Writing YA Versus Adult Fiction – Three Hot Tips! by Talia Hunter
Confession time. When it comes to reading, I’m an unashamed genre
slut. I’ll quite happily jump into bed with a hot and steamy romance, and later
you might find me cozying up to an epic fantasy, or switching to a fast-paced
young adult novel to get my heart pumping.
But one of the first things people told me when I started writing
my own books, was not to write in different genres. Apparently it’s hard to
connect with readers if you write different kinds of stories for different
audiences.
So what did I do? Yup, exactly what I shouldn’t! I’ve published
two books for young adults - an adventure story and a comedy - and my first
adult romance, Her Hot Number, has just been released.
So what’s the difference between writing for different
audiences? Here are three hot tips:
1. Keep Your Foot On The Gas Pedal.
If you’re writing for teens, keep in mind that you’re
competing with games, movies, and other media, so whatever you write needs to cut
through that noise to hold your readers’ attention. Make sure your story
maintains a good pace and doesn’t sag. Many YA novels are written in first
person, and some in present tense to give them a greater sense of immediacy. It’s
an excellent challenge for any writer!
If you’re writing adult romance, you can ease up on the gas
pedal a little as long as you still keep your story moving. The important thing
is to dig in deep to your characters emotions, laying out what makes them tick.
Take your characters (and your readers) on a deep emotional journey, travelling
through hope and anticipation, through despair, to intense joy… and of course,
love. The more profound the journey is
for your characters, the better for your readers.
2. Let Your Characters Speak.
If you’re worried about what kind of language is appropriate
for your readers, don’t! No matter who you’re writing for, you should always
stay true to the language your point-of-view character would use. If your adult
novel protagonist is uneducated, write simply. If your young adult protagonist is
highly intelligent, go ahead and use complex words and sentences. If you
remember that your characters, not your audience, should define your language, you’ll
avoid any temptation to talk down to your readers. Concentrate on telling the
story truthfully, exactly as your point-of-view character would tell it, and it
will have the right voice.
3. Book Monogamy Is Boring!
My final tip is one you’ve probably heard before, as it’s
the single most important thing any writer can do. Get promiscuous with books
and read widely—and especially read in whatever genre you want to write in.
Even if you don’t want to write for teens, I challenge you
to make your next read a YA novel. Personally I think some of today’s most
exciting writing is for young adults, with authors like John Green, Holly
Black, Maggie Stiefvater, Laini Taylor, and Rainbow Rowell some of my
favorites. Give them a try, and you might just find a new love!
And if you’re looking for a hot adult romance that will take
you on an emotional journey, check out Her Hot Number. It’s out now from Entangled Publishing.
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Author Bio:
Talia Hunter likes writing about smart, funny women, and the
men who set their hearts on fire. Her motto is, If you aren’t laughing,
you aren’t doing it right.
A formerly committed city dweller, she’s recently moved to
the country. She’s put in a vege garden, learned how to make bread, and is now
the proud owner of a pair of gumboots. These days she spends time Googling
important questions such as how to cope with a runaway zucchini crop (make
fritters), and narrowing down exactly what kind of giant hairy spider might be
eyeballing her from the washing tub.
To learn more about Talia, visit www.taliahunter.com or
connect with her on social media.
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