Writer's Fallout Shelter

As a YA writer I most certainly can't write my story any way I want to. There is some definite rules that I must stick to or risk writing just for myself. That said, I do not flinch from writing the plot I wish to. It is the manner in which it is presented that changes.

For example, I have been told from a few more sheltered and peace loving writers that my YA novel is too violent. With it being in the first draft, this might very well be the case - but I have done much research in the genre that it comes out of, mainly video games, comics, anime and cartoons. My novel is not more violent than those but it certainly may be on par. My critics were not familiar with these genres. Still I can not show too much graphic violence, on camera (as it were) sex or excessive swearing if I want to fit into the YA genre. I also have to make my characters answer the classic YA questions of "who am I" and "where do I fit in" no matter what their other goals are.

I always start with an idea that is mine to write and I always, after numerous edits with my genre and audience in mind, end up with a story that is very much different than the one I started with but equally - if not more - satisfactory.