Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies

Your hands-on, friendly guide to writing young adult fiction

With young adult book sales rising, and bestselling authors like J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer exploding onto the scene, aspiring YA writers are more numerous than ever. Are you interested in writing a young adult novel, but aren't sure how to fit the style that appeals to young readers?

Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies gives you tricks of the trade and proven tips on all the steps to write a YA book, from developing an idea to publication.

• Unique writing exercises to help you find your own authentic teen voice
• Tips to avoid when submitting manuscripts
• How to break into the flourishing young adult market

With the help of this step-by-step guide, you'll have all the skills to write an inspiring and marketable young adult novel.

Foreword xxi

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Ready to Write Young Adult Fiction 7

Chapter 1: The Lowdown on YA Fiction 9

Chapter 2: Targeting Teen Readers 19

Chapter 3: Managing Your Muse 35

Part II: Writing Riveting Young Adult Fiction 61

Chapter 4: Writing the Almighty Hook 63

Chapter 5: Creating Teen-Friendly Characters 75

Chapter 6: Building the Perfect Plot 97

Chapter 7: Creating Teen-Driven Action 117

Chapter 8: Setting Is More than Somewhere to Be 133

Chapter 9: Crafting a Narrative Voice Teens Will Listen To . . . and Love 151

Chapter 10: Talking Like a Teen 175

Part III: Editing, Revising, and Formatting

Your Manuscript 199

Chapter 11: Editing and Revising with Confidence 201

Chapter 12: The Finishing Touches: Formatting and Finalizing 219

Part IV: Getting Published 235

Chapter 13: Strategizing and Packaging Your Submissions 237

Chapter 14: Self-Publishing: Is It for You? 269

Chapter 15: Mastering Marketing 283

Part V: The Part of Tens 311

Chapter 16: Ten Common Pitfalls in Writing YA Fiction 313

Chapter 17: Ten Facts about Book Contracts 319

Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Make the Most of a Conference 329

Index 339

Deborah Halverson founded the writer's advice website DearEditor.com and was a veteran editor for young adult and children's fiction before picking up a pen and writing the teen novels Big Mouth and Honk If You Hate Me. Your hands-on, friendly guide to writing young adult fiction

Are you interested in writing a young adult novel, but aren't sure how to develop a style that appeals to young readers? Writing Young Adult Fiction For Dummies gives you tricks of the trade and proven tips on all the steps to write a marketable YA book, from developing an idea to publishing your manuscript.

• Get ready to write — get the scoop on everything you need to know before you begin writing, like pinpointing your audience, finding an angle that'll make your story stand out, and making use of outlines

• What a novel concept — find out how to shape your plot, create teen-friendly characters, develop a convincingly youthful voice, write natural dialogue, and find techniques for connecting with your audience

• Put on your editor's cap — discover how to rewrite and polish your story to transform it from a first draft to a seamless, fluid final draft

• Get published — find the right agent and/or editor, craft a one-of-a-kind submission package, and promote your novel once it's published

Open the book and find:

• Helpful sidebars from notable YA authors

• Ideas for timeless themes

• Four easy steps to writing a killer hook

• Tips on writing believable characters, settings, and dialogue

• How to edit and revise with confidence

• Answers to the most common publishing contract questions

• Common pitfalls to avoid

• Advice on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing

Learn to:

• Develop a writing style that appeals to young readers

• Turn your ideas into a compelling manuscript through writing exercises

• Submit your novel to young adult publishers