Eleven Tips for Writing Popular Teen Fiction by Jacqueline Seewald

Even before J. K. Rowling's tremendous success with her Harry Potter series, publishers were frantically searching for fantasy and horror fiction for children and teenagers that they hoped would top the bestseller list. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it does not insure success as a writer.

Tip One: You don’t need to copy current market trends.

Teens have varied tastes in fiction. Not every teen or juvenile book needs to feature werewolves, vampires, witches, goblins, etc. Witness the huge success of such realistic teen novels as THE FAULT IN OUR STARS. Note that ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr which won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction could easily be read and understood by teens as well as adults since the novel is suited to both. Here we have a book which is historical in nature. Teens are as curious about the past as they are about the present and the future.

Books set in the "real" world do have appeal for teenagers. Teens are not necessarily trying to read books that provide a total escape from reality. Even fantasy books need to be believable, providing an element of reality through character development to which readers can relate. In the crossover novel THE THIRD EYE: A PINE BARRENS MYSTERY, the real world is seen through the eyes of a teenage boy while his mother experiences it through an alternate reality.

Dystopian novels are still popular at the current time.  But trends change rapidly. My advice, don't write for the market; write the story you need and want to write. We are all writers. We all have within us an important, wonderful story to share. Get in touch with your inner teen self.  Strive for authenticity.

Tip Two: Develop a unique voice.

This is one of the most important things in writing a successful young adult novel. This does not mean that you must write only from a first person point of view. However, teenage readers often respond well to a first person narrative. But  "voice" has to do with choice of vocabulary and style as well.

Tip Three: Character identification is significant.

It is important to create a central character that young readers can both sympathize and identify with. Whether writing realistic or fantasy fiction, if the reader can't care about or relate to the main character, then he or she won't believe or accept what follows.  A main character needs to be well-rounded, think and feel the way adolescents do.

Tip Four: Know teenagers.

If you are going to write about teens, you need to know them. Do some research. Besides raising two teenagers, I taught English and later Library Science. I taught at all levels: the university, high school, middle school and elementary. But most of my years were in the high school. I am accustomed to the way teenagers think, talk and behave. If you are not a teen yourself, talk to teenagers, read their magazines, watch their favorite TV programs, observe how they behave at malls, amusement parks, movie theaters etc.  Listen to them.

Tip Five: Recall your own teenage memories.

Dig deep into your psyche. How did you feel as a teenager? Were you confused about certain things? What made you happy? What troubled you? What are your most vivid memories of those times? Did you keep a diary or journal? If so, reread some of what you wrote.

My latest YA novel, THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER, published by Clean Reads in all e-book formats and now in print as well, is the story of a girl who has identity issues. She is also faced with peer pressure and conflicting values. Most of us have gone through similar problems as adolescents.

Tip Six: Get input from your own children.

Ask your teenagers to read your writing and critique it. Consider collaborating with your children on the writing of your fiction. I wrote WHERE IS ROBERT?, a YA mystery novel, with help from both of my sons who were teenagers at the time. Both boys contributed to the scenes of high school wrestling, since they both engaged in the sport. I couldn't have written the book without them. My son, Andrew, co-authored THE THIRD EYE: A PINE BARRENS MYSTERY published by Five Star/Gale/Cengage. He gave the teenage boy narrator an authentic “voice”.

Tip Seven: Make it dramatic.

Think like a cinematographer. Create vivid scenes. Dramatize your story. Don't just tell your story, show it. I'm certain you've heard that advice before! How to do this? Create meaningful, realistic dialogue for your characters. Each character should be an individual, talking in a certain distinct way to reflect a personal point of view, a unique way of thinking. Good dialogue leads to action and conflict between people with different viewpoints and goals.

Also, settings need to be described so that they seem real. In fact, there's nothing wrong with using real places for background setting. My five published YA’s are all set in Central New Jersey, an area very much like the one in which I lived and worked.

Tip Eight: Begin with an outline.

