Without a doubt, YA (young adult) is a very hot genre to write. It’s been around for a while, although there was a turning point in 2008 when it truly exploded. A number of writers tried their hand at it. Some found YA was for them, and others discovered writing this genre is tougher than it looks. Although, YA isn’t about to slow down anytime soon. Readers of YA are committed. They’re always after more, and for writers of this genre, we’re here to deliver.
Now, what makes YA so popular?
Those teen years we go through, are an incredible time. They’re exciting, fun, awful, painful, scary, amazing, and everything in between. It’s when we discover the world and where we fit in. In our teen years, our emotions are pure, and all that we go through is intense and totally confusing.
That’s why YA captures such a wide-ranging readership base. It crosses the generations, and is read by young adults and adults alike. There is no age barrier to YA. Even my 90-year-old grandmother has recently read my YA fantasy romance. It was her first foray into this genre, and she was fascinated by how enthralled she became. (Phew.) The story reminded her of the time she lived by the seat-of-her-pants. (Yep, seat-of-her-pants. She was such a rebel in her younger years.) She wants more YA–and just like that, she’s hooked.
So, let’s cover what YA writers should be aware of. There are certainly some points to note.
YA books focus on the essence of what teens go through, and I’m not talking about learning to drive a car, going to prom, or that very first date.
YA readers are smart. They want deep storylines, and fast-paced action, so don’t even attempt to write simple. Teens will spot simple a mile away, and just get annoyed.
In fact, it’s often said writers must pay attention to the three core questions which should be at the heart of every YA novel.
Who am I?
Where do I belong?
How do I get there?
A ton of new questions can arise from these three core ones, but fundamentally they make great building blocks when writing YA.
Your characters are about to take the journey in discovering the answers they seek. There’ll be struggles and mistakes, bends and twists in the road, triumphs and tears, but that’s how teens uncover all life has to offer. The journey they undertake must be deep. They must challenge themselves to sort out any inner fears and frustrations, and while doing so, remain completely relatable.
All in all, YA books are about teens coming to terms with who they are, and experiencing all life’s ups and downs along the way.
Okay, so if you’re after some YA novel guidelines, here are some helpful pointers.
So far, there are no forbidden subjects, but whatever you delve into must be done with sensitivity and care, taking into account the age of the teen reader. Often we can allude to something, and then fade out the scene. The YA reader is smart, and they’ll be aware of what’s happened.
Overall, teens will identify more strongly with the character’s feelings, and this is why intense situations don’t always need to be written in.
Characters are teens, and aged within those years.
YA novels generally run between 40,000-75,000, but you will find books either side of that. If there is a particular publisher you’re after then make sure you check out their website’s submission guidelines to see if they have a preferred word count.
There are also no vocabulary restrictions for YA, but make certain any coarse language is age or topic appropriate.
YA is predominantly written in 1st or 3rd Person (I said, or she said.) Although there are some in 2nd Person (you say.)
And lastly, any subgenre is enjoyed, like fantasy, romance, paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi, historical, mystery, adventure, humor. There are no limitations on this.
I hope this post has been helpful for those writers wanting to delve into YA, or for those who just want to know a little more about this intriguing genre. Even in writing this post, I was surprised by how much I had to share. YA is certainly not easy to write, although it’s incredibly enjoyable.
But there’s more…
I’m going to share a link to the most traumatic post I’ve ever written which was featured this week on Dear Teen Me. I cried like a baby as I wrote it.
Here’s what happened. A few weeks ago, I was asked by “Dear Teen Me” to write a post, and I was thrilled to accept. Then I received the details. I was to write a letter to my teen-self, and I tell you, it was the most traumatic writing experience ever. Who wants to write a letter to their teen self? Not me, but I’d committed to it, so I jumped in with both feet and shared from my heart.
If you want to find out what made me blubber and cry, (I think I went through an entire box of tissues,) then check out the post here. http://dearteenme.com/?p=7477
Thanks for taking a look if you did.
If you have any questions, just leave me a comment. I love hearing from you. And if you’d like to read a YA novel, then feel free to check out my YA/NA Magio-Earth series with its abundance of 4&5 Star reviews. Enjoy, and take care this week.
Today (while I’m rugged up against the winter chill in New Zealand) I’m bringing you an exclusive excerpt from Highlander’s Magic which released just a month ago. The next book in this series, Highlander’s Charm, will be releasing in September/October, and I can’t wait to bring it to you.
