{"id":3772,"date":"2015-12-10T03:49:24","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T11:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=3772"},"modified":"2015-12-10T03:49:24","modified_gmt":"2015-12-10T11:49:24","slug":"are-you-writing-for-young-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=3772","title":{"rendered":"Are You Writing for Young Adults?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Excerpted from Propose Your Book, How to Craft Persuasive Proposals for Nonfiction, Fiction, and Children\u2019s Books.<\/em><\/p>\n

The young adult book category has been popular for several years and continues to expand. While it seems like a fairly new genre, it is actually just coming of age. The first distinction between children\u2019s books and books for adolescents was made in the early 1800s when the division was called \u201cbooks for young persons\u201d and encompassed youths in the fourteen to twenty-one year old bracket. But librarians didn\u2019t create a young adult section in libraries until the 1970s and \u201980s.<\/p>\n

Now young adult (or YA) is more of a category rather than a genre because it includes genres of its own. In fact, more genres are added each year. Probably the most popular genres in the YA category are fantasy and romance, however, young people enjoy a good adventure and mystery, as well. Recent additions are graphic novels and Christian fiction. There\u2019s also young adult nonfiction.<\/p>\n

So what does the young adult category encompass? YA fiction features young adult or adolescent lead characters and explores themes that are important to young adults\u2014adolescent relationships, peer pressure, heroes in action\u2026and the heroes in these books can take some unusual\/otherworldly forms.<\/p>\n

Young adult stories typically cover issues that young adults can identify with and very often involve conflict and tension and\/or humor. Adolescents, like their adult counterparts, appreciate and are drawn to stories with memorable characters and authentic dialog.<\/p>\n

Amidst the young adult book craze, which tends to attract readers in middle school on up into the early twenties, there\u2019s a new category emerging. They\u2019re calling it new adult fiction. This category of books, created for eighteen to thirty year old readers, are designed to bridge the gap between young adult and adult genres. While young adult books certainly contain a heightened measure of tension\u2014with very adult issues coming into play\u2014new adult fiction will take these a step or two further for this more mature audience.<\/p>\n

If you want to write in the YA or NAF (new adult fiction) categories, read many popular books for these age groups. Study the language, vocabulary, the characters, the way other authors handle sensitive issues, the level of conflict and tension, and notice some of the topics that are covered. This is not an invitation to copy other authors. That would not be cool. However, it\u2019s important that you understand what\u2019s acceptable for and by this segment of readers before attempting to write in this category.<\/p>\n

If you are writing for the young adult and you may need a book proposal to guide you in writing the book and maybe even to help sell your book to a publisher. If so, be sure to add my book, Propose Your Book, to your must-read study list. It\u2019s available at Amazon.com, http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Propose-Your-Book-Persuasive-Nonfiction-ebook\/dp\/B0140EFHJK\/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1449747968&sr=1-1&keywords=propose+your+book<\/a> Allworth Press, and Matilija Press. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/ProposeYourBook.html<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Excerpted from Propose Your Book, How to Craft Persuasive Proposals for Nonfiction, Fiction, and Children\u2019s Books. The young adult book category has been popular for several years and continues to expand. While it seems like a fairly new genre, it is actually just coming of age. The first distinction between children\u2019s books and books for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t