Outlines can be rough. They don’t need to be detailed. But you should have some idea about arranging the events of the plot line. This will be something to consult when writing your first draft with your key characters and scenes.

Tip Nine: When you develop your book, look for depth.

 Although books for teens are usually shorter than those for adults, that doesn't mean they require less creative thought. Respect your readers; give them quality.

Tip Ten: Provide an element of mystery.

Teens as well as younger children enjoy a mystery. Every good work of fiction should have a plot that keeps the reader turning the pages, wanting to discover what is going to happen next. It's important to set up some sort of a question that can't be easily or immediately answered, a secret of the human heart that must be delved into.

Tip Eleven: Develop key themes in your YA fiction.

Teen novels are generally about coming-of-age, of finding personal identity, making sense of the adult world, relating to it and fitting into it—or not.

THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER is about a teenager growing up in 1985. She comes from a poor family and wants more out of life than her parents are able to provide. She also senses there are secrets that her mother is keeping, secrets that involve her. Danna is troubled and confused. She has artistic talent and would like to be a professional artist.  She has hopes, dreams and aspirations. She also feels that her parents are too strict. Enter into this a boy who pursues her but has a bad reputation. Danna is attracted to him in spite of the warnings she receives about Kevin’s bad character. THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER is a coming-of-age novel. It’s a book about family values and a young girl maturing to the point where she realizes what really matters in life.

Here is a short excerpt from the beginning of the novel:

When my mother talked about Lori, she always got a funny look in her eye — not ha-ha funny but strange funny. When I was little, I never understood. As I got older, I wondered more about Lori, but I hardly ever asked because it just seemed to make my mother sad.

Lori was locked away in my mother's past life like the things in the old attic trunk. I wondered about them too. But Mom would always say when I asked her to open the trunk that the past was best forgotten. Yet, every now and then, I would say something or do something that made her sigh deeply and exclaim: "You remind me so much of Lori!"

Not long ago, I was sitting on the living room couch reading a novel I found on the bookshelf. My mother walked into the room and gasped.

"Something wrong?" I asked.

She stared at me for a moment and shook her head. "No, but for a moment, it seemed like I was looking at Lori. I remember when she read Rebecca. She loved to read old-fashioned romances."

"Mom, what happened to Lori?"

I'd been to one or two family gatherings but never remember anyone mentioning Lori, Mom's younger sister. She also had a brother named Craig who lived in Portland, but that was all the family she had as far as I knew. I’d only met my relatives from Oregon once.

"Danna, I'd rather not talk about her. It only brings back sad memories."

"Sure, except I didn't bring it up."

"Just don't you read too many of those foolish books and go around confusing them for real life. And don't think too much about boys. You’re still very young."

Now I was really confused. "What exactly did Lori do?"

My mother didn't answer. I could see it was hurting her to discuss her sister. Still, I couldn't help wondering. Mom had a sister who my parents never talked about. How totally weird was that?

Links:

THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER, YA novel published by Clean Reads, is now available in print:

http://www.amazon.com/Devil-Danna-Webster-Jacqueline-Seewald/dp/1512340081/

as well as all E-Book formats:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JZYXW7K/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jacqueline-seewald/id404379598?mt=11

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/433530

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-devil-and-danna-webster-jacqueline-seewald/1119365486?ean=2940149550449

store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-devil-and-danna-webster

In conclusion, the success of J.K. Rowling’s books gave new hope and inspiration to those of us who write juvenile fiction. No longer could we gripe that children and young adults do not read. If nothing else, the reception the Potter books received proves that there is an audience for fiction among young people. Also, such books if well-written have a strong appeal for adult readers as well—think of THE HUNGER GAMES, DIVERGENT or the TWILIGHT series. About 65% of books for teens are purchased by adult readers. According to the Association of American Book Publishers, in 2014, revenue from Y.A. and children’s books rose by 21 per cent over the previous year, while adult fiction and nonfiction fell by 1.4 percent.