Currently, I’m writing the fifth book in this series, Highlander’s Guardian, and having a blast since this one is set at Holyrood House, the king’s Edinburgh residence in Scotland. Here’s the excerpt from Highlander’s Magic. I hope you enjoy.
HIGHLANDER’S MAGIC – Exclusive Excerpt
Marie should step back, but for the life of her, she couldn’t. Instead, she slid her fingers through Archie’s silky brown hair and stroked his scalp. “I dare you. I’m a twenty-first century woman, whether you believe me or not. And we play by a whole separate set of rules.”
“So you wish to play as the fae do?” Archie lowered his head to the curve of her neck and brushed his lips over her flesh. “Say aye. I need to hear your agreement plain and clear.”
“Yes, bring on the fire. Set as many challenges as you like.” She tipped her head to the side and he trailed his lips lower.
“Fire it is then.” He settled his mouth over her pulse and sucked, hard.
Her knees wobbled, and she latched onto his shoulders. “Um, nice start.”
“Nice? Your heartbeat flutters like the wings of a bird.” He pressed every inch of his body against hers, and heat raced the entire length. “I want to kiss you.”
Well, that she really didn’t mind. This adventure surely wouldn’t hurt with some kissing involved. “If you wish.”
“I wish.” He covered her mouth with his, and the taste of him swarmed her senses. Oh, yes. Adventure was good. Wanting more, she kissed him back, molding her mouth to his.
“You taste so sweet.” He licked over her lower lip with the most seductive stroke. Desire bolted through her. Then he caressed her sides, roamed down and scooped her bottom up. Lifted higher, he pressed himself hard against her, and he was hard.
Sweet heaven. Keeping hold, she seized his powerful biceps. “I really like you without the shirt.”
“I really like you with mine on.” Then he kissed her deeper, until their breath mingled as one. “How much fire can you handle? I need to touch you.”
The lovely Cd Brennan honored me with the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. She has two fabulous new adult romances available through Kensington Books, and if you’d like to check out her snazzy covers, pop on over to her website. Thank you Cd for thinking of me.
In accepting, I am required to:
Link back to the person who nominated me for the award.
Display the Very Inspiring Blogger Award logo.
Reveal 7 things about myself. (This will be interesting. I hope.)
Nominate others to receive the award and continue the fun.
Here are my seven random facts:
My mother insists I was born a month overdue, yet I find that incredibly hard to believe since I’m super-fanatical about getting to where I should be on time.
When I was a young child, I played with piglets because we owned a piggery. I used to feed the youngest in the litter with a bottle, which is way cool.
I did not pass my high school English exam, yet today I write bestselling books. So ironic. 🙂
When not writing, I work as an accountant part-time, and thankfully, I passed those exams.
I don’t like peas. I used to hide those suckers under the mashed potato when I was a kid since my mother never worried if I didn’t finish that all off.
My father (a farmer at the time) chopped a chicken head off in front of me when I was ten, because he said the chicken was supposedly on its last legs and wouldn’t survive the night. I’m still traumatized by that experience today. They can run for some time without all their parts, and that chicken’s legs worked just fine.
This could be why I’m a vegetarian today.
I love being a Mum. Best job ever. I’ve also never made my kiddies eat peas, or dissected animals in front of them.
To pass on the award, I nominate the lovely and talented:
Hey everyone, thanks so much for joining me today. I couldn’t be more excited to bring you both a cover reveal and a book release in one.I can’t believe HIGHLANDER’S MAGIC is now available. Highlander’s Captive and Highlander’s Castle have led the way in this series, and the next to release will be Highlander’s Charm later this year.
I also want to take a moment to thank all of you who’ve bought copies of the first two books in this series. Because of you, this Highlander Heat line is still rocking the bestsellers chart. I hope you enjoy this story just as much.
Here’s the swishy cover, complete with a sizzling hot Highlander.
HIGHLANDER’S MAGIC
Traveling through time…for a Highlander.
Wearing the four-hundred-year-old amulet she inherited, Marie MacLean enters a faerie circle near the ruins of Dunyvaig Castle. A veil rises. A warrior from the past makes a wish to win the war against the Chief of MacLean, and as the veil thins, she falls through into his time.
Highland warrior Archie MacDonald has been gifted a faerie who insists she’s from the future and the progeny of both his and his enemy’s clan. The last thing he expects is for her to stir him on a level he’s never experienced before. All he needs is her aid in the war, no matter where she believes she’s from.
