essays for young adults

55 Of The Best Young Adult Creative Writing Prompts

You’re looking for some creative story ideas for teenagers, maybe because you want to write YA fiction, or maybe because you know someone else who does.

Welcome to our inspired collection of 55 writing prompts for young adults.

You’ll find a variety of characters and scenarios to play with. Choose from different themed groups to find your next story idea more quickly.

Start with one that feels personal to you. Then make it familiar to your reader.

YA Fantasy Writing Prompts

Prompts for teenage love story ideas, prompts for coming of age story ideas, contemporary ya writing prompts, ready to write your ya novel, 55 of the best ya writing prompts.

We’ve done our research to give you 55 of the best teen fiction ideas .

As the writer, you’re free to change any details as you see fit, to make the story more personal to you and more believable to your ideal reader.

1. While learning the true identities of the nursing home residents, a teen volunteer discovers something unexpected about her own and meets an unusual mentor.

2. A teen shifter who was told her twin sister died in childbirth discovers the truth when she escapes her house at night to shift and go for a run.

3. Two teens secretly crushing on each other create a fantasy world for a school writing project and suddenly find themselves lost in it.

teens talking with each other Young Adult Creative Writing Prompts

4. Anonymous notes in a teen’s locker lead them to a rendezvous with someone who knows their secret identity and wants their help exposing some of the faculty.

5. At her 16th birthday, Maeve accepts her aunt’s gift of a chance to see some of her past lives. She learns why the face of one of her classmates feels so familiar.

6. A teen girl learns the true meaning behind the mark she was born with. Now, she must choose between two teachers with very different ideas about magic’s uses.

7. A teen mage turns heads when it becomes obvious she’s even more powerful than her well-known parents (RIP). Her BFF warns her about rumors going around.

8. Lucia never learned how to swim and is nervous around pools, so when someone shoves her into one at a friend’s birthday party, she’s not prepared for her own transformation. Someone else at the party is.

9. A college freshman finds refuge on the dormitory roof until another student starts hanging out there to practice magic. They agree to keep each other’s secrets.

10. It’s not easy being a shapeshifter whose human form is a teen paralyzed from the waist down. Only in her other, terrifying form is she able to move freely.

11. A teen takes in a stray cat who follows her home. The same cat leads her to an abandoned house where she learns a secret about her past — and her identity.

12. Petra decides to go to the prom in a tux as her cousin’s “date,” and, manifesting abilities she didn’t know she had, she stops a guy from committing date rape.

13. Isa died and came back to life ten years ago. Now, she learns that a tree was involved in her coming back, and recent strange experiences begin to make sense.

14. Whenever she’s under duress, a strange song plays in her mind. When she says the words aloud, strange things happen. And this time, she’s the only survivor.

15. A teen switches bodies with her 50-year-old neighbor and learns disturbing truths when looking through the woman’s possessions. Meanwhile her teen body is up to nothing good.

16. At your first job, you witness strange phenomena, but your boss tells you to keep your head down and check things off the list . Too curious, you find a hiding spot.

17. Soraya, a withdrawn sophomore, turns 16 and starts seeing an unfamiliar face in her dreams. A new “exchange student” comes to class, and she meets the face..

18. She wants to meet her birth mother, and he’s willing to drive her there in secrecy. They end up stranded together when his car breaks down 100 miles from home.

19. A teen glrl develops a flair for cosplay and takes on the personalities of the characters she becomes. One of these character’s fans pursues her.

20. A teen growing up in a devout Christian home falls for an outspoken atheist and grapples with her religious beliefs and sexual orientation.

21. She sees his face in her head and doesn’t know why he’s so important to her. They’ll never meet. Only when she writes about him does he come alive and speak to her.

22. Two young athletes on competing teams develop romantic feelings for each other. Their coaches are bitter rivals.

23. A quiet, hardworking student by day, Dax takes on a different identity at night. And that’s when he meets the only person who can help him find balance.

24. Sixteen-year-old Tess is the butt of cruel “fat” jokes until a boy humiliates the jokers and walks her home. They see each other and become more than friends.

25. Declan McGregor never thought he’d take in a stray , but when “Boss” follows him home, he decides to help the mutt, whose human turns out to be his nemesis.

26. A reclusive junior develops a crush on a flirt , who befriends her, only to find out he was acting on a dare. Then she finds out who dared him and why.

27. She gives good advice through an anonymous advice column in the school paper, but when she meets one of the students she “helped,” she realizes her mistake and tries to fix it.

28. A quiet girl who keeps her home life secret takes up boxing and becomes more confident and outspoken, drawing the attention of someone who knows her family.

29. An asexual teen starts questioning her identity when she responds in surprising ways to a face that keeps showing up in her dreams. Then she meets the face.

30. Working her first night shift, an 18-year-old discovers a secret passageway in her employer’s office — and ends up encountering his socially awkward son.

Fiction Writing Prompts for the Young Adult (YA) Genre

by Melissa Donovan | Aug 24, 2021 | Fiction Writing Prompts | 8 comments

Fiction writing prompts: young adult.

Young adult literature is one of the most exciting genres in fiction. Young people are bright, bold, and open-minded. More importantly, they’re going to shape the future. What they read matters.

Classic young adult books like To Kill a Mockingbird , The Outsiders , and Lord of the Flies tell entertaining stories populated with compelling characters, but these stories also highlight important social questions and issues.

Stories like Catcher in the Rye inspire introspection, and contemporary stories like The Hunger Games force readers to consider the future of humanity.

And who can forget what is possibly the oldest and most famous young adult story in Western culture: Romeo and Juliet , the classic tale of two star-crossed lovers who are destined for tragedy?

When I was a teenager, my favorite movie was The Breakfast Club . To this day, I think it’s one of the most brilliant films ever made. People often mock me when I say that. How could a movie about a bunch of teenagers spending the day in detention be brilliant, or even important, for that matter?

But the film is not just about a bunch of teenagers. It’s about what it means to be human. It’s about how we are more alike than we are different. And it’s about how we treat each other. It’s about class and culture, the haves and the have-nots, and at its heart, it’s about personal growth and how our interactions with others shape whom we become. And it’s a story for and about young adults.

Fiction Writing Prompts for Writers of YA Fiction

You can use these fiction writing prompts to inspire a short story, novel, or screenplay. Mix and match them, change them, adapt them in any way that feels right to you.

On the first day of school, two best friends discover a frightening secret about one of their new teachers.
Four friends on a nature hike discover a deep cave, complete with running water. As they go deeper and deeper into the cave, they find strange objects—human skeletons, an old computer from the early eighties, a gas mask, and strange mango-sized orbs that emit a glowing blue light.
A youngster on a first hunting trip has a deer in sight and suddenly remembers the day their dad took them to see Bambi .
Write a satirical story about an orphanage that is managed as if it were an animal shelter, or write about an animal shelter that is managed as if it were an orphanage.
Two best friends make a pact. When they get to junior high, they grow apart, but the pact haunts them. Will they fulfill the pact they made as children?
After a car accident and a minor head injury, a teenager starts having precognitive dreams. Initially, family and friends insist the dreams are coincidences, but the proof becomes undeniable when a government agency steps in.
Write a story set in juvenile hall.
A teenager’s beliefs are not in line with his or her parents’ religious system. Can we control what we believe? Can we control what others believe?
In the midst of a natural disaster, a classroom is locked down and everyone inside is trapped until they are rescued three days later.
The story starts when a kid comes out of the school bathroom with toilet paper dangling from his or her waistband. Does someone step forward and whisper a polite word, or do the other kids make fun? What happens in this pivotal moment will drive the story and have a deep impact on the main character.

Have you ever tried writing fiction for young adults? Where do you get your story ideas? Did any of these prompts inspire you? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment, and keep writing.

These are great prompts for writers of any age! As a writing teacher, I also think they are good for prompting students’ critical thinking skills. 🙂

Thanks, Kat! I’ve heard from a few teachers who are using prompts and exercises from my books and blog, and it’s an honor!

These were really well written and will help a lot of people. You did a really good job writing this.

Thanks, Coffee. I’m glad you found this helpful.

Love love love that your favorite movie is/was The Breakfast Club!!! My favorite 80s movie of all times and I love that you shared this, it gives me some good ideas to start with. This genre is the one I’m currently focusing on.

Thanks for your comment, Sydney. Yes, The Breakfast Club remains my all-time favorite. Such a great, underrated film.

I love these! Will hopefully cure my writer’s block 😄🥰

Thanks, Aimee. I’m so glad you love them!

