Bridging the Gap: An Inquiry into New Adult as a Viable Category of Fiction
Abstract
This paper serves as an investigation into the burgeoning fiction category known as “new adult”, a category conceived to appeal to the current post-adolescent age bracket. It traces the category's origins to November 2009 from a submission competition held by St Martin's Press and addresses criticism of new adult that has arisen in the literary community over the past three years. The paper next examines the perspectives of authors of new adult, through commentary by author Hannah Johnson, and the intended audience of new adult, through the commentary of three readers who fall within the relevant bracket. It concludes that the evident hole in the literary market demands the fostering of the new adult category, especially in light of the historical success of the young adult category and also in light of marked reader demand for new adult content.
References
Works Cited
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Further Reading
Alexander, J. (2012, February 9). New adult: A genre too far? [blog post]. Retrieved from http://exmoorjane.blogspot.ca/2012/02/new-adult-genre-too-far.html
Brauning, K. (2012, October 29). New adult round-up: Definition, hurdles, and a suggestion [blog post]. Retrieved from to http://katebrauning.com/2012/10/29/new-adult-roundup-definition- hurdles-and-a-suggestion/
Chappell, B. (2012, September 10). Would you read novels aimed at 'new adults'? The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/sep/10/new-adult-fiction.
Hoffman, K. (2010, January 7). New adult: What is it? [blog post.] Retrieved from http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/new-adult-what-is-it
NA Alley (2012). Bridging the gap between young adult and adult fiction. Retrieved from http://naalley.blogspot.ca/
Witt, E. (2012, September 30). Why not-so-young adult readers crave teen fiction. New York Magazine. Retrieved from http://nymag.com/thecut/2012/09/new-adult-genre-is-misreading-its- audience.html.
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