Why writing books for young adults is so fulfilling

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There are many reasons to write books for young adults. For starters, they’re one of the best-selling genres around at the moment. But beyond commercial purposes, there are a lot of aspects that are extremely fulfilling for writers of all ages.

Writing young adult novels offers you the chance to embrace your inner teenager and make the most of your own immature ways. It provides the opportunity to relive your teens, complete with a happy ending— your own romanticized version of your adolescence as the plot of a series of young adult fantasy novels, with your alter ego as the star. 

You can rewrite your past with the accoutrements you always wanted and dramatize and embellish the facts of what really happened. You can attribute the protagonist with those supernatural powers you always dreamed of or the fairy godmother you coveted when you first read one of the original fairy tales, Cinderella. Or the evil stepmother, your choice.

What’s most fulfilling about writing young adult novels, whether you’re penning dystopian literature or science fiction and fantasy books, is that you have the opportunity to give your audience hope. Young readers savor being able to relate to the situations that many protagonists of young adult novels experience. While Katniss in The Hunger Games exists in a post apocalyptic world that we will hopefully never be able to truly comprehend, we can empathize to her burgeoning feelings for the boy she thought was her best friend, Gale, and understand the confusion she suffers through when she begins to have feelings for another, her partner in the Games, Peeta. Plus, the strength and courage Katniss exudes is inspiring and offers teenage readers the hope that they often seek when reading this multifaceted genre.

Another aspect that is very satisfying to writers of YA, especially those who pen young adult fantasy novels, is that you can create the most imaginative otherworldly settings and then still convey an inspiring message to readers. Whether it’s an elaborate post apocalyptic world such as the radiation-ravaged dystopias of Revealing Eden or Pure, the characters can still be real and embody human characteristics that readers of all ages can relate to and understand, and therefore, take away the message you want to share or the intention behind your writing. Few genres provide such a unique opportunity.

Why paranormal romance novels?

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It’s hard to believe that paranormal romance novels are still the highest selling subgenre of romance. One would think it’s purely the escapism factor, but with the influx of dystopian literature this year, even though much of it may have a depressing premise, the glimmer of hope most dystopian novels provide should be enough to overcome the undying obsession with vampirism and witchcraft.

Paranormal romance novels still subscribe to the hero as a knight in shining armor who rescues the female protagonist. While she may not fit the old school damsel in distress paradigm, she’s not quite the empowered female who survives an apocalypse to claw her way to some type of livable existence in a dystopian society. She’s not the Katniss or Eden Newman that we all kind of want to be deep inside.

The thing with some of the fantasy novels that are considered the best in the genre or have the highest sales is that they have these characters that possess imaginary supernatural powers that enable them to overcome tremendous obstacles and survive nearly any kind of attack to save their love. Meanwhile, the protagonists in novels that are dystopian tend to be real people with the skills, physical prowess and intelligence that may actually be within reach of most readers.

If you think about it, the supernatural powers boasted by characters in paranormal romance novels are actually a bit of a crutch. How strong is a character really if they’re able to fly at the speed of lightning, read their enemy’s minds and lift thousands of pounds with one finger?

It’s interesting that many readers consider to the best fantasy novels are those that have such little element of realism. We know that there are no such things as vampires and wizards, so perhaps fans of the genre prefer the purity of this type of fantasy. Maybe fans of novels that are dystopian prefer the mix, some fantastical elements with some elements of realism. It’s interesting to think about—which do you relate to more and why?

End of the world books, steampunk and dystopian literature

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The most popular trends among young adult fiction this summer include end of the world books, steampunk and dystopian literature. While none of these are necessarily new, each has been a niche genre among books for young adults for ages. They’re all at the forefront of the book world right now, possibly because of the fascination with the prophecies associated with 2012, Nostradamus’ prophecies and the end of the Mayan calendar.

Steampunk originated during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It typically incorporates elements of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, alternate history and speculative fiction. The name is derived from the settings that characterize steampunk—eras where steam power were widely used. These can include the Victorian era, as well as fictional, post-apocalyptic times and alternate histories. They often contain futuristic innovations and technology that people from each era may have envisioned. Popular authors who delved into these techniques include Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.  

Technically considered a subgenre of science fiction, end of the world books are concerned with the end of civilization, resulting from an apocalyptic event or existential catastrophe such as a nuclear war, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, natural disaster, supernatural phenomena, zombie outbreak or some other cataclysmic event. They've become a very popular theme among books for young adults over the past year.

Dystopian literature and end of the world books are very similar. Dystopia is the opposite of utopia—a society characterized by squalor, poverty, oppression, dangerous conditions, and often times, a struggle to survive. Dystopian novels usually extrapolate elements of contemporary society and integrate political messages and thought-provoking circumstances. End of the world books are typically set during or directly after the apocalyptic disaster, which is common with dystopian novels as well.   

What books from each of these genres have in common most recently are strong, feisty female leads empowered by the struggles they encounter in their world, whether it’s a post apocalypse world or an otherworldly setting. Good examples of this among dystopian literature include The Hunger Games and Revealing Eden.

Inspiration for young adult novels

Where do authors get ideas for writing young adult novels? Many writers are so prolific, it seems that they have a never ending source of stories in the back of their mind. That’s true for some authors, but for others, it takes a little digging to reveal the stories they need to tell.  

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Probably the best source for the premise of whatever you want to write, whether it be young adult fantasy novels or dystopian literature, is your own life. We’ve all had unique experiences as well as similar ones to others in the YA age range during particular phases of our lives—regardless of which you write about, you’ll be able to share your own unique perspective of situations that all readers can relate to on some level.

