Writing Guides For All The Young & Girl Power

Ⅰ.Young Adult meaning According to Wikipedia, Young Adult Literature (known as “YA”) are novels that target readers between the ages of 12 and 18 years old. Although novels in this category are targeted at the youths, almost half of YA readers are older than 18 and young adults. The YA themes are frequently related to the same problems and experiences of youths. Common topics of YA include friendships, first loves, relationships, self-discovery, etc. The settings of such a category of stories are typically in common places such as the residential community, city, or school. On the other hand, YA novels can also be based on fantasy or science fiction such as the hugely popular American TV series, The Vampire Diaries. Ⅱ. Young Adult features (1) Young adult male and female lead characters must be between 14 and 20 years old. (2) Many books for teenagers focus on how the lead character overcomes the challenges of becoming an adult. In the story, the lead will go through the mental considerations of resolving a problem. The lead will learn to face the consequences of his actions and grow from the experiences. Thus, most of such stories have a positive ending that is full of hope. (3) Young Adult stories will typically include the elements of family, friendship, love, and others. These will make the story realistic, more identifiable, and resonate with the reader. In YA novels, you will frequently see images of who you once were: skimp and save to buy expensive cosmetics, crash diets, late-night chats in the dormitories, etc. Ⅲ. Young Adult writing techniques (1) Find the right voice for your protagonist When you create the young character, try to put yourself in that perspective. Teenagers think differently from adults. To create a believable character, you should think about the time when you were at that age and how you will approach the issues. Another noteworthy point is, teenagers frequently use basic words and terms. Thus, be brief in the descriptions and conversations. (2) Create detailed characters A special lead character or an interesting plot can give the reader a deep impression. The most interesting role is one with a colorful character. A perfect lead character or a villain with no redeeming qualities will be boring to read and even write. The male or female lead should not be perfect. There can be a stark contrast in their characters. For example, in the story, Ang Probinsyanang Pasaway, the unbridled characters of the naughty and playful impish girl and the lofty scoundrel boy led to a series of interesting events. In YA books, the male or female leads can have some extraordinary experiences that resulted in their unique characters. In some YA books, the female lead experienced abuses and exclusions resulting in loneliness, quirkiness, and inferiority complex which the reader can identify with. (3) Need for supporting roles The supporting role can be a catalyst or launching point for the lead character. At the same time, it cannot outshine the lead character. In Young Adult novels, the love between the male and female leads is not smooth sailing. Their love will frequently be tested and interfered with by; The return of an ex; prohibition by the school; parental objections, etc. In Young Adult novels, there can be appropriate events to hasten the progress of the male and female lead’s love relationship. For example, in the story, My Evil Step Brother, the supporting male character is the female lead’s first love and best friend. When the male lead hesitated about his love for the female lead, the appearance of the supporting male character hastened the male lead’s decision. (4) The storyline can interweave different opinions and even a combination of fantasy and supernatural elements. For example, the wildly popular American TV series, The Vampire Diaries. (5) You may include some hot topics in the storyline to enrich the plot and complement the development of the story such as; contract marriage/playboy/submissive girl/geek/scoundrel, etc. For example: ① In the story, Ang Asawa Kong Playboy, the male and female leads were 16 and 15 years old respectively when their families decided that they should get married to each other. The male lead was a playboy and did not acknowledge publicly that he was married. Only when the supporting male character appeared did the male lead begin to pursue his wife. ② In the story, The Bad Boys Tutor, the female lead was a typical geek. She was constantly bullied and thumbed down in school. To get by, she tutored three naughty male students with the male lead being their leader. During their interactions, she developed a fondness for one of the male students. ③ In the story, COLD HEART, the female lead liked the male lead. The female lead’s family business was close to bankruptcy and the two families arranged for an alliance through marriage. However, the male lead already loved another girl and kept rejecting the female lead. Only after the female lead gave up on him, the male lead began to pursue the female lead. (6) There is no need to avoid serious topics but do not attempt to teach the reader a lesson. Everyone encounters all sorts of problems as they grow up. When your character encounters such situations, you may express the feelings of the character such as fear, joy, and curiosity. However, please do not try to teach the reader a lesson. You are not the reader’s parents. You only need to comment based on the storyline’s development. (7) Create your unique Young Adult novel You will find similarities in many fictitious novels. This is because most youths share the same background and experiences. Young Adult stories are already successful in the market such as The Bad Boy series which has done very well. Of course, we welcome the author to pursue his or her passions and create their own unique stories. Even if the readers enjoy Young Adult stories, they will eventually get bored with similar storylines. A good story will leave a deep impression on readers. When you think of this, you should consider how you can make your story unique and captivate your reader. It is of the utmost importance to create an unforgettable character or a special storyline. Apart from choosing a city or a high school as the background of the story, you may include other elements, for example; sorcery or supernatural beings such as the aforementioned, The Vampire Diaries. Ⅳ. QA Q1: What if there is a large age difference between the two main characters? For example, one is 26 years old while the other is 18 years old? Can this be regarded as a YA novel? A1: Typically, stories with this age group will be considered as a novel for the new adult audience. Let us examine Andre Aciman’s best-seller, Call Me By Your Name. Although it is a story of a youth who fell in love, it is not considered a YA novel. The tone of the story is more mature and is a NA novel which is more suitable for adults. Q2: How to differentiate Young Adults (YA) novels and New Adults (NA) novels? A2: Ask yourself these questions before you begin writing: 1) How old are your main characters? Where will the story take place? High school or college? If they are high school students or college freshmen, then it can be considered as YA. If they are college seniors or facing work issues, then that will be considered as NA. 2) What does the story intend to address? Is it based on reality or a hopeful ending? If the story relates to issues that are faced by many youths and the ending is full of hopes, then it can be considered as YA. 3) If you are still lost, then think about what kind of readers will like your story. This can be helpful. Q3: What if in the beginning, the main character is in the YA category but in the end becomes in the NA category? A3: This depends on the storyline. Decide from the onset which period of the main character’s life do you want to focus on. If you are writing about their teenage years, then it will be considered YA. Q4: What if my main character is an adult but the storyline is about his/her memories as a teenager? A4: Since the story is from the perspective of an adult, then this will be considered as an adult novel. Q5: I intend to write a fantasy novel from the male perspective with werewolf elements. However, the main character is an 18-year-old youth. Can this be considered a teenage novel? A5: Yes. A teenage novel can have many elements. Be it werewolf, supernatural, vampire, sorcery, or suspense, such roles are in line with the guidelines and are considered as YA novels. Q6: Can I have a dominating leadership role in my story? For example, although the male lead is 18 years old, he needs to take up the responsibilities of running the family business. A6: No. A teenager must do things that are related to teenagers. In the combination of different elements, you need to consider if the status is suitable for the character. The male lead can be the heir of the family business and is preparing himself through his studies in school.