Since the beginning here at Writers in the Storm, we've been all about spreading the love. And every so often, we throw the doors open for some shameless self-promotion opportunities for our readers. Our only requirement for those glorious days -- formerly called "Pimp & Promote" — is that they double the love and promote someone else's work alongside their own.
Today's event will give us all the opportunity to share great resources and celebrate our own successes. Plus, it is Fall, one of our favorite seasons for writing. So get ready to double the love!
How DO you "Double the Love?"
Here in the States, school is going strong, athletic games abound, and it is homecoming season. In that same spirit, let's get out our pom-poms and cheer for ourselves and other writers! Down in the comments section, we ask that you:
Heap love on somebody else’s work—a favorite author, blogger, post or book you’ve read, a wonderful teacher or just someone who had profound influence on you as a writer or a person. Please limit your comments to one work. AND
Promote one of your projects that you’re excited about—a hobby, a blog, a book, or a new direction your writing is taking you. You decide. Just tell us about it in the comments! (Please restrain your enthusiasm to just one of your WIPs.)
The rest of us will shake those pom-poms, and “ooooh and ahh” (with a side of rah-rah). Full disclosure: our to-be-read piles and our resource lists double in size on days like these, which is always a cause for both celebration and nail-biting.
We'll lead off the love fest with some of the WITS Team!
Ellen Buikema
New Love:
Laura Rossi has written a dark, mafia romance, Skins, De La Crux Famiglia, book one of a four book series. The story weaves elements of danger, secrets, and lies, along with a deep and abiding love.
A breathtaking thriller.
Self-love:
If you are looking for a young readers chapter book series, take a look at The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon. I wrote these stories to help encourage empathy and cultivate insight into children’s lives.
These multicultural stories cover situations children typically encounter like getting lost, moving, starting a new school, making friends, family vacations, working in a team, and dealing with bullies using positive methods. Each chapter ends with one or more activities for children and parents or teachers to do together, related to the actions in the stories. These books are filled with humor to make the stories more engaging for children (and more fun for parents to read to their kids).
My husband and I have been enjoying the writing of Olan Thorensen. This indie author enjoys going deep into science, anthropology, cultural change, chemistry, and pretty much any other topic you can imagine. While normally these deep dives would interfere with the narrative, his are so fascinating I find myself hanging on every word in these big books. He's up to Book 9 in the Destiny's Crucible series right now, and I can not wait for book 10. He keeps the suspense building throughout each book. I'm in awe and would love to study how he does that, but I'm usually too distracted reading them.
Self Love:
All of my energy has been going into building No Stress Writing Academy! We have a bunch of classes already with more coming all the time. I offer a Marketing 101 class at no cost for those who want to explore the platform and see what we're up to over there in World Anvil!
Jenny Hansen
New Love:
If you've been around WITS for a while, you've seen some of the gorgeous posts by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, the co-authors of the Emotion Thesaurus series of books. Perhaps you know about the labor of love they created called "One Stop" for writers.
They've kicked it up a notch recently with the Storyteller's Roadmap. Frankly, I love it. I love that it meets you where you are as a writer, and that there are three different paths you can take, based on your own writing challenges. For example, I have friends who get hives at the thought of plotting so they happily write away like the pantsers they are. Then they get stuck or get lost in revisions. There are roadmaps for all these scenarios!
Below is a screen capture of the main page.
And here is a snippet of the Planning Roadmap:
So, to summarize, if you haven't checked out One Stop for Writers with their thesaurus cheat-sheets, character builders, checklists, timelines, and now, their Storyteller's Roadmap...why not?
Self-love:
Writers in the Storm is looking for new blog hosts and contributors. We like to change it up every few years and hear from some new voices and viewpoints. And we like to spread out the hosting over 4-6 people so no one has to do more than a dozen hours of work throughout the year.
Let us know in the comments if that's something you'd be interested in or contact us through the contact form here!