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Six Tips for Writing Young Adult Novels

by Nora Raleigh Baskin

I didn’t start out writing for children. Like many of my fellow young adult/middle-grade authors, I spent quite a few years (five) writing adult fiction before getting published. Then a well-intentioned woman in a writing course made the unwelcome suggestion that I consider writing for children. Hey, just because I wrote about children didn’t mean I was relegated to writing for children. But after a good cry, I went home and gave it a try. I soon began getting my first handwritten, personal—and helpful—rejections. It took a lot of work, a couple of Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators conferences, and a children’s writing critique group until I finally found the right combination of what had been brewing inside me. Here are six lessons I learned about writing for young adults: POV Get the POV right. I don’t just mean first person or second person, but from what point in time is your narrator speaking? In writing for young adults, do not write as an adult looking back. The perspective needs to be immediate. A teenage character can look back on his younger years, but he cannot have an adult’s wisdom gained from hindsight. This is harder than it seems. It requires truly putting yourself in the teenage mind and often not caring much at all about the grown-up world. Age Make sure your character’s age suits your audience. The age of the protagonist in YA novels will likely be the age of your intended reader. Kids will read up but not down; they will pick up a book about a kid a few years older than they are but not the other way around. Therefore, middle-grade novels tend to deal with middle-school-age characters and young-adult novels deal with high school-age characters. However, most high-school students read adult books, so the real audience for YAs is seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders. The important thing, again, is not to have an adult perspective, not to “look back” and reflect on the emotion or the situation. Your character needs to learn, grow and change during the course of the novel from the events she is experiencing in the book. (This is how YA novels differ from novels for adults that feature an adolescent protagonist.) Voice/Language Figure out the voice, and the language will follow. Sentence structure, vocabulary, and even plot structure in a middle-school novel will be more complex than a chapter book, but perhaps not as complicated as a YA. Do not dwell on this while writing your first draft, though. Find the right voice, and the right language will follow. If you have to consider if a word or sentence structure is right for your book, chances are you haven’t nailed the voice yet. Don’t talk down to your reader. There is very little (if any) difference in the language of a YA novel than an adult one. Touchy Subjects Don’t shy away from touchy subjects. Pretty much any issue goes these days in terms of what is appropriate for young-adult fiction. As a general rule, middle-grade fiction will not actively involve sex or drugs. For young-adult novels, there are no bounds in terms of topic; you can write about sexuality, homosexuality, abuse, drunk driving, incest or rape. But it is not about finding an issue and then creating a story around it. It is about finding the right voice, finding the right character, and telling his story. Preachiness Don’t get preachy. “If you want to send a message, call Western Union.” This quote, often attributed to Samuel Goldwyn, says it all. Nobody wants to be taught lessons when they are reading fiction. Never is this truer than in writing for young adults. Writers do not need to answer questions, only raise them. Certainly your views and opinions will peek through your narrative, but do not enter this special contract between reader and writer with the intention of changing someone’s mind or preaching. Teenagers have radar for this, and the voice will feel inauthentic because—well, it will be. Hopeful Endings Write hopeful endings. For the most part, young-adult novelists leave their readers with hope, if only a glimmer, despite whatever grim action came before. Adult novels, while dealing with the same issues, can leave a reader utterly sad, even completely bereft. But in writing for young adults there still seems to be a sense of responsibility—not to drill in lessons and give warnings, but to allow for possibility. Let your readers believe that in the end the power, the choice, is theirs. This article first appeared in The Writer magazine .

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The Value of Writing Young Adult Literature

by Ellen Buikema

One of the most valuable qualities of writing YA Literature is how it addresses the needs of its readers. Young adulthood is a tumultuous time of evolving, searching for self and identity, growing and changing, transforming from the world of childhood to that of adulthood. This rite of passage is a distinct part of life, marked by specific needs—emotional, intellectual, and societal.

Many adult readers enjoy YA novels in part because it allows them to travel back in time to revisit events of their youth, cheering for the protagonists and agonizing with them. There can be a sense of catharsis, following the protagonists on their journeys.

Modern civilization has left a gap. In many societies elders no longer lead their youth through a rite of passage or coming-of-age. YA stories can assist in fill that gap, helping young adults to experience these transitions through the written word.

Samples of YA novels in various genres

Western : Shane , by Jack Schaefer
Fantasy : The Queen of Nothing , by Holly Black
Horror : Anna Dressed in Blood , by Kendare Blake
Paranormal : Vampire Diaries , by Richelle Mead
Crime : The Naturals , by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Steampunk : Leviathan , by Scott Lesterfeld
Historical Fiction : Code Name: VERITY , by Elizabeth Wein
Romance : Along for the Ride , by Sarah Dessen
Memoir : Ordinary Hazards , by Nikki Grimes

There are many YA novels that cross over several genres. For example, The Hunger Games , by Suzanne Collins, covers fiction, romance, dystopian science fiction, fantasy, action, and adventure.

Rules of the YA Road

The kids are in the front seat..

Adults in Young Adult stories should take a backseat to the teens, as well as to the action. Adults may appear when needed, and then go away. The protagonists must make their own decisions, go forward with the plan, and figure out their dilemmas themselves. Otherwise the book will be unsatisfying. The struggle needs to be real.

Protagonists Need to be Relatable

Recognizing yourself in the pages of a YA novel sends the message that you are not alone.

Problems posed in Young Adult fiction don’t have to be limited to teen problems, although there are plenty of those. The teen protagonist may try to save the family by coming up with wild schemes to pay the mortgage, like composing a tune that allows for teleportation, or building a self-refilling refrigerator. Anything goes.

Many protagonists have issues in common.

Struggling with the motivation to move forward
A need to be accepted by peers, and parental acceptance at a deep level
Determining who to trust
Battling depression and anxiety
Self-respect and standing up for what you believe in
Intimate relationships
Facing torment from peers
Drug use and abuse

Every one of these problems creates stress for the characters and helps with relatability for the reader.

The themes in Young Adult novels are adult in nature, but not graphic.

Point of View

The story’s point of view determines how the tale will be received by the reader.

Most Young Adult novels are told from either first-person or third-person perspective. First-person adds intimacy. It brings the reader into the personal experience of the narrator. Third-person, particularly omniscient, allows the reader to catch any clues the characters miss.

There is no right or wrong.

Choose which perspective works best for you and the story. you might begin the first draft in third-person close past-tense, decide that doesn't work for you, and then go back to the beginning and write in first-person present-tense. If after a few chapters you feel you are unhappy with your choice, choose again. Experimentation is good.

Gritty vs Profane

When can I swear, dagnabit?

Generally speaking, swearing can be used to shock, for comic effect, to show mood, and can be a form of linguistic violence. Swearing in YA is frowned upon, so it should be kept to a minimum. Grit may be shown in character action and mood.

Language Use

Language will vary, especially if you are writing a series and the characters are aging, therefore, undergoing complex emotions. In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Harry, the main protagonist, ages from an eleven-year-old boy to a seventeen-year-old young adult, with all the confusion hormones bring. His language changes as he ages to keep his character authentic.

Vocabulary will change due both to situations and maturity. A character may be a mimic and after a few days begin to speak as the locals do, or might use different speech around friends than with grandmother.

Personal Growth

YA fiction may be considered the literary category where characters achieve the most growth. Teens are in a constant state of change and so should the protagonist in a YA story. The protagonist needs to have new experiences and face roadblocks until the end goal, changing as a person along the way.

Lob on the conflicts to create tension—problems adapting to change, self-identity, relationships. More tension gives greater possibilities for personal growth. You are carving a unique soul. As far as I know, your characters can’t murder you in your sleep, so no worries.

About the Plot Points in Your YA Novel

Consider the following points for each scene:.

What are my characters learning?
Is the conversation important for character growth?
What is driving the emotions?
Does the scene move the plot forward?

Most authors ask these questions of every scene in any novel. Remember, by answering these questions, you will keep the readers’ interest.

Finding Your Inner Teen

A tip for finding your teen voice: Revisit popular music from your teen years.

In a quiet space, close your eyes and listen to the music. Let your mind wander to a high school dance, music store, a friend’s house, driving in a car with friends, driving alone, hanging out at the pool during the summer, or being alone in your room.

Musical memory is deeply rooted in the mind. When you hear the music and visualize where you’ve heard it in your past, memories from that time will return, allowing you to reconnect with teen memories.

Do you have a favorite YA genre? What technique(s) do you use to reconnect with your younger self? Do you prefer a particular point of view for YA? Please share with us down in the comments section!

* * * * * *

About Ellen

Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written non-fiction for parents and a series of chapter books for children with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Works In Progress are, The Hobo Code , YA historical fiction and Crystal Memories , YA fantasy.

Find her at http://ellenbuikema.com or on Amazon .

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

11 comments on “The Value of Writing Young Adult Literature”

Really helpful and encouraging. Thank you. I'd only add, you have to love kids to write for them.

Thank you, Julia!

I agree with you.

In my opinion, there is nothing more important than the well-being of children.

Dear Ellen, I love your advice. It applies to all areas of writing. Thank you for this post. Have a blessed day! Christy :0)

Christy, I'm glad you've found the post useful.

So sorry that you have lost your position. Covid has wreaked a great deal of havoc.

