Fiction Books For Teens:
A (Relatively) New Frontier

What kinds of stories make great fiction books for teens?

Much the same kind as ones written for adults. Well-written, fast-paced books, with characters you can sink your self into.

Would you believe, until quite recently, there was no such genre?


When Kids Were Adults

If you think about it, until recently, teenagers weren't allowed to be kids. They had to grow up fast, help on the farm, or go get a job to help keep the family going. In the 1800s, plenty of kids got married at 13 or 14 (can you imagine modern-day kids doing that?).

As a matter of fact, until after World War II, the word "teenager" wasn't even used.

That being the case, fiction books for teens didn't exist, either. Because "teenagers" didn't exist. (Isn't that every parents' wish when their teens are driving them nuts?)

It wasn't until most children went to school (in the early 1900s), in schools that were divided by grade levels (in the 1950s) that books began to be written for children specifically.

But for 8-12 year olds, not teens.

Teens were expected to be "nearly-grown-ups", and read authors like Dickens, Hawthorne, Shakespeare and Plato. No offense to those fine authors, but the stories just don't appeal to many teens. They're written for adults, by adults.


That Was Then

It wasn't until the 1960s that authors began to address this hole in our literature. Suddenly fiction books for teens - for teens, not about teens - were being written. Formerly taboo subjects became widespread (and controversial, yes indeed!). Sex, drugs, teen pregnancy and cultures other than white America became topics of many of these new books.

And teens drank those up greedily.

At first, authors addressed the thirteen- to eighteen-year-old age bracket. But as topics broadened into risque, society and such literature began to loosen morals. These days, most books written for "young adults" are read by 10-15 year olds. Older teens gravitate toward adult fiction.


This Is Now

So how do you write well in this newly demanding, sophisticated genre?

Start by not underestimating kids. Don't write down to them. Respect them. They know a lot more than you did at their age, more than likely.

Avoid writing about fads and trends - or writing what's trendy today, thinking it'll stay trendy tomorrow. Today's teens are growing up faster than their parents did, and changing ideals and desires just as fast. What's hot today won't be tomorrow, and you'll be holding a book you can't publish.

With younger characters carrying the story, write the same way as you would for adults, with a hook, fast pace and cliffhanger chapter ends. Kids are inundated with fast-paced games, movies and internet exchanges. They won't have the patience for a slow build-up or clumsy plot.

Pass up current slang, because it won't be current for long. Don't slather your book with profanity either. Even if you know kids are talking that way. Be a good example here, and make the heroes and heroines of your fiction books for teens good examples, too.

For goodness sake, don't preach to kids! They won't listen. Then they'll tell all their friends about this horrible book, and their friends won't listen either.

Do use the five senses for descriptions. Teens want their books to come alive as much as adults do. And never have adults intervene to save the day. Kids want - and deserve - to save their own day.

Last but definitely not least, absolutely no explicit sex scenes allowed!


Be Responsible!

You can influence young readers in a way you can't influence adults, because they are still figuring out themselves and their morals and beliefs. Don't lead them astray with morals you'd never encourage in your own kids. Tell the stark truth if you must, but don't let them think bad behavior is alright.

Your job is to entertain, to inform, and if you're lucky (and they're listening), to get them thinking. If you can't understand what teens are going through and how they think and feel, you can't write credible fiction books for teens. Don't try. They'll know it and never pick up another book with your name on it.

No matter the era, some things never change about being a teenager. The emotional roller coaster, the search for self, the lack of confidence. Instead of dipping into current trends, use these universal, every-era themes to build your teen fiction book. You'll have decades of readers clamoring for your novels.


By Popular Demand

Does writing fiction books for teens mean you can't enjoy your favorite genre?

Not at all.

Toss in any of the genres that abound, and you can write a winner. With teens, mysteries are one of the most perennially popular subjects. They'll also devour horror, fantasy, romance, science fiction, supernatural, historical, inspirational and adventure stories.

Don't forget that today's teens see a lot more multi-cultural world than you ever did as a kid. Make sure your novels reflect this diversity, or you'll lose half or more of the readers you might have had. Teens want to see their world reflected in your fictional world, so they can relate to it. Do fill your teen fiction books with modern day teen reality.

Gear these novels with protagonists that are just a bit older than your readers (say sixteen to eighteen), antagonists who make the protagonist's life horrid, and a plot that never slows down for more than the time it takes for a deep breath, and you'll have them where you want them.

Listening to you. Cool, huh?