young readers · writing guide

Young Adult

Center an adolescent perspective confronting identity, belonging, agency, and first consequential choices.

For: Teen readers and crossover adults seeking immediacy, emotional truth, discovery, and momentum.

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Reader expectations

  • Teen agency drives outcomes
  • Voice reflects character rather than adult lesson
  • Institutions meaningfully constrain choices
  • Content and hope fit the intended experience

Common weak points

  • Writing down to readers
  • Adult characters solving the climax
  • Treating YA as a prose difficulty level

Subgenre shelf

  • Contemporary
  • Fantasy
  • Romance
  • Mystery
  • Science fiction
  • Historical
  • Horror

Voice palette

immediate · specific · emotionally honest

Original style example

By lunch, everyone knew I had been expelled except me. My locker had already been adopted by a sophomore with excellent handwriting.Original illustrative sample: immediate social stakes and characterful observational voice. This demonstrates craft characteristics, not a living author’s voice.

Editable starting structure

  1. 1. The world assigned to meMove the reader through the world assigned to me with a clear change, question, or discovery.2,200 starting words
  2. 2. The choice adults dismissMove the reader through the choice adults dismiss with a clear change, question, or discovery.3,200 starting words
  3. 3. New belongingMove the reader through new belonging with a clear change, question, or discovery.3,200 starting words
  4. 4. Cost of the double lifeMove the reader through cost of the double life with a clear change, question, or discovery.3,200 starting words
  5. 5. Claiming agencyMove the reader through claiming agency with a clear change, question, or discovery.3,200 starting words
  6. 6. A future I can nameMove the reader through a future i can name with a clear change, question, or discovery.3,200 starting words

Questions before drafting

  • Does the protagonist make the decisive choice?
  • What age and reading experience are intended?
  • Have sensitive topics received appropriate review?

Publishing and metadata

  • Use YA rather than adult fiction subjects
  • Name speculative subgenre too
  • Provide accurate content context

Confirm current BISAC/Thema codes when publication metadata is finalized; genre language and retailer classifications change.