Your comments, suggestions and input welcome here!

What Writers Can Learn from Donald Trump by Jacqueline Seewald

How do writers become bestselling authors? Publicity seems to be one crucial element or factor. To get fans, writers have to become known in the first place. Donald Trump has said outrageous things thereby drawing attention to himself and it’s worked for him so far. Trump has observed that there is no such thing as bad publicity, only publicity--which draws attention to an individual and his or her work. In the case of writers, publicity traditionally would be accomplished through the efforts of a publisher who has a PR staff that solicits significant reviews and promotes an author through numerous channels. But nowadays, this is often not the case. Also, many writers are currently self-publishing their work. This too changes how publicity can be obtained.

Trump is an example of someone who breaks the rules. He promotes himself as a maverick in politics. Perhaps what Trump offers to writers is the idea that we need to free ourselves. We have to look for creative ways to promote and publicize our own work--just as writers shouldn’t feel it necessary to write to any pre-conceived formula. We need to express what is unique to ourselves in our own way. By writing  exceptional work that stands out from the herd, I believe we can get recognition and acclaim. It will be interesting to follow Trump’s Presidential bid. Much can be learned from his techniques.

As for me, I have books published that I hope to publicize to readers:

The digital release of DARK MOON RISING, my paranormal romantic mystery from Luminosity, occurred on July 24th. It has already received positive reviews: 

                             http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z7824A4/

My well-reviewed YA novel THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER from Astraea/Clean Reads Press will soon be available in print as well as the current digital editions:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JZYXW7K/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jacqueline-seewald/id404379598?mt=11

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/433530

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-devil-and-danna-webster-jacqueline-seewald/1119365486?ean=2940149550449

store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-devil-and-danna-webster

THE BAD WIFE, 4^th in the Kim Reynolds mystery series, has collected  very good reviews as well and is available both in digital and print editions:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J6PCKVW

There have been great reviews from PW and BOOKLIST for DEATH LEGACY, romantic espionage mystery thriller now an ebook: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OGTMGLM

Publisher Novel Fox brought out the e-book version of DEATH LEGACY on Amazon, Kobo, Apple, and Google, and plans to publish an audio version very soon as well.

"This thriller keeps moving from its very first pages, while the palpable sexual tension between new cohorts Daniel and Michelle fortifies the story's intrigue with romance."

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Getting back to the subject at hand, Donald Trump is a performer who makes outrageous and insulting comments. He shoots from the lip. But ultimately, it will be his actual ability to convince us that he can serve the country with good sense and integrity by which he will be judged. That is true of everyone including writers. The key to success is having something of quality to offer. Authors need to be unique and original, not merely imitative in their writing. Hopefully word-of-mouth will follow and help build a readership. However, promotion and publicity won’t hurt either.

What are your thoughts and opinions on this topic? Is there anything you recommend in particular in regard to promoting your own work that has worked well? Readers, what would like to see more of from writers? 

Summer Reading List: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

In 1961, Nelle Harper Lee won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The novel? To Kill a Mockingbird which is revered and has been on most high school reading lists for many years. I taught it to sophomores in high school. The film version starring Gregory Peck is also a classic.

Not everyone considered the novel great literature. Flannery O’Connor called it a “child’s book” while Carson McCullers accused Lee of poaching on her literary preserves. Toni Morrison called it a “white savior” narrative “that reduced blacks to onlookers in their own struggles for equal rights.”

To Kill a Mockingbird may have proved controversial in its time; however, it appears that the newly released and much anticipated Go Set a Watchman will prove even more so. The heroic figure of Atticus Finch seems disappointingly reduced in stature as Scout, now an adult and using her given name,  returns to visit her father in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1950’s, 20 years after the era of Mockingbird. It seems ironic that Watchman actually preceded Mockingbird which was created at the suggestion of the editor who initially read Watchman.

