Young Adult
Natalie Lund: On Grief and Unanswered Questions in YA Fiction
YA author Natalie Lund shares how she handles the subject of death for a YA audience in her latest novel The Sky Above Us.
How I Taught Myself to Write in English
Novelist Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau describes what it was like to transition from writing in French (her native language) to publishing her debut YA novel in English.
14 Techniques to Write Emotional Truth to Engage Readers: Why It Works and How in Successful Storytelling
Why is engaging the reader's emotions so important? YA author and award-winning journalist Robin Farmer lays out the answer in this article.
5 Tips for Writing About Controversial Topics
Bestselling author Syed M. Masood shares his top 5 tips for how to handle a controversial topic in your work.
Carla Malden: Writing With Optimism and Innocence
Screenwriter and author Carla Malden explains why young adult fiction and the '60s go hand-in-hand and how she connected with her main character's voice.
Author Spotlight: Erin Moynihan on Laurel, Everywhere
Erin Moynihan talks about what prompted her to write her debut YA novel about coping with loss, and working with the indie publisher Ooligan Press.
Mikki Daughtry: Dreams Are Worth Fighting For
Bestselling novelist Mikki Daughtry shares why dreams (whether related to writing or love) are worth fighting for, what the writing process for Five Feet Apart was like, how that differed from her latest novel All This Time, and more!
Karol Hoeffner: Writing Stories When They're Ready to Blossom
Novelist and screenwriter Karol Hoeffner shares what inspired her latest novel (Knee Deep), what surprised her the most in writing it, her best piece of advice for other writers who may be feeling writer's block during the pandemic, and more!
Annie Sullivan: Raising the Stakes in Her Sequel, The Curse of Gold
YA author Annie Sullivan shares how she had to raise the stakes for everyone in her sequel to A Touch of Gold, why the writing process changed because of selling it on proposal, and more!
Hanna C. Howard: Keep Submitting, Writing, Working, Trying
Hanna C. Howard shares that her path to success involved starting a new project (her YA fantasy novel, Ignite the Sun), how long it took to get a book contract after acceptance, her best advice for other writers, and more!
MarcyKate Connolly: Every Book Is a Learning Experience
In this post, bestselling author MarcyKate Connolly shares how Shakespeare helped her figure out her most recent novel, why it took longer than she expected to write it, how she steps outside herself, and more!
Tiffany Rosenhan: Writing Her Character's Story
In this post, Tiffany Rosenhan shares what inspired her debut novel Girl From Nowhere, what surprised her about the publishing process, and more.
How to Write a Young Adult Novel
In this post, learn how to write a young adult novel from beginning to end, including 4 approaches for the first chapter of your novel, how to write for teens without sounding like an adult writing for teens, tips on writing pitch perfect YA characters, how to write a young adult crossover novel, and more.
From YA to YEAH: 4 Ways to Keep Teen & Young Adult Readers Hooked
Many YA authors are adults, which means the generation gap between these writers and their intended audience can make it easy to miss the mark. Teen writer (and avid reader) Lorena Koppel lays out four ways to make sure your YA novel meets young audiences' expectations and interests.
6 Pitfalls to Avoid When Writing LGBTQI+ Characters in Teen Fiction
Author Lisa Freeman shares 6 pitfalls for writers of YA and MG fiction to avoid when creating LGBTQ characters for their audiences.
7 Ways to Make a Young Reader’s Hair Stand Up
There are some techniques seasoned writers use to create that tension. Here are seven ways to accomplish building tension in your novel.
4 Tips on Creating Pitch Perfect YA Characters
Creating characters for young adult novels can be a real challenge. Here are four crucial tips to help you get back into the shoes of your high-school self.
Teen Writers Come of Age
Teenagers see the world through a completely different lens than adults do. Teen writers can show you the world through our eyes, and what it’s like to be growing up today.
How to Write for Teens Without Sounding Like an Adult Writing for Teens
To write a good young adult novel you need to get yourself back to thinking like a teenager again. This high school English teacher and YA novelist offers up 10 practical tips on how to do just that.
Does a High School Protagonist Mean Your Book is Young Adult?
It was only after contacting agents that I realized that by making my historical novel's lead a high schooler I had created a problem. Here's what I learned.
What NOT To Do When Writing YA Books (Advice From a Teen Writer)
Want to make your YA characters more like real teenagers? This teenage writer talked to every teen she knows and came up with a list of the top 6 mistakes writers make when writing YA books.
6 Tips to Writing a Bestselling YA Series
So you want to be a bestselling YA author? Let New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Lauren DeStefano and her agent Barbara Poelle walk you through the steps.
The Key Differences Between Middle Grade vs Young Adult
Miss your mark with your target audience and you won’t be graduating to the pros. Here’s how to ace the key differences between MG and YA.
How to Give People Nightmares: 6 Tips For Writing Young Adult Horror
Novelist April Genevieve Tucholke shares her six tips for writing young adult horror, the sort of tips that will help give young readers nightmares and keep the pages turning.