Can I sell 2 versions of the same book?

[Wren Emerson]

I have a friend who read I Wish and found it appropriate for her 12 year old daughter to read. Daughter can't wait to read the sequel. Awesome, right? Not so much.

Ever since I outlined the first book, I had some sexual themes in mind for the second book. They can be glossed over with a "door shut" perspective, and I do plan to write them that way since this is a YA book, not an erotica. However, I'm afraid that the general idea of one of the encounters which is pivotal to the plot would be offensive to some.

I'm ok with offending people. It's inevitable. I am not cool with traumatizing or alienating my younger readers who aren't ready to deal with those themes due to maturity level or religious views. Both are true of my young fan.

I'm planning to write a censored version which will tell a diluted version of the story. I mean, it'll still make sense, but a lot of the urgency of the plot will be lost. I don't want to leave my friend's daughter hanging, after all.

If it's allowed, I'd love to offer both versions for sale with the differences clearly marked so that other people buying for a younger reader have the choice. It'd certainly be easier than other options. But I can see where it might not be allowed.

Does anyone have any experience with this? If it's not allowed, what would be a feasible alternative? I've considered having them email me a request for the censored version with a screen shot of their purchase of the sequel and then I'll send them back the file. But that is a lot of effort on both ends and I'm afraid I might lose sales from people who don't want to be bothered.

The alternative, of just releasing the unrated version, bothers me. I know I write smut under my pen name, but it's clearly marked that way so the chances of exposing a child to unexpected sexual content is very low. When it comes to kids reading heavily sexualized content, I'm a bit of a prude. And since I Wish is basically non offensive (one scene with a little kissing and petting), it's logical to assume that Your Word is My Bond will be just as unassuming.

Advice? Opinions?

[Millard]

It's an interesting query, from an artistic point of view. Are there any other examples of something like this? Nothing's coming off the top of my head, other than movies that have an R-rated cut for DVD, which isn't the same anyway, as it's going in the other direction.

Actually, I guess you could equate it to a literary version of those edits of Robocop or Die Hard that would air on TV in the middle of the afternoon. "Look, all brothers don't know how to shoot a gun, you racist melonfarmer."

Not that that helps with your query.

[ETS PRESS]

Is your book adult or YA? That's the crux of it. Who do you want to market to? How old is the main character? If you decide your book is definitely YA, then read some YA to see how these things are handled. The age of the character plays a big role in this as well. If your character is 17, and you have closed door sex, you can bet middle school kids will read, and possibly a few elementary kids (higher, more mature readers will read just about anything they can get their hands on). I think you need to decide who your audience is first.

[R. M. Reed]

All I can tell you is that this way-past-YA-age reader is looking forward to the sequel.

[Zelah Meyer]

My opinion?

You're writing YA and if a 12 year old is going to read YA then they need to expect to come across some adult themes.  Since this is a friend of yours, there's no harm in making an amended version if you want and offering to send her that for her daughter to read, explaining that the published version will be more adult because of XYZ.

As long as what you're writing is appropriate for the age range the book is pegged at, you're not responsible for who reads that when they fall outside of that market.  

I don't think there would be any rules against offering two versions (if I remember rightly, Franklin said he has two versions of one of his stories, one erotica and one not.)  If they weren't clearly marked then you might get some bad reviews as a result of confusions, other than that though, I doubt there would be problems.  However, it seems like a lot of work for you when the reader will be able to read the original in a few years anyway.  Or she could read the original now - I suspect we've all read (or watched) stuff that wasn't age appropriate for us at the time.