Many writers of young adult novels are way past the years of adolescence. While it could seem more difficult to write for a younger audience, it’s actually much easier. It’s easy and can be inspiring to write about past experiences, since you’ve been there and done that. Even if you’re writing young adult fantasy novels that take place in an otherworldly setting, it’s the perspective of the protagonist that you can relate to, even when they live in an imaginary world.  

As many writers and instructors say, “write what you know.” You’re only stealing from your own life, and when time has past, your insight to the situation is enhanced. Think about your own adolescence and what your biggest issues were, what types of relationships and friendships you had, and how you felt about your family. Now that you’re older and a little wiser, you can probably figure out why certain dynamics were the way they were, why particular situations occurred, why others acted a particular way and why you reacted the way you did.

Going through this thought process will truly enrich your story, the depth of the characters involved, and the insight and emotions of the protagonist. Even when you’re writing science fiction and fantasy books or dystopian literature, you’ll still be able to give a realistic, and most importantly, a unique perspective for readers to both relate to and enjoy. Plus, it can be a very cathartic experience for writers to delve into their past to create a new version of their teenage memories.

Trends in Young Adult Fantasy Novels

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Young adult fantasy novels are one of the most consistently bestselling categories in the book world. The trends of what’s popular are constantly evolving, most likely because readers get more and more discerning with each new release. While series such as Twilight and Harry Potter set a precedent for paranormal romance novels, some readers seem to have grown tired of vampires and wizardry, though core fans of the genre will stay loyal to their love of magic.

During the past year, dystopian novels have surged in popularity. Is it the predictions of the 2012 apocalypse that readers are relating most to, or is it the strong, empowered characters that attract readers and reel them in? While yes, the Miami zombie news and Mayan prophecies incited a little bit of hysteria about the possibilities of an apocalypse this year, we’d like to think it’s the compelling protagonists that have increased the appeal of dystopian literature.

That idea actually makes the most sense because even when young adult fantasy novels are built upon storylines with paranormal elements, they’re still the ones readers are clamoring for the day they’re released.

Librarians all over the country report that the popularity of dystopian novels doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all. While it seems that the fascination with an apocalypse may fuel the desire to read end of the world books, what sets the bestsellers and award winners apart is their combination of fantasy and real issues that are relevant to teen’s lives.

The best examples of this are the current bestsellers, many of which are considered some of the best fantasy novels of all time. For example, in The Hunger Games, Katniss deals with many coming-of-age issues alongside her struggle to survive. In Revealing Eden, Eden struggles with self-acceptance and self-image as she tries to outwit a government that classifies her as the lowest of the low and her mate-rate brands her nearly impossible to find a mate. Among paranormal romance novels, in Twilight, even though Bella is in love with a vampire, we can relate to how she feels when she first moves to a new town and how it can be difficult to understand young love. 

The best fantasy novels of today are those that combine the elements that are most relevant and on the forefront of society, which drive the content of many end of the world books, and those that allow you to fully understand and empathize with the protagonist. It makes sense that dystopian literature is leading the pack right now, but authors beware, the characters will always be the most important element of the story.

Young adult novels —bringing characters to life

Writing realistic characters in young adult novels can be challenging to do when you’re no longer between the ages of 12 and 17.  It’s important for those awkward adolescent years to be brought to life in an authentic way if you want your book to be a success. 

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Whether you’re writing end of the world books or paranormal romance novels, there are a few key traits that your protagonists and other characters should possess—one of the most important is attitude. While characters may be extremely different from each other, especially when their story is based in settings as different as what you’d find in dystopian literature or a contemporary love story, some themes and issues will be common and recurring. They will evoke certain attitudes that will be similar across the board, such as rebelliousness, anger, frustration and insecurity. 

When writing these characters, you want to let the audience see them evolve and make mistakes from time to time. For an extreme example, the protagonist in a series of end of the world books may be focused on developing her combat skills so she can survive an apocalypse, but during the process may decide on whether she believes that others are potential enemies or allies. She may make a life-changing decision that goes against everything she ever believed in as a child.

A common behavior among protagonists in young adult novels is a struggle for self-awareness and identity. Young adults are coming-of-age and trying to learn who they are, what they like and dislike, what’s important to them and how they want to be perceived. As a result, they may try on different identities, looks and friends in a desire to experiment—they may be a red meat lover one day and the next decide they want to become a vegetarian. They may practice with a band for a year and then decide they don’t want to do anything with music anymore. They may think they know their stance on drugs and alcohol, and then may succumb to peer pressure in an unexpected situation.

While protagonists in dystopian literature may experiment with different personas just like any teenager would, they may also try on different political and spiritual attitudes that may not even be in the minds of real world teens. The possibilities are literally endless and offer an opportunity to really have your protagonist experience a significant and dramatic arc throughout the novel.

Why write books for young adults?

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There are several compelling reasons to write books for young adults. It’s a fresh, ever burgeoning genre that is easy to adapt to and lots of fun to write. Yet there are other reasons that motivate authors on deeper levels and often result in a sense of unparalleled fulfillment.

Besides the fact that the market is flourishing, many authors choose to write young adult novels because it gives them an opportunity to wield influence upon a demographic that is still impressionable. The adult market may enjoy everything from the classics and paranormal romance novels to science fiction and fantasy books, but their attitudes and beliefs are already formed and difficult to sway or affect.

Many of the teenagers who read young adult novels seek characters that they can relate to and an understanding of what they’re experiencing in life. They want to feel like others have experienced or are going through the same situations and experiences that they are. Books for young adults give readers the chance to live through the experience with the protagonist and see how they handle everything from drugs, peer pressure, sex and racism to surviving an apocalypse and saving the world. While the latter two situations are typically fodder for science fiction and fantasy books, when blended with the young adult genre, the protagonists will face issues common to young adults, despite their otherworldly settings.

