Anyway, ages ago there was a YA Lit Chat on Twitter about advice for newbie writers. I'm sharing here the things I tweeted then! Obviously you shouldn't feel obliged to take writing advice from a 16-year-old, but these are mostly things I've picked up from elsewhere, so they might come in handy!
(By the way, I set up a Steph Bowe Facebook fan page! Should you feel like becoming a fan, here is the link.)
- Be polite and professional with everyone. You never know who will turn out to be a great contact down the road.
- Learn to sell yourself, starting with your query. You'll need to be a salesmen when your book is published.
- After a rejection, don't email back and ask why they rejected you. Just don't.
- You can have the most amazing query in the world, but it's no good if your book falls flat.
- Develop a thick skin. Rejections won't hurt as much.
- Always be professional online. Always. Agents will google your name.
- Tack your first page on the end of your query. Make it an amazing first page. And an amazing novel, naturally.
- Agents are not evil. They don't hate writers. They aren't a higher life form. But be respectful.
- Previous publications or degrees aren't necessary. The writing/book is what counts.
- Believe it or not, there actually are teenagers that aren't obsessed with sex.
- Have someone else read your query letter - other writers, family to proofread, etc.
- Don't query until your novel is well and truly finished.
- Don't write YA because it's 'hot'
- Never, ever badmouth other writers/publishing folks online or anywhere else
- Read your dialogue out loud. It has to sound natural. Adding 'like' as every second word doesn't work.
- Don't sanitize your writing because you're afraid of the YA gatekeepers - parents and librarians.
- To teenaged writers: Don't think you can write YA well just because you're a teenager.
- Editing isn't just running a spell check, FYI.
- Avoid cliche characters like the plague. Hot myserious bad boy, popular blonde cheerleader, etc.
- Make sure the reader can relate to the protagonist. Totally shallow teenaged characters aren't good.
- Don't use slang. Becomes dated very quickly.
- Teenagers are awkward. Remember this.
- Never ever write what's trendy. Trends will be outdated by the time you start querying.
- Don't assume writing for teenagers is easier than writing for adults. It isn't.
- Don't write a million prologues. One is fine.
- Don't compare yourself to other writers. Thoughts like, 'That person is so much better a writer than me' gets you nowhere.
- Don't rush into publication. Writing is not a race.
- Don't let your family or friends critique your work. They will lie and tell you it's great. Always.
- Don't put in tons of sex or drug use solely for the sake of 'edginess'.
- Finish your book before you query. And by finish I mean edit until your brain explodes.
- Don't write books solely on a 'message'. Characters and story come first.
- Don't start a book with the weather. No teenager gives a flying fish about the weather.
Share your own tips in the comments!