Okay, now it's your turn!
What do you think of "Double the Love?" Do you like the new name? Spread the love all around the comment section, and we'll chime in and cheer you on!
Writing Young Adult (YA) fiction can be a tricky for writers trying to craft authentic characters. This post examines what makes characters in popular YA novels today resonate with young people. If you are writing or planning to write for teens, this deep dive and multiple post series into YA fiction trends can help you craft your own novel.
Capturing the essence of adolescence to the written page is tough. It has to pass the sniff-test of authenticity for readers of all ages, especially the readers who are teens themselves. Teens who are guaranteed to be your toughest critics and your greatest fans. Writing your novel in a way that isn’t pandering or pontificating is hard, because teens have a very sensitive filter towards adults telling their stories. But having hindsight from our own experiences growing up can make writing a YA novel easier. We’ve lived through adolescence and survived.
So, where is a good balance between telling the story and filtering it through a teen protagonist’s eyes? How can writers, many of which are no longer teens, make our novels more authentic?
The good news is that we don’t have to be teens to write like one. Let’s see how some popular authors have accomplished effective characterization and worldbuilding in YA novels.
YA Book Study – A Visit to the Library
My research was conducted in a West Coast high school library in the United States. Books used in this YA post series came from titles that students requested to purchase for the library and ultimately checked out to read. The high school population has students from many cultural backgrounds, many with non-English spoken home languages, and a wide spectrum of economic diversity as well.
This sample of readers created a representative cross-section similar to the United States overall. Although popular books will vary in different regions and countries worldwide, this information can provide current insights about general trends in student reading.
In my sample library, the librarian had input from students about which books should be added to the collection each year. This shows that teens are reading books that they wanted to read (see list of novels at the end of this post). The quotes and examples in this post came from these novels. Even though other books are also popular, the criteria and purpose for this list was to get a general range of interest from actual young adults.
To begin...
I asked the librarian about which books are hot right now. Next, I checked the stacks to see how many copies of the book were in circulation. The other criteria for which books to include were:
Books that have a publication date within the last 15 years
Books that represent a span of genres
Books that cover various topics of interest to teens today
Later, I pulled together quotes from each and examples on characterization, themes, worldbuilding, and teen voice. Let’s see what these books can show us about YA trends in characterization.
Characterization
Characters in Young Adult novels have as many variants as there are different walks of life. There are commonalities though, as shown in these characteristics:
Emotional Depth. Characters should have layers of emotional vulnerability and growth, making them relatable and engaging.
Internal and External Conflict. Compelling characters face both internal struggles (identity, self-worth) and external challenges (society, family, peers).
Relatability. Characters who deal with universal themes like belonging, love, fear, and ambition resonate with YA readers, providing connection with others and empathy.
Growth. YA characters are most compelling when they undergo significant personal development or transformation throughout the story, reflecting the change-driven nature of adolescence.
Your main character is the pivot point for everything in your YA novel, drawing your readers' attention back to this central focus again and again. Incite your reader’s curiosity by making sure your MC is compelling enough. How do these well-known novels craft best-selling characters? Let’s see in the following examples.
Main Character examples – What makes them compelling?
One of Us is Next, by Karen M. McManus.
Maeve Rojas is a standout character because she’s smart, resourceful, and unafraid to confront the dark secrets of those around her. YA writers can learn from Maeve’s layered vulnerability: she’s not just the "smart girl," but also someone who struggles with health issues and self-expectations. Her relatability comes from how her internal challenges resonate with readers, making her feel both aspirational and real. When crafting your YA characters, consider how their strengths are balanced by vulnerabilities.
All The Bright Places, by Jennifer Niven.
Theodore Finch’s character is compelling because of his intensity and emotional depth. He’s constantly torn between his fascination with death and his desire to experience life to the fullest. This tension keeps readers engaged. For YA writers, Finch’s unpredictability highlights the power of creating characters who are complex, with internal contradictions. A character doesn’t need to be perfect—they need to feel real. Consider how your characters’ flaws and inner battles make them more relatable to readers.
