I have said or does it mean that it's young as in a new idea??


Sorry, I'm just a little confused and it's taking me all day to try to 'get' what she means. I don't want to email back and ask as a)it's embarassing
b)I'll have to explain why I don't get it and I don't think it's wise to explain why just yet.

[Punkatheart]

Would think that it means aimed at younger children than specified. This could mean the vocabulary for example, or that the plot may be too simplistic.

What age are you aiming at?

You could ask if she had suggestions for change and is she interested?

[belledechocchipcookie]

I said it was 11+ She's given a lot of suggestions. She liked the plot for another that I sent, I've just noticed a naughty capital letter that shouldn't be in there though. Grrr!

[Punkatheart]

That's encouraging though! Good luck.

[belledechocchipcookie]

I'm trying to change a book that I'd pitched at 11+ into one that's 9+ when I have no idea about the language difference/book size difference.

[atswimtwolengths]

How much have you read of books intended for that age group?

One thing we were taught on my MA in Creative Writing was "Where would this be plced in the bookshop?"

Another thing is what you get on Amazon - "People who bought this, also bought..."

It's absolutely crucial you get the age right. Children particularly won't read something that's too young for them.

I think she meant the plot is something that you'd find in a younger child's book.

[belledechocchipcookie]

I've not read that much to be honest. I'm on amazon now and am reassured to see some Terry Pratchett for this age group though. I don't have a problem with it being for younger children and I think I need to research the area a bit more before I send it off. I know her fairly well and she'd have spat the picture book back at me by the end of the day if she didn't like it so I'm a little hopeful. I'm finding the novel more difficult though as, unlike the picture book, this isn't an hours job.

[atswimtwolengths]

Belle, please don't tell me you're sending work off having worked on it for such a short time?

Everything is in the editing (that the writer has to do) and the research. In my MA I was amazed by how many were writing novels for markets they didn't read/hadn't read themselves.

It's such a competitive business and what you send in has to be absolutely the best you can do.

Sorry if I sound like I'm trying to teach you your job! I don't mean to, it's just that you get so few chances with agents, that you have to be really careful to present yourself at your best.

[atswimtwolengths]

What sort of books do you enjoy reading? Wouldn't that be better, to write the sort of thing you'd love to read?

[belledechocchipcookie]

Harry Potter!

I know the publisher, she's very helpful and has been giving me (no obligation) tips. She's told me to rewrite it to make me (the author) appear transparent. She liked the first pararaph that was re-written though.

[atswimtwolengths]

I guessed that with the phoenix and Percy!

[belledechocchipcookie]

I like princess books/fairy tales but there's not a lot of these being published. I used to pretend to be in a fairy tale when I was a child.