I agree wholeheartedly. You have to LOVE them in order to write for them. As a former teacher, now unemployed due to COVID, I long to be around children. They are my inspiration. Alas, I draw my inspiration from memories and photos of cherished experiences. But, to write in any genre takes a LOVE for it, am I right?

A wonderful post, thank you. I've written YA set in the horse show world. Most of my readers, I believe, are older women looking back at those times. 🙂 I'm finding it difficult to get "teen traction" because most of the advertising focus and buzz goes to YA fantasy, sci-fi, or fairytale retelling it seems. I love your emphasis on character growth. That is what I strive for and is the point of each of the stories.

There are a lot of adults who enjoy YA and I am one of them.

Interesting term, "teen traction." I wonder if other YA genres will become more appealing in our New Normal, whatever that may be?

I don't read a lot of YA, but I have a friend writing in the genre, and I've read his books. His are LGBTQI+

Thank you Ellen. Your recipe for writing young adult fiction is a great starting point for any kind of writing. Your guidelines cover the fundamentals. Any writer who can accomplish a medley of these ingredients will certainly demonstrate mastery. Adding a variety of new ingredients can lead a knowledgeable writer to any other genre of choice.

Great tips here, Ellen. I've shared the post online and have connected with you on social media. Have a beautiful day!

Thank you, Victoria!

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4 Essential Tips On Writing Young Adult Fiction

by Ruthanne Reid | 55 comments

Start Your Story TODAY! We’re teaching a new LIVE workshop this week to help you start your next book. Learn more and sign up here.

Young Adult fiction, or YA, is one of the most vibrant, fun, emotionally engaging genres out there.

4 Essential Tips On Writing Young Adult Fiction

Young Adult explores topics many genres won't touch; it joins on the journey of personal growth and Bildungsroman (read: “coming of age”) that we all struggle through. It doesn't hurt that it also sells like hotcakes, movie deals included.

Do you want to write Young Adult fiction? Well, there is no magic formula, but that's the bad news. The good news is I'm going to share four effective tips on writing Young Adult fiction to make your story more successful and relatable.

Tip Number One for Writing Young Adult Fiction: Language

Most of you are not, in fact, teenagers. (For those of you who are, let me know if you agree with the point I'm about to make.) And obviously, if you're not a teenager, it means you do not think or speak the same way your protagonist will because YA books showcase teenagers (with a couple of years' cushion on either side) as protagonists, and teenagers do not sound like adults.

Ah, but the key to this isn't slang—which, by the way, I HIGHLY advise you avoid, unless you're inventing it yourself, or it's slang that has stood the test of time, like “cool.” If you try to make your book sound current via slang, you guarantee that some young person will pick up your book in short order and laugh at how silly it sounds.

(No, really. This is a thing . To quote the article, “Yesterday's cutting-edge is today's ho-hum.”)

How then do you make your kids sound young, hip, and relevant? Two ways:

See how it's done by someone who does it well, like Holly Black. I suggest The Coldest Girl in Coldtown — not because it's everyone's cup of tea (because it really isn't), but because it's an excellent example of modern teens who sound and feel modern without feeling so current that they won't feel modern in five years. They're smart; they're wrestling with current issues; they lack the experience to judge what might or might not happen. They're three-dimensional and fantastic, but undeniably young.
Just have your characters speak like people (*gasp* teens are people? I know, right?). The thing that sets them apart from adults is a lack of experience, and therefore, a different grasp of consequences. Young people are often portrayed in media as… well, stupid; they're not . Yes, they can sound defiant in the face of what adults think is good sense, but that's not stupidity; that's courage—a courage many adults lack because they've gone through the consequences of sticking to their guns. Teenagers have the confidence so say what they think, and to think things adults might not. That isn't stupid. That's experience.

Tip Number Two for Writing Young Adult Fiction: Brands and Bands

That tip to avoid the most in-style thing actually goes beyond language. Of course, being a smart author, you're already being really careful about what brand names you use . This makes it easier still: either don't use them, or just make them up.

You don't know what will be popular in five years. Your fourteen-year-old may love that brand of jeans right now, but they might not even exist five years from now—and twenty years from now? It's not impossible that the next generation will think of those jeans as being “mom-jeans.”

The mom-jeans thing is a good example, actually. High-waisted jeans were HUGELY popular once, but then the generation that loved them grew older, and… well. Time makes fools of us all.

(P. S. – mom-jeans, after being out of style for three decades, are coming back in . Pfft, fashion.)

Tip Number Three for Writing Young Adult Fiction: Maturity and Decision-Making

This is a tough one when it comes to writing people younger than ourselves. We all, in a way, suffer from what C. S. Lewis called “chronological snobbery:” we assume that anyone or anything who came before was primitive compared to us.

Whether that's true about generations past is a whole other discussion. I'm here to tell you it's not true of your teenage protagonist.

I've said this before, but it's important: there is an enormous difference between intelligence and experience, and teens are far from stupid . Yes, they make decisions that adults feel are stupid, but guess what? Adults make decisions teens feel are stupid, too.

When your teenaged protagonist makes decisions, you can be easily tempted to make them idiots for the sake of moving your plot along. Don't. Even the nineteen-year-old boy who drives like a fool is actually thinking about it; he's not stupid. He assumes he won't he be hurt or hurt anyone else because he hasn't yet, or he's gotten away with it. He's prideful or selfish, but there's a far cry between that and idiocy.

The mistake/growth pattern that comprises most solidly good YA books is the development of maturity , not intelligence.

We all gain maturity as we grow older. We learn by doing and experiencing things; we learn from consequences, good and bad. So will your teenaged protagonist. The decisions and choices that character makes must be generated by an intelligent but potentially ignorant person—someone who doesn't know what will happen if they press the button, or hopes it won't happen to them. Not someone who is an idiot, but someone who hopes for a specific outcome, and has no life-experience to tell them whether or not it will work.

Tip Number Four for Writing Young Adult Fiction: World-Awareness

I hang around on a little site called Tumblr, and I don't do it for the memes. I do it for the people: the average age of a Tumblr user is far lower than the age of users on other social networks (apart from things like Snapchat), and I can genuinely say that they are well-informed, invested in world-events, deeply moved by social issues, and highly critical of politicians. (Heck, if you want to see the current distribution-by-age via social platform, you can read about it here .)

I'm not saying to go to Tumblr for your news. Very often, these enthusiastic young people miss the point of what happened, or make assumptions about trouble in the world. However, they're aware of what happened, and that's the point.

These kids read the news, or watch it.

These kids are aware, informed, and deeply passionate about multiple real-life issues.

And many of these kids are still too young to vote. That doesn't stop them from knowing what they're talking about when they compare politics or health-care systems.

See, this is what it's like to be a teenager today: the world is at their fingertips. It's common for a seventeen-year-old young woman in New Jersey to be informed and angry about issues affecting Melbourne, Australia.

If you're writing YA before the internet age, this won't be the case. If you're writing YA set anytime after the internet became a household thing, this is the reality. Your young people will be aware of what's going on outside their own country.

Above All, Remember Young Adults are People Too

Your teenage protagonist is a person—a person with growing to do, a person who may not yet know who they are or what they want, but a person.

Teenagers are people. If you keep that in mind and don't try to create your characters based on some weird “This Is Teens” algorithm, you will be fine.

Has this impacted your view of YA? Let us know in the comments section .

It's time to put this into practice. Your task today is to write a modern teenaged protagonist having a conversation with an adult. It can be about world events, about some decision the teen wants to make that the adult doesn't like (but make sure to include the teen's reasons), or even just a confession about what happened at school.

Take fifteen minutes and dive into the rich thought-life and emotional tapestry of your young character. When your time is up, post your practice in the comments section . If you post, don't forget to comment on someone else's work.

Ruthanne Reid

Best-Selling author Ruthanne Reid has led a convention panel on world-building, taught courses on plot and character development, and was keynote speaker for The Write Practice 2021 Spring Retreat.

Author of two series with five books and fifty short stories, Ruthanne has lived in her head since childhood, when she wrote her first story about a pony princess and a genocidal snake-kingdom, using up her mom’s red typewriter ribbon.

When she isn’t reading, writing, or reading about writing, Ruthanne enjoys old cartoons with her husband and two cats, and dreams of living on an island beach far, far away.

P.S. Red is still her favorite color.

55 Comments

Hey Ruthanne,

I’m a teenager working on a YA novel at the moment and as a teenager myself and writer, I can say that all these things ring true and are core to the novel. The voice of a YA author has to be fresh and modern but still timeless. I tend not to use brand names at all, because those in the UK/US/Europe mightn’t know them and/or time moves on and these brands disappear. Just like Mom Jeans. 😉 You’re right. Slang is SO cringe-worthy and it doesn’t work at all.

I think Suzanne Collins effectively portrays teenagers in a modern but still timeless way. I’m still working on my novel. I’m at 80,000 at the moment and will get editing soon. Its far fetched to think it’ll be published but maybe, it might. Who knows. Really enjoyed this article! Loved it!