I’ll Give You the Sun, by Jandy Nelson.
Jude and Noah are brilliant examples of how dual narrators with distinct voices can create depth in storytelling. Their journey through jealousy, love, and personal tragedy brings rich emotional texture to their characterization. YA writers can take a cue from the twins' evolving relationship and individual growth and show character development through interactions and internal conflicts. Think about how your characters’ relationships with each other affect their growth throughout the story.
Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo.
Alina Starkov begins as an outsider, but her transformation into a powerful Grisha mirrors the adolescent journey of self-discovery. For YA writers, Alina’s arc is a perfect example of the "chosen one" trope done right: it’s not just about her powers, but about her struggle to accept who she is. When building your characters, give them both an external journey and an internal one. As they gain strength or face challenges, let their inner confidence grow as well.
Burning Bright, by Alexa Donne.
Stella Ainsley is a strong and relatable character because she’s independent, intelligent, and determined to make her own path, despite the challenges of living in a futuristic society. Her self-reliance and resistance to societal expectations make her a great example of a YA heroine who doesn’t conform to traditional gender roles. As YA writers, you can create dynamic characters by giving them clear motivations and the drive to defy the norms of their world.
Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, by Jennifer De Leon.
Liliana Cruz’s journey of navigating two different worlds—a predominantly white school and her Latinx roots—creates a tension that many teens can relate to. YA writers should look to Liliana’s struggle with identity as an example of how to weave real-life social challenges into your character arcs. Her resilience and determination make her not only relatable but also inspiring. Consider how cultural and social backgrounds can influence your characters' actions and decisions.
The Last True Poets of the Sea, by Julia Drake.
Violet Larkin’s reckless behavior following her brother’s suicide attempt makes her a raw, emotionally complex character. Her path to healing and uncovering family secrets offers you a template for creating protagonists who are on a journey of self-discovery. Violet’s story demonstrates the importance of giving your characters space to grieve, struggle, and grow. Authentic emotional depth, especially when dealing with difficult themes, is key to creating compelling characters.
Just Listen, by Sarah Dessen.
Annabel Greene's story is a great example of a character whose outward perfection hides deep internal conflict. YA writers can learn from Annabel’s quiet strength and her gradual journey to reclaim her voice. Characters don’t always need to be loud or overly rebellious to be compelling; sometimes their inner battles and quiet resilience make the most impact. When developing your characters, consider how silence, trauma, and the quest for self-worth can shape their growth.
The Mary Shelley Club, by Goldy Moldavsky.
Rachel Chavez’s love of horror and her complicated relationship with fear provide a unique twist to her characterization. You can take inspiration from how Rachel’s fascination with dark, frightening things reflects her own inner turmoil. Her journey through trauma shows how characters can use unconventional means to cope with their struggles. Consider how your characters' passions and obsessions can serve as metaphors for their emotional states, making them feel more layered.
Gravity, by Sarah Deming.
Gravity Delgado is compelling because she’s physically strong, yet emotionally vulnerable, balancing the pressures of boxing with family struggles. For YA writers, Gravity’s character showcases the importance of building resilience and grit into your protagonists while also allowing them moments of doubt. Let your characters face real challenges and setbacks, but also give them the inner strength to keep fighting—whether in the ring or in their personal lives.
A Girl Named Disaster, by Nancy Farmer.
Nhamo’s journey of survival is more than just a physical struggle, it’s about her connection to her ancestors and finding her own inner strength. You can take cues from Nhamo’s resourcefulness and spiritual journey to create characters who are not just shaped by their circumstances, but by their heritage and internal growth. Consider how your characters’ backgrounds and environments influence their personal development.