Another common reason that authors write books for young adults is that it gives them a chance to rewrite their own teenage experiences. If prom sucked or teenage years were spent covered in acne and despair, an author can write a totally different experience and live vicariously through their protagonist. Someone who never dated during high school can write a series of paranormal romance novels where they live out their fantasy of dating the hottest guy in school and ending up happily ever after once they’ve overcome an array of supernatural obstacles. On the flip side, if high school was a breeze or possibly too normal, writers can raise their protagonist in a coven of witches or a castle in an imaginary land of demons and fairies.

The best young adult novels give readers hope by helping their characters go through their experiences and ultimately survive. While this is an amazing experience to be able to provide readers with, it also brings the responsibility to offer unbiased ideas and viewpoints.

Narrative Voice for Young Adult Fiction Books

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One of the defining characteristics of young adult fiction books is what we call “Narrative voice,” which is how your narrator tells the story. When you’re writing for a young adult audience, it’s important to make the narrative voice very teen-friendly, so readers can organically understand and relate to what’s being said. Whether you’re writing dystopian literature or science fiction and fantasy books set in another world, the characters need to be real and relatable, even if they’re not teenaged.

Surrender to immaturity. Some teens and many tweens are introverted or focused on inner conflicts. This makes them relate well to characters in young adult fiction books who face similar coming-of-age issues. Just like the protagonists, they’re trying to figure out who they are.  These characters will not usually be very aware of what they’re doing, and often act and react without thinking, and have emotional outbursts. It really doesn’t matter if it’s the protagonist of a series of science fiction and fantasy books or a chick lit novel; it could be an alien from another planet. What matters is that they’re learning about who they are and have an inexperienced outlook about life.

Unleash your inner drama queen. Use words and phrases that overdramatize a situation and its impact on your characters. Teenagers tend to exaggerate circumstances and get overly emotional. They may say silly things like, “I’m so dead!” or “I hate you,” to convey how serious the situation is to them. When teens are upset they tend to make things seem bigger than they are—use simple language that conveys their message and emotions.

Don’t be a messenger. While many authors of young adult novels, especially writers of dystopian literature, have a message they want their book to convey, it needs to be taught through the lessons the protagonist learns throughout the story. Don’t try to tell the reader the message.

Be easy to read. Young adult fiction books should be written in straightforward language, using shorter, less complex sentences. Young adult readers look for a more manageable read—short paragraphs with simple sentence structures are the way to go for this market. Authors of young adult novels often let sentences run on purposely and get creative with grammar. It’s a more fun, relaxed style that’s less daunting for the reader.

Romance in young adult fantasy novels

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Writing romance in young adult fantasy novels is a subjective art. Obviously different readers like different stories and since plots and characters are never going to be identical, the romance will also be unique.

Young adult fiction books are smoking hot right now, so if you’ve always wanted to write one, now is the perfect time. If your dream is to write one of the best fantasy novels of our era, then you’ll need a strong romance element. Here are some tips for creating the love story that will drive and sustain the romantic tension of your future masterpiece.

Make the romance as unique as your characters. Every single love story is unique, with its own individual back story and history. If you truly want to write one of the best fantasy novels of this year, then you don’t want to resort to a cliché romantic storyline. Think about every relationship you’ve ever had—while some patterns may have repeated themselves, they were probably also different in many ways.

Create realistic interactions. In real life, we have different relationships with all of our friends, family and lovers. We have arguments, resolve conflicts and may experience some push and pull and ups and downs. Even though you want to write young adult fantasy novels, they still need to have realistic human interaction or they will be boring and trite—and worst of all, readers won’t care about or be invested in their fate.

Even if the characters are soul mates, they should be different from each other. Some of the best young adult fiction books and love stories are about two people from different backgrounds, cultures or families that are polar opposites, if not enemies. Romeo and Juliet is a perfect example. It’s also something that we’re seeing a lot of right now because of the surge in popularity in dystopian literature. When new societies or class systems are formed due to an apocalyptic event, it’s easy to create characters who might be from a completely different race, class or background fall in love with each other. Then the difficulties of trying to make this impossible or doomed love affair work is what creates tension and makes young adult fantasy novels interesting. Readers become very invested in the fate of the character’s love—it gives them something to root and hope for. The more realistic the better when it comes to romance!

Settings in End of the World books

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End of the world books are typically categorized as a sub-genre of science fiction, usually built around the theme of the end of civilization resulting from some sort of apocalyptic event such as natural disaster, a disease or war—often times of a nuclear nature. 

End of the world books can deal with the actual events that lead to the catastrophic obliteration of mankind, with its characters struggling to survive, or the aftermath of said disaster. The time frame may be directly after the disaster, when characters or struggling to adapt to their new conditions or survive in a brutal, dangerous environment. Most recently, we’ve seen many dystopian novels set in the aftermath of the catastrophe, such as Revealing Eden, which takes place after the Great Meltdown obliterates those with light skin.

With the end of the Mayan calendar occurring this year, end of the world books are getting lots of attention for their cutting edge themes and issues they deal with. They can be very thought-provoking and incendiary, as they makes readers think about what would happen if such a disaster brought about an apocalypse. Many new young adult fantasy novels deal with these issues, which enlighten readers of a broad age range, many of which never thought about this kind of situation before.

Another trend we’re seeing a lot of in books with post apocalyptic settings, specifically among dystopian novels, is themes regarding the civilization prior to the catastrophe. Once the apocalyptic event occurs, the previous world is forgotten about and even mythologized. Former political regimes, class systems and racial stereotypes are obliterated, creating new prejudices, minorities and the like. 