Thomas Wolfe said you can’t go home again. Probably publisher HarperCollins should have left well enough alone. From the early reviews, I doubt Watchman will benefit the reputation of the author or the publisher.

I do think that authors should always strive to write new and better work however. We need to take a chance and write what is in our hearts and minds, dare to be different, and not fear criticism.

Right now, my latest novel Dark Moon Rising is available on pre-order from Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z7824A4/

My published adult books have mostly been in the mystery genre. This novel is a tribute to the Gothic tradition in literature and has elements of romance, mystery and the paranormal. Will it be well-received? Only time will tell. Certainly, not well-known writers like myself don’t draw the reading audience of a Harper Lee. But hopefully enough readers will be interested.

Let’s start a summer reading list here today:

I’ve almost finished reading The Burning Room by Michael Connelly. It’s a well-written police procedural that I recommend it to those who read this genre. Simultaneously, I am reading Linda Lael Miller’s The Marriage Charm, an enjoyable contemporary romance.

What book(s) do you want to read this summer? Any book that you would particularly recommend to other readers?  If you are an author, have you written a book that you wish to recommend to readers?

Tips on Creating Symbolism in Fiction by Jacqueline Seewald

Is symbolism needed in novels or short fiction?  I would say yes--if a writer wants his or her work to have quality and stand out.

Here are some tips on creating symbolism:

First, decide on an overall theme or idea that unites your work. It should connect setting, plot and characters in some significant way.

Second, recognize that a symbol is an image which is repeated. Consider it as an association cluster presented in many ways.

Religious writings are fraught with symbolism. Shakespeare used it effectively in his plays as did the early Greeks. In novels, the symbol can take a variety of forms. For example, in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the first American symbolic novel, the author used the “A” as a symbol in many guises to emphasize the difficulties of overcoming the past, its institutions, and the values of family and society.

In Moby Dick, Melville also used symbolism in a varied manner. The great white whale is symbolic of numerous sociological ideas. Melville examines the nature of good and evil through images of light and dark. Ahab’s unyielding aloneness is emphasized by images of the heart and head.

In the twentieth century, writers like Hemingway and Fitzgerald were masters of symbolism. Color imagery was often used. For example, in the bullfight in The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway uses the colors red and green to create a vivid, violent scene. The images symbolically connect to his theme of the manly or macho code of behavior which was what Hemingway considered most important in life.

In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald developed a theme he had earlier used in a short story entitled “Winter Dreams,” the love story of an American upper class girl and lower middle class young man—insider vs. outsider. Dexter Green is a romantic and his loss of Judy Jones causes him permanent pain because of the loss of his illusion of her more than the physical loss. She is a symbol of romance, just as Daisy is for Gatsby. In the novel the color green appears repeatedly and becomes a symbol for Daisy and all that she represents. For example, Gatsby looks longingly at the green light on Daisy’s dock across the water.

In Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge, the image of the Brooklyn Bridge becomes a tragic symbol of the lack of communication and connection between two brothers. Living as I do not far from the George Washington Bridge, I can particularly appreciate this. There have been many suicides of people jumping to their death from the bridge. Yet although the bridge can be considered a symbol of death and failure to connect and misunderstanding, it can also be a symbol of life and hope. Not long ago, one Port Authority policeman was able to stop a jumper. On that very same day in September 2014, PA police helped to deliver a baby near the toll booths on the upper level of the bridge.

Contemporary authors often use symbolism. Consider Harry Potter’s scar—a symbol of his being the “chosen one”, as well as his ability to overcome evil. GalleyCat just discussed recent articles written by J.K. Rowling on the symbolism behind Dumbledore and Hagrid's names. Dan Brown even wrote a thriller entitled The Lost Symbol.

In my latest novel Dark Moon Rising, the moon symbolizes romance. However, the moon is also a symbol of night and darkness, fear and hate. Since this is a paranormal novel fraught with mystery, moon imagery and symbolism work well with the underlying theme.