You can totally get it published, send out query letters when it’s done! Good luck!

Thanks so much! Good luck with your writing too. 🙂 Here’s to teenage writers!

Hey, Sylvia, good luck with your novel. I hope it gets published soon.

Thank you Anna! 🙂

Thanks, Silvia! I completely agree; Collins did a fantastic job, which makes those books timeless.

And congratulations on getting that far with your novel! That is SUCH a great feeling. And it could be published – and if not that, another one. Don’t give up and keep writing! 🙂

and not even just brand names; just words can be different in different countries, like in a practice up above, kitchen “bench” is a UK – at least – term, not one used in the US – we’d say “counter”, not sure how that should be handled

What a great post! I’m a teenager so I’m glad I get the privilege of commenting from that perspective.

One of the most annoying things to me is when a writer tries to write modern slang into the story in order to look “hip, cool, and appealing to young people”. Unless you have a specific type of character and you use it to display an aspect of their personality, don’t do it. Not every kid in the story should say things like YOLO, BFF, or the like. But, as I said, I would make exception for a specific character.

Another example of an exception would be teenagers that sound like adults. Because some do and sometimes this works. Take a look at Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars. I noticed that a lot of times he speaks like an adult and it works quite well in the story. However, the author doesn’t treat all his characters like this. Augustus’ friend drops the F bomb every other sentence (Which, by the way, cussing is another thing to look out for).

All in all, I would say it depends on your character. Don’t look at them as simply a teenager, look at them as a character. Some characters (albeit annoying ones) will say “OMG, girl! You look so hot in those high wasted shorts!” Others will say “The loss of stability in domestic life is a great factor in the decline of our economy”. Others will curse like sailors, others will hardly speak, others will speak their mind, etc. But that key is to treat them like unique individuals.

Thanks for the great post!

“Don’t look at them as simply a teenager, look at them as a character.” This is great advice. I think some writers have a tendency to generalise and stereotype teenagers. Remembering that no person (teenager or adult) will ever have exactly the same experiences – which means they all develop differently, with different world views – is so important. Thanks for this, Katherine!

Thanks. I think it’s important for us as writers, like you said, not to generalize and stereotype anyone. Period. Whatever demographic the character might be from, we should treat them like a unique individual, like you said, who develops differently and has different world views. Nobody is ever just a stereotype in the real world so we shouldn’t make characters stereotypes in fiction.

Yes! Exactly! I’ve seen this precise problem crop up all over, really – for the elderly, for genders different from the author’s, for various ethnicities.

Yep, I’m another teenager replying to this post, albeit a younger one. Anyway, I do agree on the point you made about slang. Unless the teen in question has a specific reason for saying those things, I think it’s best to avoid it. As mentioned by Katherine below, it really comes down to the character. Different people develop their vocabulary differently, and (I hate to put it this way) the maturity level of the character also makes a huge difference.

Thanks, Joseph! You’re completely right. I was the kind of dorky teen who used big words just because I had them. I use more slang now than I did then!

Hello, yet another teenager tossing in her opinion! I’d say you got everything pretty much spot on. I agree with my fellow teenage posters when it comes to slang – it’s important to make teenage characters sound authentic, but their voice has to fit them, and that means they won’t necessarily sound like a “normal” kid. Something else to think about is that teenagers have a tendency to alter their speech patterns depending on who they’re with. With my parents and teachers, I sound almost like an adult (or at least I think I do). With my friends and other kids, I swear like a sailor and use a lot more slang. So that’s something to keep in mind.

Anyway, in the spirit of the prompt, here’s a piece from my WIP. Reviews are always appreciated!

I propped my bike in the drive and hopped up the stairs, digging for my key in my backpack. Mom opened the door just as I found it. You made such a big deal about giving me this thing and then never give me a chance to use it. Geez.

“Hi honey! How was your first day?”

“Fine.” I dumped my backpack on the floor and went for the kitchen. Do we have granola bars?

“Did Dad’s map help you out?”

“Yup,” I said, lying through my teeth. I opened the cabinet by the fridge. Why do we have so many boxes of stuff? We can’t possibly eat all this.

“That’s good! Do you like your teachers?”

“They’re fine.”

“Just fine?”

“Well, I mean yeah, they were alright. I only just met them, Mom.” Raspberry power bars? Ew.

“Oh, okay. Do you have classes with any of your friends?”

“Raja is in my Spanish class. And I have lunch with her and Julia and the others.”

“That’s nice, you haven’t seen them in a while. Anyone else you know?”

“I have some classes with Alicia.” Maybe there are granola bars in the other cabinet.

“You two seem to be getting along well.”

“I’ve been to her house like once.”

“And it seemed to me like you enjoyed it.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Maybe you should invite her over sometime.”

“Maybe.” Aha! Granola bars! I grabbed one and tore it open.

“Do you have any homework?”

“No, just a bunch of papers to get signed.”

“Alright, well, I’ll take a look at them after dinner.”

“What are we having?”

“How does pork chops sound?”

Meh. “Sounds fine.”

“Great. Dad will be home around 4:30, he has to stay late for a faculty meeting.”

“Okay.” I started upstairs to my room.

“I’m glad you had a good first day!” I turned around. Mom was smiling strangely. Her lips were pulled tight. I wondered if maybe she was worried about something. Probably a deadline.

“Okay.” I kept going up the stairs. I never said it was a good day.

Now that was a typical scene with me and my daughter. What she didn’t realize though, was that I could read her thoughts exactly. If this mom was worried about something, it could also be because she knew her daughter didn’t have a good first day of school. But of course not all moms are mind readers, especially with all the bills, tasks and deadlines spinning like a crazy carousel in her head. The point I want to make is– don’t think that parents, moms especially, are totally clueless on what’s going on with their teens. Just my 2-cent worth. On a higher note, I really think you’ve done great. I love the dialogue– it’s on point.

I liked the end quite a bit, with the moms tight lipped smile, giving us insight into her character, and the daughters comment of “I never said it was a good day” which was a great ending sentence.

However, I did feel that there was a lack of intrigue in the beginning and middle. There was no conflict, accept for the hunting of the granola bar and a sight sense that the daughter was unwilling to have a conversation. Maybe give some history? Maybe the mother has a demanding job and the daughter feels like she doesn’t care or listen. The mother is making an effort but the daughter has been hurt so many times in the past that she doesn’t care anymore. Maybe instead of a granola bar hunting we can have flash backs to the bad parts of the day in between the dialogue. Just throwing some stuff out there.

But you’re descriptions are very good and it’s the little things that can make a story feel real. And this did feel very real. Good job on that. 🙂

I love this. The parent, trying so hard to be involved in her child’s life, but only hear what she wants to – and the teenager, letting it pass, only sharing what’s required. This is a very true-to-life scene, and sad on all sides. Great job.

Great beginning. You made me want to read more. I love that you and Lauren can characterize how the parents react and your main characters try to understand them. Not all teens are selfish. You proved Ruthanne’s points from her post!

I’m a teenager, and I think the majority of this post is accurate. To emphasize your point about slang: for the love of all that is dear to you don’t use it. If I picked up a book and saw the words “YOLO” and “swag” I think I would die a lot inside. To me, slang degrades what a writer is trying to say. It makes the words around it sound cheaper and less authentic, and I feel cheated as a reader. Another trap that a lot of YA writers seem to fall into is featuring the same stereotypical cliques, protagonists, and antagonists. Cheer leaders can be nice and nerds can be bullies. Goths can smile (gasp) and the bright kids aren’t all perfect.

Tumblr is an … interesting social site. I do have a tumblr, but I can’t stand to be on there for more than ten minutes at a time because of the so-called “informed” bloggers with no comprehension of economics going on and on about the wonders of Bernie Sanders. My point is, not all of us agree on all issues, and not all of us are as left on the political spectrum as the Tumblr majority. If social issues are representative in your writing, include pieces of the other side.

Again, the above is just my opinion. This is a wonderful post, thank you so much for sharing it!

Hahaha! I know just what you mean. They’re doing Bernie fanart now. FANART.

And exactly – not all teenagers are the same, which is kind of the point I was trying to make. I grew up conservative, actually, though I’m solidly independent now.

I love your comment. Thanks for sharing!

Illuminating post for all writers, Ruthanne!

Now I’m all psyched up with writing my first YA story, thanks for this enlightening post. I also loved reading what the teens in this community had to say. I’m 50 and a mom of three teenagers so I know how it is, not to mention– hey, I was a teenager once too! Maybe the fashion styles, technology and language have changed since, but I still remember how it felt to be looked down on because you’re young and inexperienced, like the word STUPID was written between your brows. That’s why I treat my children with respect and actually listen to what they say. As much as I give them good advice that came from experience, I also learn a lot from their wisdom that came from untainted innocence.