Even in young adult fantasy novels, where the setting can be otherworldly, magical or paranormal, if they deal with the end of the world, the tone is going to be dark and thought-provoking, sometimes even harsh and brutal, depending on the message the author’s trying to deliver. 

While it may be grandiose and thrilling, often times, how the world ends doesn’t really matter—unless it’s a sci-fi driven work built around the actual apocalypse. Either way, setting a novel after the end puts the reader in an emotional state, since we’re all pretty attached to the world as we know it and the comforts we are accustomed to. The best fantasy novels give the reader a chance to stand in their protagonist’s shoes and sympathize with their plight, to feel the loss of the old world and possibly many of the people in it, and to adapt to a setting they could have never imagined, where their life is potentially at danger all the time and they need to do what they have to in order to survive.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

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Is your goal to write some of the best science fiction and fantasy books of all time? If so, you better get started, because there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of writers with the same goal in mind. The first step is to understand the basis of both genres—while they’re very similar and are often blend brilliantly, they still have unique, defining characteristics.

If you were to ask a group of writers, they would all give you different definitions of science fiction as a genre, ultimately proving it’s a difficult one to define. Author Damon Knight stated that "Science fiction is what we point to when we say it," while author Isaac Asimov wrote, “Science fiction reflects scientific thought; a fiction of things-to-come based on things-on-hand.”

It’s safe to say that science fiction refers to stories that include some element of science, in an imagined setting, either futuristic or otherworldly, that is different from the one we live in. While fantasy also takes place in an otherworldly setting, the worlds are typically magical, mythical or supernatural. 

While science fiction and fantasy books are incredibly similar, science fiction tends to reflect more rational aspects or attributes, while fantasy is evoked from the subconscious. Science fiction is a way of imagining the possibilities of the future or another world such as outer space, while some of the best fantasy novels are inspired by an inner quest to discover deeper meanings in life.

As recent best-selling dystopian literature exemplifies, these genres often overlap and cross into others. In addition, they can, on some level, teach us about the concerns of humanity and help us to relate to those from different worlds and cultures. Post-apocalyptic settings can bring to life our greatest fears of society’s demise, allowing us to empathize about the character’s plight in a realistic way that allows us to almost experience their transformation or arc.

Despite futuristic or fantastical settings, readers must relate to the characters to invest in their struggle—regardless of whether they’re aliens, monsters, vampires or wizards. The series of events that take place throughout should possess tension and include conflict that draws you in and carries you through to their resolution. The best fantasy novels will keep you on the edge of your seat, whether or not you can understand what it’s like to be in the character’s shoes, with supernatural powers, non-human weaknesses and paranormal strength.

Whether you choose to write a story that ranks as dystopian literature, time travel, steam punk or dark fantasy, more than anything, it needs to be about the characters and their concerns.

Edgy YA books for young adults

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Edgy YA books for young adults are those that tell a story from an intense perspective. Aimed at aimed at older teens and beyond, they tend to address themes that were formerly considered taboo or controversial. The classification of edgy YA refers to the topic’s intensity—therefore, these books often fall under another genre, such as dystopian novels, young adult fantasy novels and paranormal romance books.

The boundaries of edgy YA books are virtually limitless. What sets them apart is that they are typically written with sensitivity and lack the gratuitousness that may characterize a book geared for an older audience. In more mainstream books for young adults, the main character’s friend may have serious issues, while in edgy YA, the story is usually told from the protagonist’s point of view, and therefore, they are typically the character facing a more difficult or controversial situation or circumstance.

Whether a book falls under the increasingly popular category of dystopian novels, science fiction and fantasy books or any other genre, the readers must be able to relate and identify with the character’s feelings in order for them to be invested in their story—and for the book to be successful. This is probably the most important requirement for the characters of edgy young adult books. Another important element is that characters feel real and authentic, through their personality, behavior, hobbies, the way they speak and their vocabulary. In addition, their goals, beliefs and relationships should fit their persona.

For example, if the heroine in a trilogy of paranormal romance books practices Satanism or is a thrill seeking adventurer, it’s probably unlikely that her hobbies include cooking and sewing. Or if a character is very realistic and grounded, she most likely will not believe in a new age religion or practice witchcraft. It’s integral for the characters to be painted in a realistic light so that their behaviors and feelings resonate with readers, even the protagonists in science fiction and fantasy books.

The next most important thing is for readers to witness the arc and transformation that the main character experiences. While the theme and plot is very important, it’s even more crucial for the character to change and grow throughout the story—when a protagonist comes of age and discovers who they are while facing the issues brought about by the book’s theme, it makes for very compelling reading material that can intrigue even the most jaded reader.

Why Young Adult novels appeal to everyone

It’s clear that young adult novels appeal to all ages—adult women flock to Twilight conventions and book signings, and it’s not just to accompany their teenage daughters (though clearly, they’re big fans of as well). Everyone from tweens to the middle aged swarm the bookstores for the latest young adult fiction books. It’s an interesting phenomenon and something worth looking at—why do young adult novels appeal to readers of all ages?

For starters, young adult novels provide an extraordinary escape into an imaginary world, far away from reality. While they address themes that are all too familiar to the teenage crowd, the issues tend to be ones that readers of all ages can relate to. If you were ever a teen, you’ve been there, done that—plus, many of the issues YA books cover transcend age and gender. The result is an entertaining outlet that is compelling and intellectually stimulating to every type of reader.

Another element of YA literature that appeals to all ages is their tendency to cross boundaries and genres. Many popular books for young adults blend elements of romance, sci-fi, mystery, steampunk, fantasy and adventure. Others might combine dystopian literature with a romantic storyline or subplot, such as The Hunger Games trilogy and popular new releases like Save the Pearls Part One Revealing Eden. The possibilities are endless in the YA genre, as readers are open and excited to get their fix of many different elements, so authors strive to deliver.