                                                 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z7824A4/

In meaningful writing, symbolism adds depth and perspective to fiction and unites theme with plot, setting and characterization. The final tip: always consider the big picture. What image or images will work best to imply your underlying theme?

As a reader, are there meaningful symbols you recall in what you've read.

Writers, do you use symbolism in your work?

Honoring Fathers by Jacqueline Seewald

 Many countries celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June, though it is also celebrated widely on other days as well—in Germany, for example, on Ascension Day and in Italy St. Joseph’s Day. In some countries it’s a public holiday and in others it’s not.

In the United States, Father’s Day started more than a century ago.

In 1910, a Father's Day celebration was held in Spokane, Washington, at the YMCA by Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children after his wife died in childbirth. Credit for this holiday was also given to Grace Golden Clayton of Fairmount, West Virginia who suggested to the pastor of her church in 1908 that a service be held in honor of fathers. However, it was Dodd who campaigned nationally for the holiday.

Mother’s Day was accepted as a national holiday in 1914. It wasn’t until 1966 that President Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers and set the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. In 1972, President Nixon signed the law making it permanent.

Father’s Day is a time to reflect on what our fathers have taught us about life. It’s also a day when we can honor them and show our appreciation for their love and devotion.

In literature, writers often deal with family matters in their work. For example, in my young adult novel THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER, a teenager’s relationship with her step-father is one of the concerns. Family relationships serve as an important theme.

A poem I wrote took first place in the READER’S DIGEST Poetry Contest 2015 and was published both in print and online in the June issue. It is about the relationship of a young girl and her grandfather. You can read it at:

http://www.rd.com/culture/2015-poetry-contest-winners/2/

As a reader, do you recall any books in which a father was an important character? If you’re an author, do you feature fathers as significant characters in any of your writing? If so, please note your work.

  

Cover Reveal: DARK MOON RISING by Jacqueline Seewald

My latest novel, DARK MOON RISING, will be published by Luminosity on July 24^th (my birthday). Hopefully, that will bring the novel good luck in reviews. As of June 9^th, the novel is available as a Kindle book on Amazon for pre-order. Eventually, it will be available in a print edition as well.

                                            http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Moon-Rising/dp/B00Z7824A4/

Why was this cover selected? First, let me say that much thought went into the creation of the cover. From the cover, readers know immediately that this novel is a romance between a man and a woman. Second, from the cover there is a suggestion of the paranormal. Third, it is clear the novel is intended for an adult readership. I particularly wanted that clear distinction because my recent YA novel THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER is a “clean read” appropriate for teens as well as adults who might be offended by sensual romance. This YA novel, currently available in all e-book formats, has proven popular and earned a print edition which will soon be released.

                                    http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JZYXW7K/

 As readers, don’t you judge a book by its cover?  So it stands to reason that writers want to create an appealing cover that draws the eye.  Cover art can make or break the book. What kind of front cover grabs the reader’s attention? What kind of cover art should a book display?  A lot depends on the genre of the book itself. The cover should be appropriate to the type of book. Readers expect it. For example, writers of romance want to demonstrate that their novel is an irresistible love story. How to do this? For adult romance, the clinch or embrace is a familiar pose. Bare-chested men are popular as well. Dramatic raised lettering with flourishes is always in style. A basic question to ask: is the book going to be sold on the shelf of a bookstore or is it going to be available only online? Is the novel going to be a hardcover, trade, paperback or e-book?

 With hardcover fiction books, as with all others, the cover needs to fit the genre, be attractive, while the title should be easy to read and intriguing. Cover art needs to play fair with readers so that they don’t feel cheated when they select a book. Covers for adult gothic or paranormal romance are generally dark and boding in appearance, appropriate to that genre. Readers expect it.

Paperbacks need simplicity in covers. The artwork should also support the title and the genre. E-book covers shouldn’t be too fussy or busy either. The old saying “less is more” works best for a book cover that’s displayed online. A short title with a large, easily readable font and bright contrasting colors shows up well on the computer screen. Publishers want to avoid covers that are complicated and hard to read. Plain, simple graphics are preferable.

