If you are thinking of writing a young adult book, it’s the right time to do so. Young adult books are selling like hotcakes and their sales increased about 30% in 2021. What’s more interesting is that the popularity of both fiction and non-fiction adult books is on the rise.
However, thinking about writing a book is one thing but doing so is completely different. It’s not about how good your writing is because there are young adult book editors that can help you out. The key is to come up with a uniquely brilliant idea.
You need a genuine idea that the young audience will love to read about. And if you already have one, all you need to do is start pouring words onto paper. In case you need guidance, we have written a concise guide for you. Follow these points to get inspiration and start writing.
8 Things to Consider While Writing Young Adult Book
Here are 8 lessons or things to consider while writing young adult book:
1. Point of View
When it comes to things to consider while writing young adult book, point of view (POV) is one of them and the main factor for writing young adult book. One common mistake that novice writers make is that they write as if they are looking back. But if you truly want to establish yourself as a young adult (YA) writer, keep your perspective to be immediate.
Surely, a character who is a teenager can look back in the past. But, you must bear in mind that such characters should not have the wisdom of an adult.
To offer such a point of view, you’ll have to put yourself in the shoes of a teenager. If you are a young writer, this is a good thing for you. But if you are an older person, you should write as if you don’t care about the world of the elderly.
2. Age Factor
The next thing you have to consider is the age of your audience. Normally, YA books are written for young adults with an age between 12 and 18. But still, you have to narrow down the age if you want to target a specific audience.
If you are undecided about the age of your target audience, create a persona of your protagonist. This way you’ll be able to know for which audience your book will be more suitable.
However, you should keep in mind that young adults like to read up not down. This means they like to read about the older protagonist who won’t pay attention to a younger character. So, we recommend you try to focus on a younger audience while portraying a protagonist whose age ranges between 15 and 18.
Also, you should consider the fact that your characters should grow with time. They will be learning and changing as the story will continue to grow. So, keep this factor in mind when you start writing a book for young adults.
3. Language and Voice
You need to focus on the language and voice of your writing. A better way to deal with issues is to pay attention to the voice. If you get the voice right, the language will follow it. This will help you use the correct vocabulary and sentence structure in your YA book.
But then again, make sure that you are not talking down to your reader like an adult. This is what separates the voice and language of an adult from a young adult.
4. Touchy Subjects
You may want to avoid touchy subjects while writing a young adult book, but you should not. In today’s age almost every issue is considered appropriate for YA fiction books. You can freely talk about and let your characters discuss topics like abuse, gender equality, driving, etc.
However, keep in mind that you are telling the story of a character, not the other way around. So, don’t try to find the issue and then build a story around that topic.
5. Preachiness
Young adults don’t like the idea of being taught and the same goes for a young adult book. So, if you are writing fiction, try not to get preachy. Instead of sending messages and providing answers, try raising questions. Let your readers find out the answers by themselves.
You should not write with the aim to change someone’s mind. If you are doing so, let your views peek through your narrative.
6. Optimistic Endings
Young adults like books that have optimistic and hopeful endings. This is another major difference between adult and young adult fiction. It is alright to leave your readers sad in adult novels. But you need to give a glimpse of hope and a sense of responsibility when writing a young adult book.
Instead of giving warnings and lessons, you should provide possibilities. Let them feel that in the end, it’s up to them to decide which path they should choose.
7. Hire an Editor
Once you are done writing, it is time to do the editing. This is where you get to correct your mistakes, set the voice right, and can strengthen the structure. Most writers prefer to do editing by themselves or ask their friends and family members. But we recommend that you should hire a professional editor.
Young adult book editors can help writers by adding context. Since they are experts in this field, they can point out mistakes that a common person won’t even notice. They are unbiased critics who can provide an impartial review of your book. Moreover, they will provide you with notes with details and let you know where you are getting sloppy.
8. Hire a Book Cover Designer
A good book cover can help you sell your book. That’s why even the best writers hire professional designers to craft eye-catching book covers. You can also ask your editor to connect you with an expert cover book designer.
We recommend you hire someone who has expertise in designing young adult book covers. Such a person will be familiar with the key elements and imagery of the genre. With a good cover, you will be able to convey your story to potential buyers.
Final note
We hope you have found our suggestions useful and interesting. Writing a young adult book is easy if you have a better understanding of your audience. You should try to discuss and address their issue but don’t force your own views. Allow the reader to separate the right from the wrong.