In a recent survey conducted among adults who regularly buy books for young adults, many said they preferred the straightforward language they’re written in, as opposed to some of the flowery prose found in many adult novels. Readers also said they appreciated that there can be a romantic storyline and elements of fantasy, without some of the stylistic devices and gratuitous content that is often prevalent in books geared to an older audience. Books for young adults, even those from genres like fantasy, adventure or sci-fi, are all about the story—Revealing Eden is a perfect example—like much other dystopian literature, it’s got strong story with themes of romantic apocalypse woven in.

Writing romance books for young adults

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Writing romance in books for young adults can be tricky when you’re no longer a teenager.  There’s a fine line between creating a cheesy chick lit romance novel and writing a compelling and realistic teen romance. Just like characters in every book need to be individual and unique, so must the romantic relationship in any story.

A love story is based upon the interaction and attraction between characters.  Even in paranormal romance books, the readers want the relationships to seem real and human. Edward and Bella are a perfect example—despite Edward’s superhuman strength and proclivity for blood, their relationship seemed real, as they endured conflicts and uncovered mysteries about each other, as you would do in a real-life romance.

To get started on your romance story, it’s best to take the first necessary step in writing books for young adults, or any books for that matter: create a profile or biography for your protagonist. Beyond his or her physical description, you’ll want to empower them with talents, strengths and skills, while humanizing them with flaws and weaknesses. You’ll want to know their likes and dislikes, as well as their hopes, dreams and so on.

Next, you’ll want to create a profile for the love interest if your protagonist. Give their charismatic hero (or heroine) the same attention you give to the protagonist. Even if your goal is to write one of the best fantasy novels of all time, the attraction between the pair must feel genuine and should make some sense. While it is important to have something in common that may bring them closer together or make them able to relate to one another, it would be uninteresting for them to be too similar. For example, imagine a series of paranormal romance books that features two vampires with the same backgrounds, who come from similar families and have the same wants and desires.

As you may know from reading some of the best fantasy novels, even in the most fantastical world or circumstances, characters act the way they do because of who they are. To create tension in the story, the characters should contradict each other while at the same time fulfill a need in each other. A great example of this is the relationship between Eden and Bramford in Revealing Eden. Eden seems to hate Branford in the beginning— in fact, the feeling seems mutual. Yet there is a need they both have for each other, and despite their tendencies towards conflict, there’s an almost palpable romantic tension. That’s how it works when romance is done right!

Writing characters for young adult novels

Creating characters for young adult novels may not be the easiest thing to do, especially if your teenage years seem a lifetime ago—but they can definitely be the most gratifying to write. An author has to really know and understand their characters, even the antagonists, so that they can create real individuals who readers can relate to and identify with.

While a good plot is obviously very critical to the success of a book, it’s not going to carry the entire story. Sometimes authors will create complex, well-thought out settings and throw one-dimensional characters in to carry the plot forward. This is a big mistake, especially among books for young adults. Readers of this genre really care about the characters in the books they read and want to relate to their situations and see how they deal with their issues, circumstances and conflicts. Even if they’re immersed in a post apocalyptic setting or futuristic society, the reader wants to feel that they also deal with some of the same issues that they do in real life, whether it’s teen sex, drugs, peer pressure, or popularity.

When creating characters, whether for books for young adults or another audience, a good way to start is to write an in-depth bio for your important players. Interview them and ask what their beliefs are, create a back story for their childhood, learn about their parents, siblings, best friends, and pets. Find out what they like to do and what they dream of becoming when they grow up. Discover all of their strengths and weaknesses. You need to fully know who your characters are in order to make your readers understand them.

An important element to start with is the age of your protagonist. They should definitely be in the age range of your intended audience. Keep in mind that tweens, teens and young adults tend to read up but not down in age. Even if we’re talking about some of the best fantasy novels—the audience is not inclined to read about a character that’s younger than they are.

When you’re writing young adult novels, it’s important to maintain a young adult perspective—beware of the inclination to reflect on the past or your own experience. While it’s important to draw on your own coming-of-age, it’s not about looking back; it’s about using what you know and remember and making it current. 

Whether you’re aiming to write the best fantasy novels or the next dystopian bestseller, the reader needs to watch your character experience an arc throughout the course of the book—meaning they want to see them learn from their mistakes and grow as a result. This gives them inspiration in their own lives and makes them like the protagonist even more than when they started reading the book.

The worlds of dystopian novels

With the record-breaking box office success of The Hunger Games, everyone is talking about dystopian novels—reading, writing and publishing them. While there are essential guidelines to writing any type of fiction, such as developing strong characters and plot points, a fundamental aspect of dystopian literature is the creation of the world they take place in. These are settings like no other—new worlds stemming from the imagination or inspired by art, real life and other literature. New rules, classes and technologies can be created—and the possibilities are endless.

Writing the characters of dystopian novels and their settings go hand in hand—these are people who live in societies gone awry, whether through apocalyptic scenarios brought on by natural disaster, war or terrorism. The worlds created in the aftermath embody the ugliness of humanity, offering an idea of what society could become—in essence, forcing the reader to confront their greatest fears. The settings are often warnings of the future consequences we could face from the issues we face as a society.

It’s very interesting that the genre has proven so successful in books for young adults. Writers face the difficulties of creating these incredible (or not-so-incredible) worlds yet need to make their characters relatable to this wide audience that tends to be facing coming-of-age issues. Clearly, it’s a challenging feat, but authors are doing it very well at the moment. The same audience is very savvy, especially with all the technological advances of today, so it’s crucial that these dystopian worlds make sense and are well thought-out.