Personally, I suspect that the 12 year old isn't half as sheltered as you and your friend think she is.  At twelve we were all gossping on school trips about newly discovered (to us) knowledge relating to anything sex related that had come to our ears.  In fact, I remember being taught a rather rude rugby song at that age & getting in trouble for teaching it to my younger cousin!  I'm pretty sure she'll hear worse from her schoolfriends than she'll come across in any YA book.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

[NathanWrann]

Ever since I outlined the first book, I had some sexual themes in mind for the second book. They can be glossed over with a "door shut" perspective, and I do plan to write them that way since this is a YA book, not an erotica. However, I'm afraid that the general idea of one of the encounters which is pivotal to the plot would be offensive to some.

this is the part that bothers me about your query. It sounds like the book will be the same without graphic, detailed sex. However, there is something about the "idea" of one of the encounters (homosexual? interracial? rape? something else?) that you feel is going to be offensive to some of your readers. Which means that you're not just censoring the details, you're actually going to change the plot or character's development. I think that's a big no-no. If people get offended by the "idea" of one of your plot details then the book isn't for them. censor the details, fine. Change the story, not fine. Some people will always be offended. And usually by stupid stuff. Write your book the way you want to, then give it to your friend and let her decide if it's okay for her daughter. I may be interpreting this in the wrong direction (due to the lack of details in your original post).

However, if you want to sell two different versions of your book, I don't see any administrative or business reason why not. Just make sure they are clearly  marked "This is the R Rated Version" "This is the version for people who are easily offended"

[iluvsnoopy]

This is a hard one.  I know someone who has a clean version and a not-clean version of a romance book.  She's labeled it clearly in the description and on her website so people know what they're getting into.  You could have a subtitle designating the appropriate age group for the book in case you're afraid some people won't take the time to read the description of the book.  So maybe something like Your Word is My Bond (A YA Novel) vs. Your Word is My Bond (An Adult Novel) might fix the problem.  Or if you'd rather put that information in the description, maybe do it first thing so people aren't likely to skim over it.

Just an idea.  

[William Woodall]

I've also wondered about the possibility of offering different versions of a story in order to leave out this or that element which might be unwelcome to certain readers.  With me, it's the fact that I write "mild" Christian fiction.  I've gotten some really nasty and hateful comments from readers who don't like the Christian aspect of my work, no matter how innocuous and mild it might be.  So there for a while I seriously thought about rewriting some things to offer a purely secular version of the story to avoid offending anybody.  I finally decided not to, for the simple reason that if I thought the story would have worked better with no mystical elements then I should have written it that way in the first place and saved myself the trouble.  

I think, in your situation, if you believe the story would work better for your younger readers without the sex content, then that's the way you should write it from the get-go.  Offering alternate versions is likely to be awkward.  You risk confusing your readers or having the wrong person get hold of the wrong version.

That said, there IS precedent for that kind of thing.  Some musicians offer "clean" versions of their songs to satisfy listeners who don't like cursing and sexual images.  They just market it as the "clean version" on all the labels.  You could do the same thing with a book, I'm sure, although that "clean version" label might arouse considerable curiosity about what exactly was written in the "non-clean" version.  Kids would probably be unable to resist seeking out the "other" version to see what all the fuss was about, and parents might be worried, too.  But it's worth a try, if you feel strongly about it.    

[William Peter Grasso]

Initially, I recoiled in horror at your proposition, Wren (I've calmed down since then; it might have been the horrible coffee I made this morning has colored my world darkly). 

I'm afraid a story that structurally depends on sexual situations for character and plot development might suffer if those situations were deleted or glossed over.

Further concerns: some might consider the publishing of two versions exploitative and/or crass marketing. No matter how diligently classified, it's inevitable a child somewhere will read the adult version. Prepare for the blowback.

WPG   

[Wren Emerson]

...censor the details, fine. Change the story, not fine. Some people will always be offended.

I see what you're saying. BTW, I'm not trying to be vague to be mysterious, it's just a pretty big plot point as my outline is written now.

It's not that it would outright change the story. I guess it would be more accurate to say that this encounter is pivotal to the emotional intensity of the story.

Ok, I've got an example of what I mean. In Stephen King's book Pet Semetary, his toddler son is hit by a truck and killed and the emotional impact of that drives the last act of the story. It's believable that a parent in that situation would be desperate enough to go against all the clues that what he wants to do is a terrible idea.

