How to Avoid the Ick When Writing YA Books
The Novelry on Writing
Engaging Teen Readers Through Authentic Storytelling
This chapter explores strategies to keep readers captivated in young adult fiction despite the prevalence of digital distractions. It emphasizes the need for authentic character experiences and meaningful stakes to foster emotional connection and immersive storytelling.
Are you writing YA fiction? The target audience for Young Adult literature ranges from tweens to elders but, ultimately, teen readers are at the heart of this genre. Learning how to appeal to young people as readers is critical if you want to be a successful YA novelist. In this riveting episode of The Novelry on Writing, YA fiction coaches Alice Kuipers and Ella McLeod provide five tips to ensure your Young Adult novel connects with teens instead of making them gag.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
02:45 - Tip #1: Talk to Teenagers
07:31 - Tip #2: Communication Methods
10:20 - Tip #3: Raise the Stakes
15:17 - Tip #4: Elevate the Setting
22:16 - Tip #5: Consider the Contemporary Experience
Guest Bios
The Novelry writing coach Alice Kuipers is the bestselling, award-winning author of YA novels, books for younger readers, and several ghostwritten adult memoirs. Her debut, Life on the Refrigerator Door, was a New York Times Book for the Teen Age and Carnegie Medal nominee. It won the Grand Prix de Viarmes, the Livrentête Prize, the Redbridge Teenage Book Award, and the Saskatchewan First Book Award and has been adapted for the stage. Alice’s other accolades include wins or nominations for the Arthur Ellis Award, the White Pine Award, the Saskatchewan Book Award for YA Literature, the Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, and Amazon’s Best Book of the Month.
The Novelry writing coach Ella McLeod’s debut YA novel, Rapunzella, Or, Don’t Touch My Hair, was nominated for the prestigious Branford Boase Award and received rave reviews in Kirkus, the Irish Times, and the Guardian. Her second YA novel, The Map That Led To You, was a Guardian Best Books Pick. Her next book is Andromeda, her adult romantasy debut. Ella has produced and researched podcasts for Somethin’ Else, part of Sony Music Entertainment, and for BBC Sounds. She also hosts the podcast Comfort Creatures.
Resources
Check out these blog posts for more insight on how to write a novel:
The 25 Best YA Books of All Time
Writing for Teenagers vs Writing About Teenagers
Ella McLeod on the “Adultification” of YA
Read the full episode transcript here!
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Show description
Learn how novels work from publishing’s top experts at The Novelry, the world’s #1 school for writers. Hosted by our bestselling writing coaches and publishing editors, this podcast is a practical, helpful guide to writing novels for every genre. Enjoy inside tips and tricks to make your writing a joyful experience while building your expertise in writing craft.
With new topics every week, there is always something to learn at The Novelry, the world’s top-rated fiction writing school with more 5* reviews from writers than any other creative writing course.
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