Dystopian literature expands readers’ awareness by addressing the potential of the most horrific and appalling aspects of society, from governments and class systems to our deteriorating environment and global warming, as well as our values and morals. To build these new or post-apocalyptic worlds, the author must create new rules of society, technology, religion, politics, and possibly even a new language.

Whether writing books for young adults or for a different audience, the author may need the talent to create science fiction elements such as artificial intelligence, futuristic settings and even hybrid species. Yet the science fiction elements of dystopian literature are only part of the story, not integral to the actual storytelling. The author may explore totalitarian governments, different classifications within society involving race and religion, as was done in Revealing Eden, and the creation of new hierarchies and ruling classes. These themes help expose the reader to issues greater than themselves and inspire them to think about their own development within society.

Writing Books for Young Adults Well

To write good books for young adults takes more than just good writing skills, there’s another level of the work that requires a more esoteric approach than outlining, writing and editing. Writing is a way of life, and to be successful, you need to take proactive steps to make your project come to life and attract attention in the marketplace.

For starters, you must read—all the time, especially young adult novels. You want to be more than just in touch with the market; you’ll need to be an expert. You should stay abreast of all the award winning books and bestsellers, and learn what’s hot at the library as well as the independent bookstores. If you want to write young adult fiction books, you’ll need to truly love them, because you’ll need to be so well-versed on the authors and the community as a whole. It’s important to actually study these books so that you can see what works and what doesn’t, and determine why so that you can follow suit or learn from others’ mistakes.

Getting involved with and supporting the YA literature community is also crucial to writing books for young adults successfully. It’s important to become an advocate of library fundraising so that you can help young adults have access and exposure to quality literature. By doing this, you will immerse yourself in the book world and become privy to its culture—and possibly make good contacts in the industry as well.

Whether you’re writing young adult fiction books from the romance genre or are taking a stab at dystopian literature, it’s essential to write about what you know or what you are passionate about. You want to tell a story in a unique way that expresses your particular passion for the subject. Some authors says that write until they cry or feel sick, or that getting the story out is a cleansing, cathartic experience. The story you tell has to be something that ignites you and gets you excited—something that you just have to tell.

Writing young adult novels requires that you are authentic and that you care deeply for the stories you tell. Your audience must relate, because YA readers can tell when you’re not coming from a genuine place. Even though you may be writing about a fantasy world, your characters need to be someone they can understand, facing issues that they may be facing or have faced in the past.

End of the World Books

As the Mayan calendar comes to an end this December, and rumors of an impending global catastrophe abound, end of the world books have surged in popularity. Yet many are unaware that this extreme genre of fiction has been around for centuries, producing many bestsellers that also went on to become cult classics and were eventually made into movies.

While the genre is currently experiencing unprecedented success among young adult novels, from The Hunger Games trilogy to Victoria Foyt’s Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls Part One), one of the first dystopian novels written in English dates back to 1826, Mary Shelley’s The Last Man, which tells the story of a future world emptied of humanity by the plague. In 1885, Richard Jeffries wrote about a few survivors living an almost medieval existence in England, after a catastrophe depopulated the country in the aptly named After London.

In 1898, H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds became one of the most famous end of the world books of all time, re-written and adapted many times into television programs, radio shows and even video games, complete with modern twists and settings. The story tells of an earth invaded by aliens from Mars who systematically destroy Victorian England with advanced weaponry. Orson Welles’ famous rendition performed for the radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air was so realistic that it caused a widespread panic and hysteria when listeners actually believed that an extraterrestrial invasion was occurring. The show skyrocketed Welles to instant notoriety, while also drawing attention to the original novel and garnering new sales and readers.

Dystopian novels saw another boom in popularity after World War II, when the possibility of nuclear warfare and global annihilation become a real one. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasako proved that countries had tools of mass destruction, prompting authors to explore this topic in many end of the world books.

While the last few years have definitely demonstrated a newfound interest in the genre, the last decade has also seen a notable surge. From Oprah’s book pick, The Road, which won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction to Jeanna DuPrau’s popular City of Ember series of books for young adults, the obsession with the end of civilization and existential catastrophes has grown significantly and shows no sign of slowing down.

Yet while sales continue to boom in this genre, and the numbers of readers multiply exponentially, the most well-read example of all time will surprise most—while you may guess it would be an installment from a popular science fiction and fantasy series, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Noah’s Ark was one of the first documented tales of a post apocalyptic scenario. Narratives of this vessel appear in the Book of Genesis and the Quran, and are studied in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, as well as other Abrahamic Judaism and non-Abrahamic faiths. The story is the perfect example of the genre, depicting a patriarch’s effort to save himself, his family and the world's animals from a worldwide deluge through the construction of a giant ark. It is possibly one of the first dystopian novels written—and definitely the first document.

The best fantasy novels always have a little romance

While good writing is always an imperative element of the best fantasy novels and movies of all time, another component that also plays a consistent role is romance. A genre in and of itself, romance is what tends to drive protagonists to their goal or acts as a subplot to make our characters more human and relatable. After all, doesn’t everyone want to find the love of their life and live happily ever after, even readers of dystopian novels?

Whether we’re talking about end of the world books or family movies, romance is a recurring theme. Princes are always traveling to the ends of earth to save their Cinderellas and Snow Whites from demise and destitution. Since this week is the 70th anniversary of the classic film, Casablanca, we thought we’d look at this iconic black and white film as an ideal example to appreciate these recurring elements.

