Young Adult
Ellie Marney: On the Unique Challenges of Writing Historical Fiction
New York Times bestselling author Ellie Marney discusses the history behind her new YA murder mystery, The Killing Code.
5 Things All YA Novels Need To Succeed
YA readers are among the most enthusiastic about the stories they read. Here, award-winning YA and children’s author Anthony McGowan shares 5 things all YA novels need to be successful.
Adalyn Grace: On Writing for Escape
New York Times bestselling author Adalyn Grace discusses combining her favorite genres into her new YA fantasy novel, Belladonna.
3 Tips for Writing Dystopian Young Adult Fiction
If you've ever heard it said that there's no new way to write a story, let author Julian R. Vaca tell you otherwise. Here, he shares 3 tips for writing dystopian young adult fiction to help silence our inner critics.
Rimma Onoseta: On Trusting the Process of Revision
Author Rimma Onoseta discusses how seeing other Black female authors on bookshelves encouraged her to finish writing her contemporary YA novel, How You Grow Wings.
Writer's Digest September/October 2022 Cover Reveal
Writer's Digest is excited to announce our Sept/Oct 2022 issue featuring our Annual Literary Agent Roundup, an interview with NYT-bestselling YA horror novelist Tiffany D. Jackson, and articles about writing sinister stories.
Writing the Raw Emotions of the Most Vulnerable Time in My Life
When a devastating diagnosis turned her world upside down, New York Times bestselling author Kelly Yang went into “fix it” mode. Here, she details how writing her new YA novel helped her navigate what she couldn’t control.
The Writer's Digest Interview: Maggie Stiefvater
New York Times-bestselling YA author Maggie Stiefvater discusses the boundaries between truthfulness and lies when it comes to myths, narrators, and her latest release, Mister Impossible.
The WD Interview: Elizabeth Acevedo
National Book Award winner Elizabeth Acevedo talks writing novels in verse, tips for NaNoWriMo success, and developing characters for YA in this interview from WD's Sept/Oct 2021 issue.
Sasha Peyton Smith: On Exploring Grief in Young Adult Fiction
Debut author Sasha Peyton Smith discusses how exploring her own grief led to the first draft of her young adult historical fantasy novel, The Witch Haven.
Writer's Digest September/October 2021 Cover Reveal
Get a sneak peek of the Sept/Oct 2021 issue of Writer's Digest featuring our Annual Literary Agent Roundup and an interview with National Book Award-winner Elizabeth Acevedo.
We’re a Nation of a Billion Indians, and Yet, I Hardly See Myself in Children’s Books
Middle-grade author Payal Doshi discusses a lack of diversity in children's books and how her latest release, Rea and the Blood of the Nectar, is working to correct that.
Drawing the Line for Withholding Secrets in Young Adult and Middle Grade Novels
Middle-grade and young adult author Ren Koppel Torres shares the top tips for how you can keep secrets from your characters and readers.
Payal Doshi: On Letting Rejection Bring You Clarity
Middle-grade author Payal Doshi discusses the sometimes-disheartening process of querying a novel and how she used rejection to fuel her passion for writing.
Rajani LaRocca: On Letting Your Synopsis Guide Your Writing
In this article, middle-grade author Rajani LaRocca discusses how the synopsis for her newest release, Much Ado About Baseball, guided her writing process.
Sandhya Menon: On Reinventing a Classic Fairy Tale
New York Times bestselling author Sandhya Menon shares her experience with reinventing the Frog Prince fairy tale in her latest young adult novel, Of Princes and Promises.
Motive Magic for the Middle Grade/Young Adult Writer
Doctors don’t want you to know this secret to melt sagging plotlines and eliminate one-sided characters. Luckily, Ren Koppel Torres is here to share!
Deb Caletti: On Exploring the Art-versus-Artist Debate
In this article, award-winning Deb Caletti explains how her latest young adult novel, One Great Lie, tackles a hot-button topic, and why you shouldn't shy away from serious themes for young adults.
Rachael Lippincott: On Coming Back to a Shelved Project
Author Rachael Lippincott describes why she shelved her latest release, The Lucky List, to write and edit another novel, and why she ultimately came back to the project.
S. K. Ali: On Writing the Stand-Alone Sequel
In this article, award-winning author S. K. Ali discusses how she tackled writing Misfit in Love, the stand-alone sequel to her novel Saints and Misfits.
3 Tips to Invite Your Readers into Your Story World–For Writers and Readers of All Ages and Stages
No matter the age of your audience, there are a few keys ways to ensure that they are hooked by your story. In this article, author Mary Alice Monroe gives her top 3 tips for accomplishing this.
Alyson Gerber: On Writing Difficult Topics for Young Readers
Critically acclaimed author Alyson Gerber discusses how she tackled the topic of disordered eating in her latest middle-grade novel, Taking Up Space.
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.