7 Tips for Writing YA Fiction
Writer’s Series
by Samantha A. Flaherty
Want to write a novel, but don’t know where to start? Consider the following tips, gleaned from the writing processes of two American YA authors. Coe Booth, a writer of fiction for adolescents, and Erin Dionne, a writer of middle grade fiction, shed light on how they make their stories come to life during the Writer’s Series virtual video session last month.
1. Brainstorm
It can be difficult figuring out where to start with a story when we have an idea we wish to expand upon. Erin Dionne recommends writing out these ideas. She calls herself a “notebookaholic,” and uses many notebooks to compartmentalize what she wants out of her story and her characters. Dionne spends a significant amount of time brainstorming her character and figuring out who they are, and what they want.
On the other hand, Coe Booth may have a random thought of a certain word, or a place, or even hear her own voice transforming into that of someone else, who so badly wants to be written down on paper. Sometimes we don’t have to look for inspiration. It will simply reveal itself to us on its own.
2. Really Create Your Character
Finding out more about who your character will greatly help your story. If your character is two-dimensional the story will be less believable. Dionne offered a very influential piece of advice: whole-heartedly ask yourself what is missing from your character. You must discover what the hole is in their heart that they are trying to fill, and what happened in their past to make them desire such a thing. Knowing this gets the reader’s heart racing with the character.
Voice is everything. In Booth’s experience, as you’re building your character and they happen to start out as a little girl and then eventually morph into an adolescent boy, just roll with it. Map it out more. That’s who they needed to be for whatever reason. This way, you’re letting your character find their own voice instead of using yours, as the author, to define them.
3. Be Age-Appropriate and Aware
Stories involving difficult topics such as mental illness can be difficult to approach in a way that is suitable for younger aged groups. A character goes hand in hand with their own backstory. This would require discovering how they navigate the world around them, which would result in the writer putting their character through different situations.
The authors agreed that it takes a lot of research to write those deeper parts in a manner that their reader will understand, and not come across as overbearing. It’s about having sensical placement and constantly reminding yourself of who your audience is. Such research may involve talking to those in the Psychology field in the hopes of better understanding what it’s like for younger people to live with neuropsychiatric issues or mental disorders. It also may require time spent observing real life kids and their behavior to better build realistic characters.
4. Plot Your Points
How committed should you be? Booth uses a blank calendar to slot in key points that she knows will have to happen in her story. This can be very slow and stressful, she admitted, but it is possible to write a successful story from this process.
Dionne discussed her take on what a “beat sheet” is. She said that this consists of all the important points she feels needs to happen in her story. Although this information never ends up how one thinks it will, she still finds excitement in this part of discovering the story.
5. Draft for Discovery
Slow first drafts can either be killed off entirely or altered, since you are in the process of discovering your storyline and the personalities of your characters. The most important note both authors made is to NOT go back and start your draft again. This will only get you stuck in the loop of attaining perfection over something that is not meant to be a finished product. They state that you can add whatever changes you’d like, but afterwards, pretend as though your changes have always been there.
Your drafts will always be hot messes! You just need your ideas written on paper to be able to work with them in a more accessible way. When revising, the authors recommend you print out a copy of what you have and write in the margins.
6. Go with the Flow
We tend to box creative people in at school. There are so many kinds of artists in relation to what they love and what is difficult to discuss or present. Booth and Dionne both agreed that allowing people to read your work can normalize your writing, and give you the representation and validation you may need as a writer, especially one who is just beginning their journey.
It is really important to remember that as writer, you are always looking at someone’s final draft. You don’t see the other ten drafts that came before that. All starts are bad, so don’t thoroughly fix it until it is done. You must acknowledge this to continue in your writing process with less self-doubt.
7. Advocate for Yourself
When it comes time for you to find an agent, know that they are there to make a deal with your writing. Agents are always looking for new work, so you must find someone whose needs match your skills. It’s all about practicing and believing that you are the next big thing whilst looking for an agent. According to Booth and Dionne, remind yourself that YOU are picking the agent. YOU are the talent, and this agent CRAVES your story.
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