You’re so welcome, Anna! I think it’s really easy to forget what it was like to BE young often, but as you said, remembering that feeling of condescension is just critical. Lack of experience can mean stupid decisions, but so can lots of experience, which leads to fear of trying new things. Thanks for your comment!

“CARA, I CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS! HOW STUPID ARE YOU?” My aunt throws my phone, and before I can get out of the way it collides with my nose. “Who was it?” My father demands. He stands behind me, his back turned. I can deal with being hit. I can deal with anything my Aunt decides to call me. But this, my own Dad, turning his back on me? It hurts. The I’d-rather-be-stabbed-than-feel-like-this kind of hurt. “Her name-” I say, staring at my feet “- is Ariana. To answer your question, Aunt Jen, I left because she said she needed me.” I don’t know why they do not understand the word “Depression.” My Aunt doesn’t get emotional about anything except for animals and movies. My father thinks only in terms of logic, and Depression is far from logical, I suppose. “What could she possibly need you for at one o’clock in the morning.” she counters. “To be there.” I reply. “For what? Is she gay? Ew, don’t tell me. I made the mistake of reading your text messages, Ms. Bisexual. That isn’t even possible, you’re either one or the other. In fact, I had better never hear you talking about that sh*t in front of my kids. I don’t need all that crap in their heads. And then you run off with that little cry baby friend of yours all night. You know what, I’m done with you. Go to your room. You’re not eating tonight. I don’t even want to look at you.” I lose it. I bite my lip, throw my head up as high as I can, and turn to face her. “B*tch.” I spit, looking her dead in the eyes. Then I sprint as fast as I can upstairs into my room and lock the door behind me. I get over the shock of actually saying that word, I crawl into my closet and pull myself into a ball. Then I start shaking, my eyes get blurry, and everything that’s supposed to be in my chest isn’t there any more. I think of everything I wanted to say downstairs. “Why did you sneak out?” “She texted me at 1:00am and said she needed me. Ariana is the strongest person I know, and she has had to deal with a lot lately. We’ve been best friends for years, and that is what you do when they are hurt. You go to them, and you be with them.” “What did you two do for six hours?” “I talked to her, calmed her down. Then we just kinda sat there.” They wouldn’t believe me if I told them. I’m only fifteen, how can I know anything? How can I sneak out to comfort a friend rather than sleep with a guy? How can I, a straight A student, possibly do such a thing? I stop crying and start cursing my family under my breath, then I realize how awful everything I’m saying is and apologize under my breath and start crying even harder. I wish that they would listen to me for once. That they would try to see my side instead of making me see their side. That, for once, when I try to explain how sometimes people get sad for no reason, or can hardly get up in the morning, they believe me. That sometimes I get sad too for no reason, and that I want to deal with everything like an adult but I can’t because I feel so much I can’t think and have to do instead. That Ariana and I both lost someone last night, which will be our third funeral this year. I almost miss the ghost of the knock on my door. “Hello?” I call softly, safe in the dark of my closet. There’s a scratching sound, then the door opens, and I hear the quiet thud of my father’s boots on the carpet. He opens the closet door and kneels beside me. “I want you to tell me everything… and I promise I’ll believe you. Just tell me what’s going on.” I fall into him, and he pulls me into his chest and keeps me there for awhile.

Lauren – I loved this!! For such a short piece, I was surprised to feel a connection to the main character. I wanted to learn more about her. Great job!

I loved this! You really nailed the complex emotions of a teenage girl, while still keeping her relatable and likeable. And kudos for addressing the some of the challenging issues that teenagers face.

Wow. The feels man. The feels. Do you ever want to just steep into a story and give a character a hug and cry with them and tell them it will be okay? Because I do, right now. And that, my friend, takes some good writing. Awesome job.

Incredible. Love it.

This is so beautiful – and so true to life. Fantastic practice, Lauren.

Very realistic story, Lauren. You write with authenticity. Glad to have read your piece this morning. I am writing about characters younger than yours, but I still learn from other writers such as you. Thank you for sharing. I am looking for other writers on TWP who would like to share middle grade fiction writing, not teen YA chapters. If you are looking for other Middle Grade writers, please respond to me.

This post is so refreshing. Thank your for noting that we are humans, too. I’m a teenager about to publish a YA novel. I agree, slang in fiction is generally disgusting, unless your name is Anthony Burgess.

Thanks a ton, Victoria! And CONGRATULATIONS! That’s awesome!

I’m a teenager too, so thank you so much for this post! I hate contemptuous adults who write down to teenagers–it’s my pet peeve in YA and is the reason why I barely read it anymore. And you’re right: the rule of thumb is to treat teenagers like people. Slang is also something to avoid, because it can be distracting and makes the characters seem shallow. We teenagers can smell fear. We know when you’re talking down to us, so just be sincere!

Haha! “We can smell fear” – oh my word. I’m going to be giggling about that all day. 😀 It’s also true. Thanks so much for chiming in, Rosie!

I didn’t read every reply here, but my writing practice has been about young adults and after 5 years of living with 8 fictional teens I self published a part of their successful life of being what was known as, “The Best Friend Gang” My first novel I enjoyed so much my plans are to return to them and the meaning of BFF in their young adult life. Amazon, and Kindle direct.com

Good for you, Clifford!

Brilliant, since I recently spoke about something similar, when a friend of my daughters read my book (Molly Blue & The Quill Of Two lives https://www.createspace.com/4689634 ) she commented on the characters as being too smart because kids do not talk like that, (They are twelve going on thirteen, because ask any kid, the day after you turn twelve is the start of your thirteenth year…and so on). A bit confused, because she is in her early 20’s, I had to ask her if she has ever spoke to kids that age, and how can she not remember being that age? Because I still remember my own teen and preteen years,(And I’m 55) plus I have a lot of nieces and nephews, who I have watched grow up over the past 35 years (some having kids of their own now) and I’ve sat around at parties, family gatherings, birthdays and so on, listening and talking to them (unless I feel I might be butting in, I just know when to stay out of their conversations) my point is, yes they are quite intelligent (like the kids in my book) with their imaginings about what could be and interactions with whats going on in the world around them, (be it neighborhood, family members or what ever else they consider important), their own wants, needs, circumstances and each other, since that is their world!

I love this, SM! Yes, they are very intelligent. I think when adults forget how clever kids are, they’re showing signs of what C. S. Lewis called chronological snobbery: assuming anything that came before (such as youth) is automatically stupid. 🙂

Thank you so much for writing this! I really love this post because as a teenager, the most frustrating thing I constantly see is authors “dumbing down” teens to where they act stereo typically how the media portrays them.

Teenagers are very aware of the world we live an and the problems we face, and if we’re being angsty, it’s because all of these seemingly insurmountable problems bother us, and on top of that, the older generations criticize us, often simply for being different than they were as teens. Don’t make your teenage characters have trouble grasping simple philosophical concepts.

Instead of looking at them as teenagers, look at them as still being on their way up to reaching adulthood, just as any character has a messy, but necessary character arc. Treat your characters as unique individuals. I think should apply to any age, gender, or ethnicity, not just teenagers in fiction.

Thanks, Savannah! It drove me crazy when I was a teen, and it drives me crazy now. 🙂 It’s such a crazy thought that teens are just people, eh? 😉

(Here’s an excerpt from my novel. Itzel is 12, Juan is 13. I especially want to know what the teens here think!)

Passing by the bee logs, it struck Itzel that no one was about. On the eve of every full moon, the Elders gathered here to perform a brief ceremony for the bees before they headed into the forest to bless the sacred tree.

Qué raro, she thought. How strange, maybe the Elders are a little behind. Or maybe I’m early. She looked up at the tree line where the sun was setting: no, her timing was just right. She shrugged it off: Maya time was natural time—it ebbed and flowed without concern for those painfully specific nuggets called seconds and minutes.

“Hola Itzi. ¿Donde vas?” (Hi Itzi. Where are you going?)

Itzel turned, surprised. She knew the voice too well: her brother Juan. This was less than convenient.

“Hola Juan. ¿Y tu que haces aquí?” (Hi Juan. And what are you doing here?)

“Maybe the same as you, hermana.”

Itzel looked at her brother, trying to read him. He’d always been the enigmatic type. No matter how close they were in age, no matter that they were almost always together, Itzel had never felt close to Juan, at least not the kind of closeness she’d always thought a sister should feel for a brother. It seemed every time she tried to warm up to him, he’d pull away. Yet he was fiercely protective of her, putting every boy who tried to befriend her under relentless scrutiny. Especially the non Maya ones who visited the research station.

“What do you mean?” Itzel had an uneasy feeling in her stomach.

“Remember what the Elders say. We are the keepers of sacred things. Not the outsiders.”

Itzel stood blindsided for a moment. Did Juan know about the sacred tree? Had he followed her and Max that morning?

She recalled then the night that Don Rigoberto told Itzel the story of her sleeping next to her animal guide, the Jaguar. He’d warned her not to tell anyone about her destined path in life. No one, he had said, no matter how close.