Book Examples that enhance characterization
In young adult literature, characters often navigate intense emotions, internal conflicts, and the struggle to define their identity. Each quote below highlights the distinctive voice of teen protagonists, offering relatable and complex portrayals of adolescence. Here’s an analysis of why each quote exemplifies a teen’s internal world, helping you understand how to craft authentic teen characters:
One of Us is Next, by Karen M. McManus
“It’s like everyone at Bayview High has their own private drama, and we’re all just waiting for our turn in the spotlight.”
Insight: High school often feels like a stage where teens perceive everyone as watching and judging them. This heightened awareness taps into the self-consciousness and social pressure that is central to teenage experiences.
“You know how when something bad happens, and it feels like the whole world is staring at you? That’s how I felt when the rumors started.”
Insight: The fear of gossip and judgment reflects a common teenage anxiety. Rumors and peer scrutiny can amplify feelings of vulnerability, making even small issues seem overwhelming.
“High school is a game of survival, and sometimes you have to play dirty to stay in the game.”
Insight: The competitive social dynamics of adolescence are like an unspoken game where teens must navigate friendships, rivalries, and social hierarchies. This captures the cutthroat nature of these interactions, interactions which in this book series are quite deadly indeed.
All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
“It’s like I’m living in a fog, where everything is blurry and nothing feels real.”
Insight: This illustrates the emotional confusion teens may face, particularly when grappling with mental health. The feeling of disconnection from reality mirrors the struggle to understand one's emotions and surroundings.
“Sometimes I just want to scream and let all the noise out, but I don’t even know where to start.”
Insight: Teens often experience overwhelming emotions without knowing how to express them. This raw frustration speaks to the difficulty of articulating feelings during adolescence.
“You can’t just put on a brave face and pretend everything is okay when it’s not.”
Insight: Teens often feel the pressure to appear strong, but this quote reflects the growing recognition that vulnerability is part of being human. It resonates with the internal conflict of wanting to appear invincible while needing to be real.
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
“We were like two halves of a whole, and when we were together, it felt like we could take on the world.”
Insight: Teenage relationships, particularly with close friends or siblings, can feel all-encompassing. This reflects the emotional intensity and deep connections that many teens experience.
“It’s weird how a single moment can change everything, like a snapshot in time that makes you see things differently.”
Insight: Adolescents often experience sudden shifts in perspective or understanding, making small moments feel transformative. This captures the immediacy and importance of self-discovery.
“I’ve spent so much time trying to fit in, I forgot what it feels like to be myself.”
Insight: The desire to conform is a central theme in adolescence. This quote reflects the struggle between wanting acceptance and staying true to one’s identity.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
“Being different is like walking around with a target on your back, and you never know who’s aiming for you.”
Insight: Teens often feel vulnerable to judgment when they stand out, whether because of appearance, personality, or abilities. This fear of being singled out is common in high school environments.
“Sometimes, the hardest part of being a hero is figuring out who you’re supposed to be.”
Insight: Adolescents often face pressure to live up to expectations, whether external or self-imposed. This reflects the teen struggle to define their identity amidst various influences.
“In a world full of shadows, it’s easy to get lost. But sometimes, you have to be the light to find your way.”
Insight: This metaphor resonates with teens, who often feel overwhelmed by external pressures but must find inner strength to navigate challenges. The journey of self-discovery and resilience is a key part of the teenage experience.
Burning Bright by Alexa Donne
“Living in a floating city feels like being on a permanent vacation, but it’s also kind of lonely up here.”
Insight: Adolescence is often marked by feelings of isolation, even in seemingly ideal environments. This highlights the teen experience of loneliness despite being surrounded by people or opportunities.
“It’s hard to figure out who you are when you’re always surrounded by people who seem to have it all together.”
Insight: Comparing oneself to others is a common teenage struggle. The perception that others are more confident or successful amplifies insecurities and the search for personal identity.
“The future is like a big, scary question mark, and I have no idea how to answer it.”
Insight: Teens frequently face uncertainty about the future, and this anxiety is both exciting and terrifying. The overwhelming possibilities and fear of the unknown are key themes in young adult development.
