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!