Most kids tend to be picky about what they read so it is often a challenge to come up with a book that they will enjoy. As a thirteen-year-old reviewer, I know quite a bit about this. As hard as it may be to write a good book for teen readers, I have a few tips.

The first tip is lots of action. Most kids enjoy lots of action spaced throughout the book. A good ratio is 10 pages action for every 40 pages written. One important thing to remember is the age group you are writing for. Often a younger kid will enjoy less violent action than an older kid. A good idea is never to add swearing to your book. Kids will pick up on the words and sometimes use them without even knowing what they mean. Believe me they will. (I have even done it a few times.) Most action should be centered at the end of the book. However, it is also important to spread some throughout the book. Long batches of dialog are fine, but there must not be too many of them, otherwise readers might lose interest in the book.

The second tip is to include lots of descriptive terms. It really helps the reader to imagine what the characters are seeing. A good example of word pairing is: a lush verdant forest. Use several basic terms to describe a place or person, then go into greater detail. If you are talking about a forest, a good idea would be to mention some of the surroundings. Talk about the trees and animals that inhabit the area. If you are describing a person, then talk about their general looks. An example is: He was tall and skinny with an owlish face. Often, lots of description can keep a reader interested in a book. An important thing to remember is not to go overboard. Too much description can scare away a reader, just like too little action.

The third tip is to build on the characters’ relationships. Most books start with characters being old friends or at least knowing each other; however, it is also fun to start a relationship from scratch. Often having the main characters not know each other at first is important to building a relationship from scratch. Sometimes characters should meet suddenly. Then, from there build up their relationship. Fights and arguments will help with this tactic. A good way to build is to have the characters gradually get to know each other more. It is also important to have some suffering in their past so that the reader will feel sympathetic for them or connected to them. As the characters begin to get to know each other, putting some challenges in the way of the relationship is important. After all, if everyone got along, it would be kind of boring.

These are my first three tips. Don’t worry if there weren’t enough for you; there will be more articles coming soon. Happy writing!