Writing Great Books for Young Adults Everything You Need to Know, from Crafting the Idea to Getting Published
This is a thorough and comprehensive guide to writing for young adults. Brooks defines the audience, and helps the writer through every stage of the journey. She covers the beginning of the novel, the plot, characterisation, setting, and every other aspect that the aspiring writer needs. The writing exercises also assist. She includes helpful quotes from other editors.
It is a difficult book to just sit and read, but that is mostly because it is technical and useful. I would suggest that readers write notes, and check their stories against the notes.
I am not sure if I will write a young adult novel after reading this book, unless I attempt a historical one. As Brooks writes, YA writers have to know what is going on in the world of teenagers. My writing would probably be much too influenced by books like Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden!
However, Brooks's suggestions are useful for any writer, and I really like her breakdown of each topic into bite-sized pieces.
It is a difficult book to just sit and read, but that is mostly because it is technical and useful. I would suggest that readers write notes, and check their stories against the notes.
I am not sure if I will write a young adult novel after reading this book, unless I attempt a historical one. As Brooks writes, YA writers have to know what is going on in the world of teenagers. My writing would probably be much too influenced by books like Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden!
However, Brooks's suggestions are useful for any writer, and I really like her breakdown of each topic into bite-sized pieces.
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