Ten Things We Wish YA Writers and Editors and Publishers Knew About Actual YAs (Like Us)

1. When Writing About Young People, Talk to Young People Alive and Young Right Now. Many YA Authors write teenagers who act much younger -- or much older --  than teenagers really behave. Or they write teenagers like the ones they see on TV (big mistake -- TV teenagers are about as accurate as TV CSI Teams)

Some writers make the mistake of basing fictional teenagers on what THEY were like at teenagers. Don't. Just because you were young once, doesn't mean you know teenagers now. We have since evolved.

2. Not All Characters Need A Tragic Backstory. Nor do they have to be the Misunderstand Loner (also known as the "I'm Not Like The Other Susans" Rule).

3. Adults Are Not Always Evil/Boring/Patronizing/Incompetent. We live with adults, and we actually care about them and sometimes even like them. And we have people in our lives who care about us.

4. Don't Force the Romantic Elements. If you want to include a romantic element in your story, go for it! But it's not required for YA readers to find the story interesting. Really.

Important Point #1 -- No Creepers. Teenagers must date other teenagers close to their own age or it's very very problematic.

Important Point #2 -- Trust chemistry. There's nothing worse than characters who act out of character just to create a relationship subplot. Make sure each character matters to the plot, and make sure they're not just in the story to be romantic decoration.

Important Point #3 -- Romance doesn't always mean boy/girl (see #6), and your romance plot does not have to include only TWO characters. If you see a love triangle forming in your story, instead of pitting the love interests against each other (creating unnecessary drama), maybe you could see how they work as a triad. Polyamorous people are real, and they are often sorely misrepresented in modern media.

In other words, YAs tend to view things -- including relationships and gender -- in non-binary ways.

5. No Cheap Tricks. Don't kill animals just to illicit an emotional response, and don't threaten them just to heighten tension. Don't dangle little children over cliffs just to hear them squeal.

6. Create A Diverse Cast of Characters.

Important Point #1 -- More LGBTQA+ characters! Please! Now! And make sure they have something to do in the story that doesn't involve their LGBTQA+-ness. Also, queer youth don't always join Drama Club or Chorus -- think outside the stereotypes. (FYI -- The A in this acronym refers to Asexual/Aromantic, which is an orientation, and not Allies. Though Allies Are Awesome).

Important Point #2 -- Also more racial and ethnic diversity. Please make sure that you do more than change a character's outward appearance (hair/skin/clothes). Diversity requires that you show us the texture of their lives and language, their identities as whole people.

Important Point #3 -- Also more differently-able people. Wheelchairs can make really awesome weapons, you guys; think about the possibilities.

Important Point #4 -- Go sit in a busy public park. Pay attention to the different kinds of people you see in one hour's time.That's how your stories should look.

7. Treat YA Mysteries As Seriously As Adult Mysteries

Important Point #1 -- Mysteries should be solved by the protagonist, through the clues she or he discovers. Readers should have access to the clues -- we don't like having solutions pulled out of magic hats at the end.

Important Point #2 -- Villains are characters too. Don't spring them on us at the end of the book. Develop them as fully as the other characters.

Important Point #3 -- Effective endings require realistic closure. We don't always need justice, but we do need loose ends tied up.

Important Point #4 -- Secondary characters require development and depth too.

Important Point #5 -- Doublecheck your plot points, people. We are very thorough readers and we don't like to drive our brains over plot holes.

8. Strong Female Protagonists™ Do Not Act Like Stereotypical Men. Also, contrary to popular opinion, guys will read books with a female lead. If they are good books.

9. Leave Your Moral Soapbox At Home. We can smell a lesson a mile away.

10. It's Okay To Be Serious. And Funny Too. We will read books that address serious issues, but we want them addressed in a realistic manner and we want them to matter to the book and not be added simply to illicit a response (see previous #5). But books don't have to be one or the other. Real life is a mix. YA novels should be too.