In what was one of the most quoted films of the 20th century, a nightclub owner hosts a slew of international guests in Casablanca, a way station for those trying to leave war-torn Europe— and what would have been the perfect setting for today’s uber popular dystopian literature. Characters Ilsa and Rick are reunited by chance after falling in love with each other in Paris; yet the story is not a happily ever after on. Their love is not meant to be, forbidden by the existence of Ilsa’s husband, who they did not know was alive when they were together in Paris. This is a classic portrayal of the first integral component of a romance novel: forbidden love.
The second recurring element is also prevalent in dystopian literature: the setting where the lovers live is one filled with crises. Larger global forces can therefore test the will and conviction of our characters and block them from their pursuit of love. In Casablanca, not only is it the existence of Ilsa’s husband, Laszlo, but the impending doom of the nearby battles and obstacles standing in the way of their escape.

Often times, end of the world books and movies force the main characters to make a choice between their love and a higher cause. In the case of Casablanca, Rick has the Letters of Transit that Ilsa needs them to give her husband freedom so that he can continue his work for the Resistance, which is the aforementioned higher cause.

This paves the way for the final romantic component that is present in all the best fantasy novels and films of all time—the sacrifice of the love in exchange for the pursuit of the higher cause. Despite the passionate revealing of the love between himself and Ilsa, Rick chooses the higher road, giving them the Letters of Transit they need to escape. Even more importantly, at first, Rick leads Ilsa to believe she can stay behind with him when Laszlo leaves. Even when Laszlo reveals he is aware of Rick's love for Ilsa and tries to persuade him to use the letters to take her to safety, and is then almost arrested on a trumped-up charge, Rick convinces his police friend to release Laszlo and arrest him up for a much more serious crime: possession of the letters of transit. When Renault attempts to arrest Laszlo as planned, Rick forces him at gunpoint to let them escape. Rick thus makes Ilsa board the plane to with her husband, staying behind to help further the higher cause—romance at its best!

Defining dystopian literature

Dystopian literature is currently a booming trend—for awhile, it was wizardry and vampires, paranormal fiction, and fantasy coupled with romance. With this growing demand, especially among young adult fiction books, many writers are gearing up to write the next best seller. Yet it’s important to fully understand what this genre is all about.

While some immediately define dystopian literature as the opposite of utopia, that is not exactly true. A utopian society is defined as one that is considered to be perfect, harmonious and ideal. A dystopian society or world often contains many of the same elements as utopias—for example, they may both shares the same measures of extreme social and political control. Yet in a dystopian society, these elements are taken to horrific extremes, causing incredibly negative, widespread effects.

Dystopian novels are considered a subset of anti-Utopian literature, which typically satirizes the idealistic utopian models of society. What sets dystopian literature apart is that it doesn’t necessarily criticize the utopian world; rather, it offers an alternate view of what can happen as a result of this societal model.

Some of the best fantasy novels are inspired by some of the worst situations in real life. Whether they have a happy or sad ending, most dystopian novels imply a type of warning as to what would happen if certain trends continue. A great example is the world provided as a setting in Victoria Foyt’s Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls Part One). Due to the deteriorating environment caused by global warming, a Great Meltdown occurs, changing everything from the amount of resources available and methods of survival to class, race and perception of beauty.

What’s incredibly interesting about these types of young adult fiction books is that they are fundamentally concerned with problems on a much larger level than issues that concern most teens and adolescents. The stories tends to be based on the political and cultural context that produces them, with the results standing as a sort of social commentary, cloaked in an entertaining format. By providing a young adult protagonist who is simultaneously dealing with the issues of growing up, they are able to make the character relatable to the teen market.

George Orwell’s 1984, one of the most famous works in dystopian literature, was written shortly after World War II. Clearly, the book is a form of commentary on totalitarian states such as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union under Stalin’s control—Orwell created elements of an extremely oppressive government intent on control individuals in every way possible, including their thoughts. The book, which many considered to be one of the best fantasy novels of all time, opened the eyes of many readers and set the tone for a new take on the genre.

The Boom of Dystopian Novels

If we were back in 2005, and you were an author trying to submit dystopian novels to publishers, you probably would not get much response. The thought of gambling on young adult novels written about depressed societies just didn’t sound like a good one. Fast forward to present day—dystopian literature is flourishing. The success of books like The Hunger Games and Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls Part One) are perfect examples of this trend.

The recent boom in dystopian literature is perfectly demonstrated in Collins’s trilogy, as well as a multitude of other series that are being churned out, based on complex, intricately developed worlds and societies that require a commitment of the reader. Those who read books for young adults rarely will read just one—research indicates that they will line up to be the first to own each installment and flock to the box office when the books are made to films.
Dystopian novels have actually been around for decades. Typically geared to the Tween and Young Adult audiences, this genre was made memorable for many students by 1984 and Brave New World, both of which are considered twentieth century dystopian classics. While these were often assigned reading, no one predicted that this genre would gain such popularity.

Many blame it on the recession and state of affairs in many countries, while others simply attribute the boom of dystopian literature to its provision of an escape, where the reader goes to a place where the protagonist is much worse off than they could ever dream of being. Post apocalyptic societies reduced to subsistence farming or surrounded by toxic wastelands, fighting zombies hungry for human brains have somehow become the perfect reading escape to the Young Adult market.

Some publishers attribute the success of dystopia to the same elements that make young adult novels popular in general—a relatable protagonist, regardless of the setting or plot. Knowing that a character who lives in utter chaos, struggling to survive on a daily basis, shares some of the same issues as the reader, gives the reader comfort and a new perspective on their own circumstances.

A reason why this genre is flourishing in the YA audience is that these worlds are fresh to young readers. They’re thrilled by harrowing circumstances; and these scenarios don’t have to be unprecedented. Look at the revival of the zombie movie in recent years… these moviegoers may or may not have ever seen classics like Evil Dead or Night of the Living Dead—regardless, they were thrilled by Zombieland, 28 Days Later and the Dawn of the Dead remake.