Determined to keep history on course, Marie enters the crux of the battle. She must ensure the MacLean chief who has yet to father her paternal line isn’t killed, and all without perishing herself. Can Archie see past his need for revenge before he kills his enemy? If he wishes to save the woman who’s crossed centuries to be by his side, he must.
“I see your imagination still runs rife.” The fae loved to play their games and this lass was no different. Tempting, enchanting, and his to care for. Archie had taken on quite the task, but thus far, enjoyable.
“Or it could be the truth if you would but see it.” Marie slowly circled him, running her finger along his skin at the waist of his trews. “Where I come from, man no longer travels by horse, but within large steel contraptions that roll on wheels. Although do you want to hear something truly wicked?”
“Nay.” His thoughts were bad enough.
“Boats are made of steel, and they don’t simply sail across the sea, but also cruise the depths below. They’re called submarines, and they’re fully enclosed.”
“Now I know you lie.” Although seductively. Such travel would allow one to sneak up on their enemy. He liked.
“And what if I’m telling the truth?” She sidled around until they stood face to face. “Ask me a question, anything you’d like.”
“How do these submarines rise from the depths? The concept is intriguing, albeit impossible.”
“They have tanks which draw water in to allow them to fall below the waterline, and once it’s time to go up, engines pump the water back out. Engines you won’t see for hundreds of years.” She trailed a finger down the center of his chest. “My thoughts are still wandering.”
“You play with fire, my faerie.” He captured her hands and draped them around his neck. “I like it too much.”
“And you’re a challenge, one which I like too much.”
“Do you wish to test the waters between us? Dare me and we shall.” Aye, he was up for a dare, and he hoped she was too.
A fabulous prize pack has been put together by the wonderful Kensington Books/Lyrical Press authors I released with earlier this month. If you’d like to enter our wicked draw, then please check out the rafflecopter giveaway further on in this post. One lucky winner will receive a bundle pack of all five ebooks displayed in the picture below. The romance stories on offer range from historical, western historical, paranormal, contemporary and new adult fantasy. I also have a personal Jewellery Prize up for grabs (running for the month of May,) and to enter all you have to do is leave a comment to go into the draw.
Here’s a new excerpt from Enchanter for you:
“I can’t believe I did that.” I stole another look at the floorboards I’d warped with my burgeoning fire skill.
“I can’t believe you ’pathed me.” Guy smiled and nuzzled my hair.
“What are you doing?” Butterflies abounded in my belly. “I mean, don’t do that.”
“Mmm, you smell like sunshine, and your hair, it’s a living flame with these strands of gold ablaze within the red.”
“It’s too curly.”
“I like curly.”
“We’re getting rather close, Guy.”
“Close is dangerous.” He pulled back and looked into my eyes. “Sorry, gotta kiss you. Now.”
His mouth stole over mine and whatever thoughts I had scattered, except for one. I wanted this kiss as much as he did. This moment couldn’t be denied, so I kissed him as deeply as he kissed me. I stroked his silky black hair. “We should have done this sooner,” I mumbled against his lips. “So good.”
“Hell, yes.” He deepened our kiss.
I was lost in the sweet taste of him. My heart soared and my soul called to his. More. He was my mate, and it wasn’t a bond to be broken. Except, damn it, we had.
“We should stop,” he growled as he pulled away.
“Absolutely. What were you thinking?” Unable to help myself, I traced his full lips with a finger.
-oOo-
For my own personal prize, leave a comment for a chance to win a New Zealand Paua Shell Kiwi Pendant Earring Set.
PROTECTOR ~ Magio-Earth Series Book One ~ New Adult, Fantasy, Romance
To love and protect…across worlds.
Eighteen-year-old Faith Stryker is prepared to leap out into the unknown world beyond her home shores of New Zealand to experience life. Only she never expected to encounter Magio, a planet with two warring countries, where its people reach adulthood at eighteen by coming into their strength and prophetic abilities. Only after Faith discovers she’s a halfling–thanks to her warrior father she’s never met–does her own skill of forethought develop.
Peacio’s Prince Davio Loveria is sent to the young Faith Stryker by his grandfather, but not all goes as planned. Davio discovers Faith isn’t just a halfling, she’s also his soul-bound mate–an intense relationship he cannot, nor will not, give up.
With two wars now waging…one of land and the other of the heart…can the young lovers find their place in the world?