These quotes and accompanying insights, provide examples of how to create rich, authentic teenage characters. By incorporating their emotional depth, insecurities, and internal conflicts, writers can effectively capture the essence of adolescence in YA storytelling. Each quote reflects the depth, vulnerability, and complexity of the teenage voice, touching on universal adolescent experiences like identity, belonging, emotional confusion, and resilience.
Through the eyes of your MC
When crafting your own characters ask yourself a few questions. How does your main character fare compared to what teens are reading?
Who is your main character and why do they appeal to teen readers?
Why are they compelling?
What is their internal and external struggle?
Is this character the best choice for your story? Could you make changes to bring in more readers?
What universal adolescent experiences have you addressed in your novel?
Resource List - YA Novels List
These books were chosen based on popularity with students (determined by how often they were checked out and how many copies were in circulation). These titles are all within the YA bounds primarily because of the main character's age, but also for the themes, topics, and other important aspects of compelling Young Adult writing. See the details below for each novel.
Title
author
year pub
genre (ya)
One of Us is Next
Karen M. McManus
2020
MTS
All The Bright Places
Jennifer Niven
2015
contemporary YA
I'll Give You the Sun
Jandy Nelson
2014
contemporary YA
Shadow and Bone
Leigh Bardugo
2012
Fantasy
Burning Bright
Alexa Donne
2018
Sci-fi, gothic mystery, romance
Don't Ask Me Where I'm From
Jennifer De Leon
2020
Contemporary YA
The Last True Poets of the Sea
Julia Drake
2019
Romance
Just Listen
Sarah Dessen
2006
Contemporary YA
The Mary Shelley Club
Goldy Moldavsky
2021
horror, mystery, romance
Gravity
Sarah Deming
2019
sports novel, contemporary
A Girl Named Disaster
Nancy Farmer
1996
coming-of-age, survival fiction
The Knife of Never Letting Go
Patrick Ness
2008
Sci-fi
Final Thoughts on Characters in YA Novels
At the end of the day, writing for teens is like walking a tightrope as part of a circus—wobbly, slightly terrifying, but wildly exhilarating when you nail it. They want authenticity in their novels, but not too much. Drama, but not overdone (well, maybe a little).
Let’s face it, the inexperienced teen years in real life are basically a series of plot twists no one saw coming. So, embrace the chaos in your writing, throw in some deep feelings, sprinkle in a little humor, and let your characters find their way. Just remember, teens are experts at sniffing out inauthenticity. Keep it real, keep it relatable, and don’t forget to add a dash of humor to lighten the angst. After all, if teens can survive high school, they can definitely survive whatever drama you build into your novel. Have fun with it!
What current trend do you notice in books you like to read? What tips do you have for our readers?
About Kris
Kris Maze is an author, writing coach, and teacher. She has worked in education for many years and writes for various publications, including Practical Advice for Teachers of Heritage Learners of Spanish and the award-winning blog Writers in the Stormwhere she is also a host. You can find her horror stories and young adult writing on her website. Keep up with future projects and events by subscribing to her newsletter.
Initially, I found it difficult to sit and listen to other people discuss my work—my book-baby—without immediately defending myself. There were times when I’d sit on my hands to remind myself to be patient and wait my turn. I also needed to develop a thicker skin. I’m much better about all this now but I occasionally still feel the need to interrupt someone’s critique of my work. The struggle is real.
Experience is the best teacher.
Think about how you can best contribute to the growth of others.
Be kind.
“As for literary criticism in general: I have long felt that any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel or a play or a poem is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae or a banana split.”
—Kurt Vonnegut
Few things bruise a writer faster than a harsh critique. Brutality and honesty are not the same thing. Critique partners must be able to hand out hard truths without being too soft and without being mean.