Now, it could have been written that a random stranger was hit by the truck, or a 3rd cousin, or some other less devastating character. It would be more comfortable for the reader if it were someone we didn't care about, but it also would make his response seem over the top and stupid.

I can write a censored version of the story and change the references to sex to kissing or something or maybe even take them out altogether and the plot will still work and move forward, but it will lose a lot of the intensity. The scene I worry about would be a lot harder to censor out since it sort of feeds into the ending, but I'll think of something.

I just wanted to stress that the sex that I'd like to include in this book isn't gratuitous. Although it won't be explicit, it has to be mentioned in passing or else the story suffers from it. I don't mind the idea of older teens reading it, but 12 year olds? I don't care how experienced they are, I'm a big old oppressor. The idea of younger kids reading stuff like this skeeves me out something fierce. Ironically, violence doesn't bother me at all. Probably because kids are more likely to experiment with sex than murder.

[Asher MacDonald]

This is interesting to me also because I've considered writing a mystery/detective kind of book, and it would be easy to add scenes to make it an X-rated version and take them out and leave in the implied sex to make them cleaner.

The only problem I see, and it's an unlikely one, is if the same reader would buy both not realizing they were essentially the same story.

[Sean Patrick Fox]

I would say go with one, everything included version. There are just too many drawbacks to publishing two versions, and really it's not up to you to censor what kids read.

[Sarah Bridgeton]

I thought of doing the same thing for my YA WIP. My issues were language. But decided it'd cause confusion and anger with parents. The kids wouldn't want the clean version and parents wouldn't be pleased, and there would be readers who accidently bought the wrong one.

[Jan Strnad]

Maybe it's not a YA novel.

I've written tons of TV cartoons, many of them for Disney, so I'm used to censoring and self-censoring. I'd get ideas all the time that weren't suited for the milieu, so I'd just have to shelve them to write in some other form.

On the other hand, I've read the first two Hunger Games books and I'm surprised at the level of violence for a YA series. America seems to have a much higher tolerance for violence than for sex, though.

As for your example, the death in Pet Sematary (one of my favorite books!) was absolutely crucial to the story. There would be no point in writing the book if the death had been "some guy" instead of the son. If your scene is that crucial, you have to include it.

Two versions? Like the "real" version of a movie and the "airline" version? Eh, I don't know. Maybe. Write the real one and then see if you want to bastardize edit it.

[NathanWrann]

but it will lose a lot of the intensity.

One of the best pieces of advice my editor/proofreader/friend gave me when he handed me back my last manuscript was:

"Remember: Strong like bull."

Always go with the more intense option. Otherwise it's boring. No question.

[Richardcrasta]

I think, to answer the OP s question: this is a legitimate device.

I'm thinking of offering two options for my short humorous book,  A SHORT HISTORY OF PECKERS.
One is with the original cover, which is in-your-face. I realize many are simply not going to buy that, and it is probably not going to be offered in some markets. The title of this will add: "With the Original Lingam Cover" as a subtitle.

The second has a cover which is a photographic collage of different types of birds with long beaks (peckers).
This is non-offensive, and by the way, the language of the book itself is literary and sexy and playful and punning rather than sexually explicit, so this book can be read by a larger audience. I may make a few small changes in the text to make it a bit milder than the other version.

[Elizabeth Ann West]

Hey Wren!

I have an 11-year-old, so maybe I can help...

Every morning my 11-year-old 6th grader gets on a bus with 13 and 14 year-old kids. I use every single opportunity I have to talk to him about sex. TV shows, movies, video games, books etc. I have to drown out the dribble he hears at school to let him know the truth. I let him know I do not want him to have sex, or sexual relationships (yes, we've talked about things that are like sex but not "going all the way" and how those can have consequences) until he is old enough and mature enough to handle them. I've let him know how there's going to be other kids who talk about how wonderful sex is, how great it is, and really, their just looking for company because good sex takes confidence and trust.

