Many of today’s YA writers are adults; that creates something of a generation gap between them and their audience. Things may be completely different for teens these days compared to when you were a teen and it can be hard to recognize that when writing a book that’s meant to hook these readers.

So, how do you, as an adult author, write that YA book and write it well? Have a look at these four tips designed to keep your readers reading.

Dialog is Not Standardized

Dialog is powerful and it connects your characters to your readers but it is important to remember that at no age is there a standard way of speaking. Slang may be grossly overused in YA stories, especially the term “whatever” – many teens don’t even say that!

When friends get together they have their own way of talking and that is based on who they are and their experiences; rather than picking on the latest fad, introduce realism. Tip: go and sit in a coffee shop frequented by teens and listen to them.

Recognize “codeswitching” and use it. One of the more important parts to any characterization is how much a character changes in any given setting. You might have a character who speaks formally to their parents or one set of friends but, in a different setting, completely changes the way they act and talk. Put your characters into different situations so your readers can really get to grips with them.

Use Real Issues

The issues teens face today may or may not be the same as you faced at that age. Regardless, do your research and try to have your characters face those real issues. Create situations that mirror social or political statements, make the lines between right and wrong a little bit blurry and introduce real problems and solutions. Just don’t overdo it.

Romance Isn’t Everything

When a romantic liaison adds to a story by improving characterizations or bringing personality contrasts to the forefront then adding romance can be the right thing to do.

However, where you are writing a novel that isn’t specifically romance, relationships must not overshadow the real plot and they mustn’t happen at random times, where it simply doesn’t make sense. Let’s face it, if your characters are fighting off alien monsters, nobody really expects a kissing scene in the middle of it, unless one character is about to die!

Stop Stereotyping

Far too many YA authors try to fit their characters into stereotypical categories without depth. A character should never be defined by one trait or interest, for example, being great at football, playing the violin like a pro or being the most popular or unpopular person in school. These do not determine the way a character will act or speak the whole time.

The most important thing not to do is make your teenage characters appear immature or clueless; not only does it make for a frustrating story, but it also offends your readers.

YA readers like to be treated like adults so give them a story that befits their expectations. Bring in some surprising or contradictory characters, add the realism, and don’t stereotype your characters – it just turns readers off. Instead, break boundaries and take a few risks.