Writing for children and YA/teenagers

Writing for Children and Teenagerswith Nicola Morgan

1. Know the age of your reader – and main character

2. Understand the safety-net factor

3. Set up MC’s problem in the first chapter

4. Don’t hang about and don’t overdo the back-story

5. Read and research your intended age group – be an expert (on the

books and the readers)

Picture books

• Domestic themes of early childhood; char child can identify with

• Avoid rhyme• Adults must enjoy reading it too• No danger so no need for safety net • Pictures: only if illustrator; otherwise

may include instructions

5-7 / 6-8 / 7-9

• Huge variety – increasing language complexity/vocab

• Subj-matter: inward-looking, personal, family/school

• Often moral message but do NOT focus on it – focus on telling story

• Careful of: danger, fear, introducing things parents might not like

8-10 / 9-11 / 10-12 - MG

• Look at lists produced by different pubs • Massive diff between 8 and 12• MC has more responsibility• Now includes fantasy & historical; wider

world; less introspective; more fear• Challenge: exciting story WITHOUT adult

solution– mob phones, bedtimes, social services….

10-12 or 12+/YA?

• Essential differences• Bookshops• 10yo is VERY different from a teenager• Parents’/relatives’ expectations/rights

12+ (teen/YA)

• Consider teenage brains• Extremes• Lack of protection• How different from adult novel?• Boundaries? Safety-net? • Don’t: teen slang, preach, talk down• Do: move fast, take to edge, be believable• “context within which to think”

Practical tips for all:

• Read current fiction of genre you’re aiming at • Careful when remembering books you liked as child • Keep (reasonably) up to date with young people• If don’t know which age to aim at, start writing • Do not patronise or over-explain• Know, like and respect your readers• Get rid of the adults!• Keep story moving fast – drip-feed description

Also:

• Follow the Awfully Big Blog Adventure blog• Join SCBWI?• When you get a publishing contract ask to join

the Scattered Authors Society• And the Society of Authors• Connect and engage with children’s authors –

we’re very welcoming!

Good luck and work hard!

For this presentation and much more, visit:www.nicolmorgan.com

(Copyright © Nicola Morgan 2014)