“What about mi mama, papá… mi hermano, my brother?” she had asked.

“Especially not your brother,” Don Rigoberto had said. She had always thought that a bit extreme, but her gut was telling her now to listen.

She stood there looking at Juan.

“Bueno, and who are the outsiders, Juan?”

Juan cocked his head in that characteristic way of his, his jet black hair falling away from his face. He looked at Itzel with that penetrating, teasing look that always got to her.

“Estás enamorada con uno, parece.” (You’re in love with one, it seems.)

Itzel automatically blushed, despite herself. Secretly furious with Juan, she stepped up to him, tall and proud, inches away from his face.

“Bueno, hermano, uno de estos días me va a tocar enamorarme, ¿no crees?” (Well, brother, one of these days I’m going to have to fall in love, don’t you think?)

“Love blinds, Itzel. Don’t give away the sacred things of our people to someone just because they melted your heart. Fuerza, hermana.”

Juan pressed his gaze into hers, as if to imprint the words into her memory. Then he turned and was gone.

Itzel took a deep, frustrated breath. She had an appointment to keep.

What an interesting little scene between these two! I like it!

I might suggest sticking with one language after the first indication they’re not speaking English, but that’s a minor thing to be worked out later. The brother seems very mysterious!

This is an excerpt from a book I did on Wattpad that was supposed to be based on subjects like heartbreak and emotional teen romance etc. If you are a person who ever suffered the horrible ailment of heartbreak, I would love to hear your thoughts (and everyone else’s too :D)

An alarm clock resounded through the darkness. Alex’s sweaty, pale hand reached out and swatted the top of it, silencing the clock’s aggravating chirps. “That memory again…” he groaned. Worry rose within Alex as he couldn’t recognise his surroundings. But as he looked around the dark, grey wooden walls, his panic died down. “Oh, that’s right…” he muttered to himself. “I’m at the dorm…” He threw his quilt off onto the floor and rose out of bed to a loud downpour of rain outside. Not feeling brave enough to walk around in a T-shirt and dark briefs, even in his own room, he put on a pair of carelessly placed, neglected jeans and walked out into the living room, his feet instantly chilled by the cold, white tiles. He walked over to a small black stereo stuck onto the wall near the kitchen bench, which glowed blue as he opened it. He then pushed three buttons and not even a second later, Chopin’s ‘Raindrop’ echoed throughout the room, strengthening the lonely atmosphere of the rain outside. Alex scratched the front of his wavy brown hair and walked over to a pile of sand-coloured boxes that sat alone in a dark corner. He picked up the Stanley knife next to the boxes, clicking it until nearly half the blade stuck out. He reached into the sea of bubble wrap and newspaper within the box and pulled out several small objects. Statuettes, books even small antique weapons and placed them in different places around the room. Alex continued this routine, with an almost mindless apathy, until he saw the last object in the box. An object that made his heart sink like a heavy weight. A photo frame. A photo frame with her in it. “I forgot about you…” he said to it sadly. His body trembling with anxiety, he carefully reached into the darkness of the box, as if the box might come to life and bite his hand. He lifted out the frame gingerly and placed it on the shelf in front of him and sighed. “It’s been three weeks, huh, Charlie?” he said to the photo as he put it down. “Three weeks since you kissed my best friend…”

Thank you for reading this, even if it was a bit long :/

I like what you’ve written. The last sentence has me wanting more. One thing I have noticed is that the name Alex is probably the most common guy’s name used in YA literature. Even I have an Alex in my novel, so I think I’ll be changing his name. Also what you’ve written is third person narrative. I read in an on-line poll that most teen readers prefer a first person point of view. I guess that teens like to have that first hand experience or like to live vicariously through the protagonist. Holly Black, a well known YA writer, writes from a third person narrative and it works well. I really like her books.

Thank you for your advice 😀

Poor guy! I know this feeling all too well. I think you nailed it.

Thanks very much 😀 Haha I think most people can relate to Alex a bit :/ In the later part of the book, the romance gets a lot more awkard between the two since Alex’s best friend (and crush) is also in love with his other best friend James. He wants her more than anything, but he doesn’t want to ruin things between them 🙁 A LOT of emotional stuff in that novel! 😀

I know this might be a little late since you posted this almost 2 months ago but I have to say I really like the way you wrote this. I’ve read a range of different books on Wattpad and I like that if I saw this on the site, it’s something that would stand out; mainly because of the use of third person narrative as most people use first person (I find it so hard to write in third person so usually opt for first person). I write teen/YA romance too but being a teenager and having never been in a relationship myself, it is a lot harder than I thought to write it. Again, I think you’ve got that sympathy sort of feeling across. I feel sorry for Alex and the heartbreak he obviously went through and even though I’ve never experienced such heartbreak myself, I empathise and I understand too. I think you’ve succeeded if you’ve managed to conjure up that empathy in me.

Thank you very much Iqra 😀

it’s not just teen romance; my 38 yr. old son just went through this; he said the hurt over his best friend’s betrayal with his girlfriend is actually worse than the hurt of the girlfriend falling in love with the best friend; that he shouldn’t have taken up with her even if she did start having feelings for him

Hi, I am Mikey. Brilliant article here! I am a huge reader and a teen. I have been a beta reader for short bit and I hope to do more. My focus is on what is real. From a teen guy’s angle I wish more YA writers understood what you shared here.

Teen characters who are fake can kill a good story. Personally, I think YA writers must to nail the teen POV to make their stories fly.

I have set some gigs on Fiverr for being a beta reader, if anyone is interested in getting a fresh opinion from a teen’s perspective. To learn more about me you can also go to my site: gogetmikey.weebly.com

Thanks for your blog post and letting me share here.

Thank you for this article, Ruthanne. It captures just what I was looking to find (Read: agreement ;)). I’m currently querying a YA SF/SO that is set in the far future, and my MC is a 16-year-old boy, who–like (I’m hoping) most boys of his generation–is educated, informed, and morally aware, a reflection of his “evolved” society. In his case, he’s not very experienced, but the maturity of the Mind is present. Still, I get a fair amount of comments that he doesn’t seem his age. How does one counter this, having only one character his age in the MS? Should all MCs of a certain age act/think like current young adults do, regardless of their world or time period? Your article suggests not, but how does one show that best in narrative without giving the wrong impression early on?

Hey guys, really love the post, it’s very useful. I am 15 and recently I started getting really interested in creative writing, to more specific ‘young adult fiction’ creative writing. English is not my strongest suit but I think there’s always room for improvement. Below is my go in the practice exercise given above. Please be honest and tell me what you think, I would really appreciate honest and critical feedback, thanks.

I gritted my teeth while mom stares at me. I finally had the courage to look up and faced my mom. I could see everything from her eyes; she was disappointed. “Jane,” She sighed. “Tell me why you did do it, why did you punch her?” I looked back down onto the brown wooden floor, avoiding her stare. It was like a death stare, and I hated it every time she did it. Riddled with guilt, I finally replied, “she was such a bitch mom, I mean look at her, she’s been asking to get beaten up ever since she came.” Mom shakes her head and finally lifts away her stare. She covered her face in disbelief. “Do you know I had to miss my shift just to pick you up in school?” She asked. “Yes.” “I’ll have to come back to work and cover what I missed.” She seemed frustrated, so I chose just to remain silent, I thought that was a wise decision. She’ll never understand what I’m saying anyways, speaking would only prolong the argument. “I’ll be coming home much later,” she said as she stood up and picked her bag up, “There is spaghetti in the fridge, and please, once you’re done, don’t forget to place the plates in the dishwasher.” I nod my head, and she opened the door, “do your homework first, then watch TV. And only an hour of TV, no more! Okay?” I nod my head once again, she then slammed the door and rushed towards the car. I could hear her footsteps of her high-heels clamping against the gravel. I placed my ears on the door and made sure that she has driven as far away as I possibly could. Once I heard no trace of the car, I relieved myself and headed towards my room. I turned on the lights, it’s the same as always, my bed against the right corner of the chamber and my wardrobe at the opposite side. I lied down in relief that she was gone, but it felt really boring. I got up and started towards the closet, I took off my dress, then my bra and my shoes. I opened my closet and then I pulled out my tank tops and shorts. Before I entered the shower, I picked up my iPhone, opened the contacts app and searched for Jeff. It took about a minute before he finally answered. “Hey,” Jeff replied. “Babe, my mom ain’t here, wanna crash?”

