Identifying with Teen Readers
Writing for Young Adults Searching for Themselves
Nov 19, 2008 Karen 'Kai' Medders
Right now some of the most popular, best-selling works of fiction on the market are novels for young adults. Whether the books are fantasy, mainstream fiction, or horror, they succeed because they give teens looking for their place in the world characters and stories that they can identify with.
Show Teen Readers They are not Alone
Young adults are in the midst of some of the biggest changes they have ever faced. Issues of spirituality, sexuality, and self-image are stressful at any age, but most teenagers are coming to these questions for the first time. Often even the most popular, talented young people feel insecure and alone.
When a teenager picks up a novel, they are – like an adult reader – looking for characters that feel what they feel, or how they want to feel. They look for protagonists who long for the same things they long for, but know how to get them. They need to know that they are not alone in what they’re going through, even when that empathy is couched in a tale that seems ‘escapist’.
Find Common Ground
Think about the things you wanted when you were a teenager. Did you feel that you were just waiting around for something amazing to happen to you? Were you yearning for that one person who seemed so unavailable they might as well have been on the moon?
Do not fall back on stereotypes to tell you what ‘kids these days’ are stressed out by, excited about, or afraid of. Examine your own experiences, and use those as a base for understanding research into those questions. The events and situations may change, but the emotions that make adolescence so intense are common ground between you and your audience, no matter how wide the age gap may be.
Recognize and Celebrate Uniqueness
Teen readers sometimes feel that they are invisible or unimportant. Conversely, the worst thing in the world is to be exposed as a ‘freak’ or a ‘weirdo’. When a novel provides recognition of differences without harsh criticism, teens gain a sense that the world has a safe space for them to be who they are. Characters with a strong sense of self will help show readers that they are special, not abnormal.
Do not Lecture
Ultimately, what a teenager is seeking when they look for something new to read is an engaging story – not patronizing, thinly-veiled messages. Let the characters and the plot drive your novel, not the lesson you think should be learned. This will not only make the process of writing easier and more natural, it will also make the finished product more sincere and genuine.
Great Book
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Writing & Publishing
Latest Articles