Anyway, put a label on it, but in reality you will probably do MORE good by leaving the story as is for these 12 year olds to read with their parents. The reality is most of the kids by age 11 or 12 have bodies that function like an adult. When I worked for a non-profit in Portsmouth, VA that provided ankle monitoring for juveniles in hopes that by keeping them out of the system we could repvent non-violent offenders from turning into violent offenders, we had to deal with the fall out of a group of 10 year olds and 11 year olds who threw a sex party. YEAH! One young girl slept with her boyfriend in a bedroom, and a boy (hard to even call him that, as he was 13) pulled a weapon and said you slept with him, you will now sleep with all of us. Ugh, I still want to strangle those parents who left a 10 year old home overnight! It was a mess. But I bet that young girl, engaging in behavior far above her pay grade, never knew that as a potential risk. I am not saying it is her fault, not at all. She and a few of the other boys who complied are traumatized for life, I'm sure. But these "kids" NEED to be aware that when they sign up for adult decisions, adult -sized consequences can come with them. What better way to share that than with literature rather than life experience at that tender young age?

But go with your gut. I'm sure with a separate cover and subtitle, you could sell two versions if you'd like.

[Gregory Lynn]

It's your career. It's  your book. Don't ask if you're allowed to do something. Do it.

Don't lie. Don't commit fraud. Don't do anything that will get you banned from your distribution networks.

Do what you want and if people don't like it they can go to hell.

[JerriLincoln]

I have two books that are *almost* identical:  Not My Guru and What Would Osho Say?  The only differences are in the forward and afterward.  They have separate isbn numbers and I think that's the key.  Not My Guru is in my sig.  Here's the link to the other one:  http://amzn.to/y52Eq4

I did it because they are both focused on a different market . . . which is essentially why you want to do it.  I did write to Amazon at the time asking if it's legal, and they said yes.

[telracs]

bad news.... 12 year olds know about sex.  so if you're doing it with "closed doors"  for a YA audience, i think you really don't need to do a second version.

also, having to versions of a book can cause issues with readers.  how are they supposed to know that there are two versions.  if you use different titles, people may end up buying the "same" book twice and you alienate them from future sales.

[Richardcrasta]

Fascinating discussion.

I agree with both sides--it's an absurd thing to say, but I do.

The point of view that says: go with the most intense version, don't bastardize it: a tremendous integrity behind that view, and I respect both the posters who said that.

I spent a lot of my life pursuing integrity, and am as a result . . . ahem, not rolling in dough, like some of my peers.

I'm now willing to do this: if it's a book of humor or some book where I am not making a life statement, it is a form of fun that I am having and sharing with the reader, then I'd be willing to do 2 versions.

For example, A SHORT HISTORY OF PECKERS, the cover with wooden lingams (penises), seems to have run into resistance.

So I came up with a cover for the general prude (like I have been for a good bit of my life, and all my relatives are):
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CSNxUznjL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-46,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

And will do another version called A MICRO-SHORT HISTORY OF PECKERS, almost identical except with the real lingams, and a couple of paragraphs taken off.

No great life-statement here, just trying to put food (peanuts) on the table. I would clearly state in each description that there existed the other version that had a milder/sexier cover, but that they were otherwise almost identical.

[bxs122]

I see no problem in offering two version - one that is adult oriented and another that is YA oriented.
Same novel, just adjusted in places where being appropriate is warranted.

Best of luck.

[Bards and Sages (Julie)]

The book is either a YA novel or it is not.  Removing a single scene does not make it YA any more than having a single scene makes it adult.  The idea that all it takes to make a YA and adult version of a book is to remove a scene is just strange to me. 

Of course, I also think "clean" versions of rock songs are strange...as if I don't know what word to fill in the "bleep" with.  I still remember when radio stations were bleeping the word "sex" in George Michael's "I Want Your Sex."  Bleeping the word didn't change the message of the song.

The other issue is that, if the scene is so easily removed that one could make a YA and adult version to begin with, then the scene is not neccessary for the plot and should be removed regardless.  If it does not move the plot forward, isn't important for character development, and the message of the book is identical with or without the scene, cut it out because it is useless, not offensive.