People who tend to be on the rude side can be good writers with valuable insights. However, when those folks express helpful insights in a snarky manner, the person on the receiving end won’t listen. For people to take in what you say, they must feel that the critique partner has their best interest in mind. A harsh critique doesn’t help, and can actually stunt a writer’s growth. Be kind.
Be honest and constructive.
Attend the critique with the goal of helping your fellow writers improve. Always criticize with good intentions. This does not mean being so nice that you don’t remark on anything, smile, and say it’s all great. Give your best suggestions, but don’t browbeat.
Refusing to give usable criticism does the writer a disservice. Be honest. It can be difficult to hear truths delivered by critique partners. But, the suggestions of those who hone their criticism with an interest in helping you write your best work are golden.
Always go at the task of criticism with a desire to be helpful. That way, your suggestions will be constructive regardless of your experience critiquing other’s work.
Be Brave.
Every writer likes to be to know what they’ve done well, especially by those who are not friends or family. But heaps of praise don’t help the writer in the long run. Writers need commentary on the work. For instance:
“The chapter was great, but I’d like to see more dialogue sprinkled in with the prose.”
“I really like the way you introduce your characters. I can see them clearly, but I don’t know what the scene looks like. Can you give some more visuals?”
Some critics may worry that their criticism might be too hard to take, but it’s all in the delivery. Listening to constructive criticism is the way writers develop a thicker “emotional” skin.
Writing is art.
When we critique, we need to remember that writing is an artform. Everyone is going to see different things in a work of art. Not all those opinions are going to be positive. A good critique group is a safe environment for discovering problem areas in our work.
Even highly acclaimed writers need critique. None of those books lining library shelves were perfect to start. Writing is a personal act for public consumption. Before it’s ready for that public it needs polishing, which takes many, many eyes-on.
Constructive criticism is honest criticism. If a work is so clean and crisp that there’s only a few grammatical issues, tell the writer that. Let them know how awesome the work is. Most of us need to hear when we’ve done well. Point out the positive first, that way the writer you are critiquing will be more receptive to your other suggestions. And remember to state that those are suggestions. No one must agree to all the critiques that are offered. Not all advice given in critique is useful.
A few helpful points to critique.
Passive voice. If the object of a sentence is used as the subject of the sentence, that’s passive voice. “The goal was made by Alice.” Instead, use an active sentence. “Alice made the goal.”
The following are suggestions you can offer a writer when you notice too much passive writing.
Will active or passive voice make the sentence more engaging?
Is the sentence clear?
Suggest rewriting with as few "to be" verbs as possible and use active verbs.
Overly used words. In some cases, words are repetitive and a good thesaurus can be your friend. Other times, there are too many instances of words like “it,” “here,” and “there.”
The word “it” was once one of my favorites until it (OOPS) was nearly drummed out of my writing habits. The question I frequently received from a fellow critique group partner was, “What are you talking about? What is it?”
Example:
Me: “It makes me mad.”
Partner: “What makes you mad?”
Me: “Willful ignorance.”
Partner: “Substitute those words for it and see how much clearer the sentence is.”
Me: “Willful ignorance makes me mad.”
For more information. Lori Freeland has a fantastic list of things to look for when critiquing other people’s work. The list is also helpful for editing your own work!
Final thoughts.
Keep in mind that we are all in this together. It takes a village to raise a book-baby.
The first time I walked into a room and sat down with a group of people I didn’t know to share the very first chapter of my first manuscript, I was terrified. Thankfully, they were thoughtful and kind. That first draft was terrible. However, the takeaway from my first critique group experience was positive, so I kept attending.
Be constructive, brave, kind, and that will come back to you more often than not. Happy writing!
Do you have a critique partner or belong to a critique group? How did you find your partner/group? What are your experiences with critique?
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About Ellen
Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written non-fiction for parents, and The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon chapter book series with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Works in Progress are The Hobo Code, YA historical fiction and The Crystal Key, MG Magical Realism/ Sci-Fi, a glaze of time travel.
