Writing Books For Teenagers - Some Tips

There is a divide with teenagers as their minds develop and follow paths of preference. While it can be said that interest in fantasy and science fiction comes to the fore during the transition from childhood to adult, such can also be said about a teenagers development in romance and indeed fear. These topics are covered well by JK Rowling as her books begin with a very simple story line and as the series progresses, although the boooks become more complex in fantasy, the plots and trails also feed out to other aspects that will relate to the reader. By the final book, Rowling is tackling love, hate, fear, fantasy and loss whilst tidying up any loose plots that have been seeded in earlier books.

By instilling a 'rite of passage' throughout the series, Rowling successfully forms a transition from childhood to adult status.

When writing for teenagers, it is unlikely that a writer will be considering a seven part series of such epic nature, but the theme and approach should remain the same. Stories set in the present time often include an element of the difficulties of coping with this transition - some are about an adolescent upheaval, others have it running as a sub-plot, while others just cope with it as part of the background.

A writer should consider social issues that every growing boy or girl can relate to - as detailed so well in The Secret Diaries of Adrian Mole (Aged 13 3/14) by Sue Townsend

UK sales of her books were immense and went on to be adapted for television and radio.

Apart from choosing an inviting title, pre-planning is extremely important. Consider both the plot and the development of the character, but keep in mind that a teenage reader relates more to the development of the character than specific events that occur. The key to writing books for teenagers is to marry the character and the difficulties they face with those same difficulties that a teenager reading your book is familiar with. By doing so, your planning stage becomes easier as the obstacles that relate to teenagers can be used to map the passage of the book.

Your readers should be able to work it out for themselves or at least be familiar with some of the pitfalls that your characters face, but you don't want them to give everything away, your journey should introduce an increasing number of obstacles with increasing complications. This is the skill of writing this type of fiction.