“I’m going to have sex with my boyfriend, dad,” Jennifer screamed at her father. The touchy subject matter ignited like a flame on a charcoal grill, mostly because of the rather low-cut top Jennifer was sporting. Her breasts were playing a very suggestive game of hide and seek from underneath her revealing white halter top, but her dad had no intentions of letting olly olly oxen free. “You are out of your mind, if you think I’m letting you go out like that,” Brandon explained. Poor Brandon felt like an old-style train whistle, as the steam seemed to blow from his very ears. “Over my dead body!” “I’m eighteen-years-old…” “And you still live under my roof, young lady.” “Everyone is doing it, dad,” Jennifer explained. “Scarlet Sicario got over three hundred likes on Twitter and two hundred on Facebook when she and Greg Johnson…” “Why would anyone post that on the internet?” “Why wouldn’t we, dad?” “Just because there’s an app for everything doesn’t mean you have to post your life story for all to see.” “Well, according to Black Veil Brides…” “Who the hell is Black Veil Brides?” “They’re a band, dad.” “No, KISS is a band,” Brandon said. “Who?” “Go to your room.” Jennifer scuffled her feet like an umpire cleaning off home plate, while Brandon thought his head was literally going to explode like a grenade taking out the entire living area of his two-story colonial. “You and mom had sex when you were teenagers,” Jennifer said. “I’m living proof. And at least I’ll be smart enough to use a condom and not get knocked up like you two did.” “Go to your room!”

From what I’m reading, all I can tell for sure is that I should just write a book from the perspective of a teen, and change little else about my writing.

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Writing for Young Adults: How to Create Exceptional Literature

“I wrote a few children’s books…not on purpose.”–Steven Wright.

It can feel that way sometimes, when I am writing for young adults. Finding the right voice which speaks to both (Young Adult) YA and adult audiences can prove maddeningly elusive. But conscious effort to understand your chosen genre and audience, and to speak to them accordingly, can make every difference.

Understanding Writing for Young Adults: Genre and Audience

Some insist YA owes its American genesis to Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye; some point back to Twain and Alcott; others have taken to ascribing YA to some works of that Shakespeare fellow. And there are those who take umbrage at the notion that YA even constitutes a legitimate genre.

But Young Adult fiction–fiction geared, let’s say, toward readers 16-25 (give or take) is as legitimate a genre as any other. To suggest otherwise is an insult to an enthusiastic readership numbering in the millions, more than half of which is comprised of adults. As with any genre, there is good YA and bad. The writer who knows the difference is well-served indeed.

What Great YA Does for Us

Great YA makes us feel something. Young adults relate because they are feeling some of those very things. Adults relate too, because at one point in their lives, they felt some of those things too. I think of The Outsiders, which S.E. Hinton penned as a teenager herself, and which I first read as a young teen. It is simple and powerful in its classic YA themes of young love, the perils and pain of socioeconomic divides, and, of course, coming of age.

I concur with Meg Wolitzer who contends that it’s not just a sense of “verisimilitude” in good YA which lures in the adults . The S.E. Hintons of the world aside, most YA is penned by (and, as we’ve already established, consumed by) adults. They are taking a journey back in time (even if a story is futuristic, it is going back in time in the sense that it is told through the eyes of YA protagonists), and hopefully presenting it in a manner that resonates with YA and adult audiences alike.

Great YA is every bit as much about the words in which these characters live—the experiences, milestones, feelings, and conflicts that have them faltering at that precipice between youth and adulthood. Good YA does more than tip its nostalgic cap to those good ‘ol days. The pervasiveness of depression and suicide among teens is a sobering reminder that if something is felt strongly enough, it is a reality, no matter how many well-intended folks assure us it just comes with the territory, or that we’ll outgrow it. Great YA mines this rocky terrain, a place where young adults struggle to find their footing at the nexus of two worlds. There is something powerful in speaking to an audience in a way they understand, in a way that tells them you understand them. Great YA does this. It is a place where hope still lives.

What Role Do the Language Arts Play in Writing for Young Adults?

The Lewises, Alcotts, Riordans, and Rowlings of the world make it look easy but for mere mortals such as myself, it can prove an oh-so-elusive balance: writing for young adults in a way that speaks to—but not above—them, while also speaking to—but not below—adults? Perhaps most of Rowling’s magic is conjured in her richly drawn characters and the dark and exhilarating world in which she placed them. Let’s sample a small bit from chapter one of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

The two men took their allotted places. Most of the eyes around the table followed Snape, and it was to him that Voldemort spoke first.

“My Lord, the Order of the Phoenix intends to move Harry Potter from his current place of safety on Saturday next, at nightfall.”

The interest around the table sharpened palpably.

Unremarkable, but that is my point: there are hundreds of thousands of similar passages I could have excerpted from the series, any one of which flows seamlessly, any one of which simply works.

The two men took their allotted places.

Allotted . No big thing, and yet, everything. Word choice matters.

Rowling might have gone with: designated , assigned , given . And each of those would have been fine. But allotted catches my eye because I have seen words like that questioned in YA work. As in, do teens really talk like that?

I push back just a little against such litmus tests, commonly tendered though they are. I do not always subscribe to the notion that the voice of a third-person narrator must always equate identically with that of the protagonist. It best not deviate wildly, but what is important in this consideration is a narrative voice that reconciles ably with the age, voice and world of the protag. I have faith in young readers, and also do not wish to alienate adults with oversimplified language.

As with anything, the pendulum can swing to an extreme, and must be re-centered. Those who tend toward the other extreme—who in their justifiable fear of losing young readers by sending them scrambling endlessly to the (probably online) dictionary–risk reducing things to painfully rudimentary levels.

Balance, my friends. Balance.

Let’s briefly revisit the Potter passage.

Palpably. Let’s try this again: do most teens speak in this manner? Not many. Rowling could have perhaps opted for noticeably, or visibly. But palpably sticks a little better, singes the meaning a bit more hotly onto the page. If some young readers need to look it up, so be it.

When all’s said and done…

If you love YA then keep on reading it (here is but one of many YA lists you could consult ), and if you love writing for young adults, keep on doing that too.

Stay focused on your target: target genre, target audience.

Your weapons of choice are: story, character, language, voice.

And if you are guided by a commitment to speak authentically to your readership, your aim shall be true

Tell me your opinion: Do you enjoy YA, or do you agree with some of its critics? What additional traits should be stressed in writing for young adults? What are some of your favorite works?

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Daryl Rothman’s novel The Awakening of David Rose , will be released September 9, 2019, by EvolvedPublishing. He has written for a variety of esteemed publications, and recognitions include Flash Fiction winner for Cactus Moon Press, Flash Fiction second place winner for Amid the Imaginary, and Honorable Mention for Glimmer Train’s prestigious New Writer’s Award Contest. Daryl is on Twitter , LinkedIn , and Facebook . He’d love you to drop in for a visit at his website .

I think you’ve over complicated things here. Just treat it like any other story! Teens don’t mind reading adult book, what they don’t like is being talked down to. Teens are not that much different than adults when it comes to books. If the characters are enjoyable and the plot is intriguing than it doesn’t matter whether you use big words or not!

I agree with you, Sunny! I guess my story is YA, because the main characters are in their late teens and twenties, but I’m not really that concerned about what teens generally will like. I know it’s a story I would have liked as a teenager (and now), and I’m sure there are many others like myself–odd as I was (and still am).

But if someone is trying to create a big YA hit, it does make sense to think about the language and themes that will connect with a larger audience.

Thanks Sunny I concur–but I can’t tell you the number of posts I’ve read and comments from readers and editors cautioning that teens don’t talk that way, teens don’t want to use a dictionary…but I’m with you–if you have those other strong elements, that’s what matters most. That’s why I reference erring on side of NOT talking down to them. Thanks and best wishes!

Yeah, I think that the only place where it matter whether its some thing a teen would say is in dialog. As for possibly having to look up a word in the dictionary, often it’s easy to tell what the author meant by context. If the story is good and happen to see a word I don’t know, I often skip over with out a second thought.

Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Daryl!

Evelyn thanks for those perspectives and KM, thank YOU: always an honor!

Daryl, thank you! Your post was so helpful! I especially enjoyed this sentence: “Great YA mines this rocky terrain, a place where young adults struggle to find their footing at the nexus of two worlds.” — I think this explains a lot about why good YA speaks to adults. Don’t we all feel like we are “at the nexus of two worlds”?

Thank you Evelyn, and yes, I think we can all feel that way…:)

Thank you for your excellent insights and examples. 😀 I will need to reread this a couple of times.

The Representative isn’t YA (naturally, of course); writing it, however, the “four youths” had felt like a nod to the genre. Just as so much else in it felt like some nod to something.

The way I feel towards YA is the same as all other genre fiction: it’s genre, thereby in some context insincere – entertaining, and even humane perhaps, but still insincere.

Thanks Steve!

I appreciate the thoughts, Thomas…I hear you…I think it’s still possible to write something genuinely and passionately without being beholden to audience/genre to such extent as to forfeit the heart of what you’re writing about…I.e, become palpably formulaic. Every story may be send to have a primary audience and be classified in some way by someone…so long as tail doesn’t wag the dog, I think there’s hope. 🙂

Thanks for an awesome post, Daryl. I agree with you balance is everything. I have wondered about this, about word choice when writing for the YA market, but then I remembered the books I read in my youth. You don’t have to throw a dictionary into your writing stew and you don’t have to oversimplify things. Words carry the tone and atmosphere in a story. No matter the market you write for, you use the words that is appropriate to your narrative. In that sense when writing for YA I assume ones story intention is paramount.

