Young Adult fiction refers to a wide range of genres written to a specific readership that falls within a certain age group, mainly 12-18 years. Included in this article are key points and insights to think about when writing for young adults.

Audience

Writing for young adults can be tricky but one guiding factor is to place yourself in the readers’ shoes and give thought to the kind of issues that the age group deals with at this particular point of their lives. It will also help to remember your younger days but keep in mind still that times have changed and that there is a world of difference between what young people used to face during your time and what they face now.

Research

A good way of familiarizing yourself with the Young Adult genre is to read books that belong to this category. Consider other authors’ styles and how they are able to communicate with their audience. This is definitely important if you are writing in this genre for the first time. Still, as a seasoned writer, you need to keep growing in your writing skills and one way to do that is by reading other writers’ work. Reading YA fiction books should also be fun and not something that you have to do only for research. This way, your excitement, and enthusiasm will translate to your own writing.

Originality

After researching, develop a plot that is original and that differs from the rest in some aspects. You can consider using a unique setting or a heroic but realistic character with flaws. Another way is to use conversations in the book to build a unique story that your readers can connect with. Readers appreciate creativity and they want to read work that they have never read before. Even so, always keep in mind that it is the audience you are writing for and therefore, you should create a story that will suit them first.

Language

Now that you have figured out who the target audience is, consider how they talk and what kind of conversations they engage in. Remember that young adult readers are not children and hence, help them discover and learn for themselves instead of talking down to them. The audience will more likely love your writing if they reach conclusions by themselves. The language too should be accessible. Not too complex as when writing is targeted to an adult readership but also not too simple that the reader does not learn anything new from the writing.

Characters

Consider the traits that the target audience most admire when you are creating the characters.  Some rebelliousness mixed with courage may be more appealing to the readers of this genre. Characters should be surprising and brave. They should reflect a persona that the reader can look up to. When developing the characters, you need to consider the kind of message that you want to deliver. Do not hold back by creating characters who are just withdrawn and are afraid of taking risks. Still, remember to balance their bravery with humility and the willingness to grow.