Paranormal romance books as a genre

Paranormal romance novels are currently one of the most popular genres among young adult fiction books. This is not a big surprise since romance novels are the most popular sellers. This stylish sub-genre adheres to the classic elements of romance books, yet is distinguished through the use of a twist of speculative fiction. This usually takes the form of supernatural or scientifically unexplainable characters, settings and plots.

Paranormal romance books typically inject themes of sci-fi, horror, mystery or fantasy, with some reference to the genre’s gothic roots. By bringing together characters ranging from ghosts, werewolves, vampires, demons, zombies and witches with humans, paranormal romance novels blend the real world with a fantastical one. As with young adult fiction novels like Twilight, the author can infuse a romance between a character from an otherworldly place with a human character, creating a multitude of opportunities for conflict and growth, while providing the book with mainstream appeal.

For a while, it seemed like the romances in young adult fantasy novels were always between vampires and humans, though now, authors have taken this theme a step further by injecting love affairs between humans and ghosts, aliens, shape shifters, devils, angels and the like. These supernatural entities still have relatable characteristics which make them appeal to both the human characters and readers.

Beyond the romantic aspect, paranormal romance books are defined by their extraordinary elements. Readers want the surprise element that this form of fiction can provide, whether it comes from wizardry and magic, the occult or outer space. The world the characters live in may be sci-fi, futuristic or fantasy, they may use time travel or space ships, or exist via reincarnation—the point is, there are components that make the story completely different from their world, and hopefully, other books. These types of characteristics are extremely popular among young adult fantasy novels, which is the reason why many authors seek to fuse the two genres—recent successes indicate that this is a formula for success.

When readers open paranormal romance novels, they expect to be transported to another world, where they may be able to relate to the protagonist’s emotional plight and circumstances, but maybe not the world they live in. If an author can provide the reader entry into this other place, then they’re moving down the right path.

What makes the best fantasy novels? Part two

This week, we’re finishing up our analysis of the components that make the best fantasy novels. In our last blog, we talked about originality and engaging readers. One of the other most important elements in creating a strong fantasy story, whether for books for young adults or beyond, is characterization. Strong characters can make a novel—likewise, weak characters who do not experience an arc and are one-dimensional can kill even the most well-written book. While strong prose is fundamental to the best fantasy novels, we have to relate to and be compelled by the characters themselves, as well as their plight and their actions.

While some areas have a bit more leeway, such as science fiction books with their elaborate and complex settings, concepts and technology, paranormal romance books are a great example of where strong characterization is absolutely mandatory. Strong characters with a clear plight or goal, and those immersed in conflict or suffering, help us to care more deeply about them and their story.

Readers need to relate to the characters, especially in books for young adults. The relationships between all of the characters should be realistic and authentic, and they should experience real problems and conflicts that readers can emphasize with—and may have experienced themselves. They should possess uniqueness and flavor, as well as flaws. No one wants to read about someone who is perfect, since perfection is not a possibility in the real world. Even if you’re reading about characters in paranormal romance novels, the readers should be able to relate. Even if the character discovers that they are a vampire, readers want to understand the humanistic issues they experience, such as love, loss and triumph—more specifically, the ones that mirror the real issues in their own lives.

When magic is prevalent in young adult fantasy novels, it’s important that the system is cohesive and well-thought out. It’s best when magic or supernatural attributes are unique to the book, which can be a very difficult element to execute. There has to be a set of rules that make sense and the magic should not be a crutch that gets the characters out of any predicament in a flash.

While the best fantasy books may be set in an imaginary world that we will never experience, they feature characters that seem just like real people in the real world, who we might be friends with if they lived next door. If magic is involved, then it should be unique and have an authentic feel that serves as a tool rather than a scapegoat.

What makes the best fantasy novels? Part one

As a genre, fantasy books and movies are ubiquitous. Yet so many of these books seem derivative and trite—what makes the best fantasy novels stand apart from the others? While it may seem like good writing is all it takes, there are actually several elements that are fundamental to creating a strong fantasy element, especially among books for young adults, where fantasy is extremely popular at the moment.

Probably the most important feature of the best fantasy novels is that they are extremely original and unique. Even if an author chooses to feature some of the standard fantasy components such as wizards, fairies and vampires, there can still be a level of originality through twists and turns as well as settings that differentiate themselves from the other books in the genre. If the same story has been done over and over again, no matter how good the writing is, it’s going to be a hard sell among both publishers and readers.

Whether it’s from the uber popular sub-genre of paranormal romance stories or straight science-fiction/fantasy, the innovativeness of the book must be conveyed quickly and easily—in just enough words to fill out the synopsis on the book cover.

Another important element of the best fantasy books is that they must provide an escape from reality and lead you into an imaginary world where you leave your disbelief at the door. These worlds are typically comprised of races and cultures in conflict, with mysterious twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Think along the lines of Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and books for young adults like our favorite, Save the Pearls Part One Revealing Eden.

There are some exceptions in regards to the actual world itself—examples are often found in the subgenre of paranormal romance books. Ever popular, due to the success of certain vampire series, these books do not necessarily have an imaginary setting as much as they have characters with supernatural powers or paranormal obstacles. These obstacles may block their path to love or, in some instances, save the world or something less lofty like their family and loved ones. The protagonists themselves don’t necessarily have to possess supernatural powers or paranormal attributes; it could be they’re targeted by an antagonist who has them or perhaps they’ve fallen in love with someone who boasts them. Either way, if the plot and characters are strong enough, the scenario itself will lead the reader into a fantastical escape.