 What are your feelings regarding cover art? What draws or attracts you to a novel? What do you dislike or prefer not to see?

The Future of Publishing by Jacqueline Seewald

Print and/or digital? What does the future hold for readers and writers?

According to Bowker’s last publishing report, the number of digital books published has leveled off. They consider this a market correction.  However, traditional or print books from the major publishers are holding up. What does the future hold? As a reader, I personally prefer print. As a writer, I want to be published in both print and digital. I want to take every opportunity to have my words read in any and all formats.

 Some of the digital features are great for readers. For instance, e-book readers of all types are lightweight and compact. Yet they hold many titles. Also you can adjust the font size. This is a blessing for those of us who prefer large print which is easier on the eyes.

But what about writers? Is this good for them? After all, e-books generally sell for a lot less than print. Writers earn less per book. However, the upside is that more readers will purchase a digital book because it does cost less. An example of this is my romantic mystery thriller THE BAD WIFE which is selling now for only $2.99 as a Kindle book from the publisher Perfect Crime, a fraction of its print price. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J6PCKVW    

 Here’s another positive. Many writers have had books and short stories published in the past. Too soon these titles have gone out of print. This is one way to make backlist titles available to the public for long periods of time. By self-publishing an e-book, a writer can keep work available to readers indefinitely. There are also many small ebook publishers who are more than willing to publish reprints since the financial investment is small.

Another positive for writers: many would remain unpublished but for the advent of e-books. Publishers will only invest in print books they believe will make money. A majority of books will earn out very little, especially if the author is unknown. By self-publishing an e-book, a frustrated writer has the opportunity to get his/her work out in the marketplace and hopefully read by the public.

For those who believe in democracy, this is indeed a democratic revolution. The internet has provided a forum for writers of all kinds. It has opened the floodgates of self-expression. Of course, it is also a bit overwhelming. Certainly, not every e-book will go viral—nor should it. But at least hopeful writers will get the exposure they so crave.

The negative factors are quite obvious as well. First, with such a flood of e-books on the market, quality writers may be ignored. Secondly, as to reviews, they often come from friends and relatives and are not necessarily meaningful. Third, many readers simply ignore unknown names and look only at the work of famous writers and celebrities when they buy books. The attitude is that they may download a free book when it’s offered, but won’t buy subsequent books as the author is hoping. This leads to much disappointment among wannabe authors. It may be coming to a point where there are many more books than readers. And of course, if there are no gatekeepers, anything and everything can be published with little regard to quality. Readers are still much more willing to pay for “brand” name authors. E-publishing appears to be something of a mixed blessing.

For me as a writer, I’m not certain what the future will hold. My short story collection, BEYOND THE BO TREE, was published as an ebook on Amazon. Do such collections draw readers? Not as much as novels in my opinion.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DTV0750

One of my YA novels, THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER, was published by Astraea/Clean Reads Press which is a digital first publisher. I took a chance and signed with them. The novel has sold steadily and well via word of mouth. It is now scheduled for a print edition. For me, this is important. I confess to not feeling a book is truly published until it receives a print edition. However, I much like the idea of being published both in print and e-book editions.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JZYXW7K/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jacqueline-seewald/id404379598?mt=11

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/433530

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-devil-and-danna-webster-jacqueline-seewald/1119365486?ean=2940149550449

store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-devil-and-danna-webster]

Another of my novels DEATH LEGACY, which was published as a Five Star/Cengage hardcover, Thorndike large print hardcover, Harlequin paperback, and e-book in all formats from Novel Fox, has been selected to have an audio publication as well. For me, this is what I hope for as a writer, to reach more readers, build a readership.

                        http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OGTMGLM

What are your thoughts? Does the e-book revolution thrill you as a reader and/or as an author or do you still prefer print books?