Woelf thanks, I very much agree with you!

The coming of age story is as old as human culture itself. Perhaps that’s because we rely so heavily on stories to pass down the ways of surviving on to the next generation. And what more important lesson can there be than how to become an adult? How to take hold of the reins of the world, as all those before you have.

The great thing about books is that they give us a sense of shared experience, allowing us to tap into our innate desire to connect with the world around us. And when a book speaks to something so universal as the struggle to find one’s place in the world, well then it has the chance to become something truly beautiful.

Thanks for the great, though provoking post.

Thanks for the kind words and great insights Jake! Very eloquently stated! Take care-

This might sound a little unorthodox but the occasional swear word will definitely attract the attention of a young adult reader. I’m not saying that the entire story should be rife with foul language but a few correctly placed and congruent to the story does seem to work in my experience.

I am sixty-six years old and I read YA novels almost exclusively. As a child, I read the classics (Gulliver’s Travels, Treasure Island, Swiss Family Robinson) because that’s what my Dad would buy me. I also read The Famous Five and the Adventure series (Ship, Castle, River, Circus, Valley) by Enid Blyton. These days, it’s Garth Nix, Sharon Hink, Michael J Sullivan, Peter R Stone. Michael S. Federson. Some of the authors are well established and others are fairly new.

If I’m going to write YA, I feel the need to immerse myself in that genre. If you’re going to be a doctor, you don’t study horticulture. One reason I think I love reading YA so much is that I’ve never really grown up 🙂

80smetalman I concur regarding occasional expletives–if they fit and ring true which they very often can. And Lyn, thanks for the perspectives and I’m abundantly with you in stubbornly refusing to acquiesce to maturity…:)

Thanks Daryl

C.S. Lewis said that a book written only for children is not good even for children. Lewis took great pleasure in reading George MacDonald’s books, many of which were written for young adults. For myself, I first read Lewis’s classic Narinia series when I was in my sixties, and I remember it as one of the great experiences of my life. To put an age limit on books by people such as MacDonald, Lewis, or Rider Haggard seems not only foolish, but borders on being abusive.

Well . . . first, I think that even children are capable of understanding more than most adults believe they can. So, don’t sell them short. Yes, there’s a great deal that they don’t have the knowledge or experience with. So the language you use and the pacing you use has to be at a level they can understand. NOT talk down to, but explain in simple terms that even an adult can understand.

Second, the concepts can be adult, even if the language is kept to what the age level can handle — with some exceptions. Where a more advanced word fits better than a simplier word does, I tend to go for the more advanced. I faced this when I was reading in the ’50’s and ’60’s without the Internet and Google to help me define words, and it still worked. Today’s kids have the advantage over me in that respect.

Third, consistency, continuity and logic. That might seem like three things right there. Actually they’re not. Others might call it ‘plotting’. Me, I just let the characters figure out what was going on for themselves, but kept it consistent forward and backward — foreshadowing sometimes even a book ahead (I wrote 9 books, for fun. Three trilogies based on the same characters and universes). That consistency both ways helped keep what in movies is called ‘continuity’ alive and well. It also played into the logical progression of how the characters developed over time.

Fourth, have fun with your characters. ” ‘What do kids do?’, Muriel asked. And twelve voices responded, ‘Kids kid!’ ” How do kids of the age group that you’re writing about behave. Notice that I said, ‘that you’re writing about’. Not the age group that will be reading it. Your characters have to be believable. They each talk in slightly different ways, and with slightly different attitudes. That’s real. That’s the hook. So, have fun writing, and play the parts in your head.

My view on vocabulary in YA is that anything an adult can understand, a teenager likely will as well. I learned a lot of words from reading Harry Potter in my early teens, many of which I figured out through context clues rather than a dictionary. Variety in vocab is important in order to service the wide variety of literacy and interest levels, but again that’s not so different from what you’ll find in adult readers.

Thanks Ann, I concur. 🙂

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Creative Writing Prompts for Young Adult (YA) Fiction

Say what you want about YA novels, but they have an ability to capture the formative nature of teenage years that I’ve yet to see elsewhere.

Take Stephen Chbosky’s “ Perks of Being a Wallflower ” for example. It’s the quintessential story of the high school misfit finding his place. But by adding a history of sexual abuse and mental illness, Chbosky writes a story that shows the impact our teenage years have on our lives.

John Green does this in “ Looking for Alaska ” and “ Fault in Our Stars .” One chronicles the average life of a guy in boarding school who’s in love with the girl he can’t have. The other is simply a love story of teenagers who understand the importance of living your life. Yet somehow, Green takes seemingly straightforward plot lines and puts into words the unexplainable feeling of being an invincible teenager.

Of course, YA is done poorly as well. Just look at “Twilight” or “Divergent.” “Twilight” is about an unhealthy dependent relationship and “Divergent” is remarkably similar to other YA dystopian novels.

YA lit should be both a comfort and a challenge.

There’s nothing like a finishing a book like “ My Heart and Other Black Holes ” or “ Made You Up ” to find you’re not alone in your mental illness.

It’s great to read something like “ None of the Above ” and “ Ready Player One ” that force you to consider you beliefs.

But how can you make sure you fall in the category of successful and not reductive?

By writing a story that is relatable, not sentimental. By giving careful thought to the development of your characters and plot.

This is easy to read, but putting it into practice can be difficult. Sometimes, you just need that push to get you going.

Here are 50 creative writing prompts for YA that are sure to help you on your endeavor to write a meaningful story. Mix them up if you think that works best for you, but make sure that in the end, you have created something that has helped you and your writing.

Two helpful links for YA writers:

41 Top Agents for YA Fiction
30 Best Publishers of YA Novels

50 Creative Writing Prompts for YA Writers

A brother and sister discover their dad has been having an affair with their favorite counselor at school.
A girl is looking through old family albums with her mom and finds a picture of her as a child, sitting on the lap of man she doesn’t remember. She decides to find out who the man is.
In the span of one week, a high school senior in the heart of Los Angeles is dumped by his girlfriend and told by his parents that they’re separating. He decides to live with his dad and they move to the place he grew up, a very small farming town in central California.
A group of friends go to a party one night but wake up the next morning in a white tiled room with a one way mirror on one of the walls. They’re dressed in hospital gowns and each of them has a red scar on their right forearm.
After her mom has died from cancer, Rylie finds a bundle of envelopes addressed to her in her mom’s handwriting. She opens the one on top and finds a slip of paper that reads: Summer of ’77, 142 Brooks Ct, WA.
Josh is the only one who doesn’t pass the aptitude test, so when everyone else his age is moved to their new home, he is forced to stay with the Forsaken.
It’s been 7 months since the accident and 3 months of physical therapy. On his last day of therapy, Chris is told that the person who was the prime suspect in his case has been cleared of all charges.
The girl that Jordan’s been in love with for the past year gets into a major car accident, putting her in the hospital’s ICU.
After a memorial service ends, a daughter lingers at her dad’s spot and leaves flowers for him. When she comes back the next day, more flowers have been added by someone else.
When Kristin arrives for the first day of her new job, the store has been boarded up. She notices a note tucked under the doormat instructing her to go out back. When she does, she finds a door emitting a glowing green light.
Alyssa is diagnosed with Asperger’s the same month she starts high school.
Charlie heads back to his locker after class is let out but stops when he sees Marley, the girl he’s had a crush on throughout high school, standing beside his locker.
A group of kids who have been friends since first grade leave their senior prom and decide to go on a road trip before going their separate ways for college.
Ever since he was a little boy, Luke would spend every night in his backyard, lying on his back with Ashley and trying to name the constellations. But he can’t do that anymore.
Zac lined up with everyone else in their black gowns and mortar hats. Just as the procession was about to begin, he remembered his first day of junior year English, when she walked into class after it had already begun.

If you like these YA prompts, check out all the other creative writing prompts here at Bookfox.

photo writing prompts
musical prompts
creative nonfiction prompts
first line generators
While her roommate is out of town, Hannah is woken up by the sound of someone in her room.
The Collective only sought after teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17, and tomorrow was David’s 15th birthday.
September came and that meant it was time for the annual trip to the family cabin.
He woke up to excruciating pain and a blinding white light.
A month before graduating, a senior gets shunned by all five of her closest friends, and she can’t figure out why.
A guy live broadcasts a Ouija board session on Periscope, and though the people present don’t see anything special, his lone friend who was watching goes insane.
In his junior year, the high school quarterback is told by his doctor that because of several concussions he’s received, there is a risk of permanent brain damage if he plays football his senior year. Does he decide to play or not?
A male teenager who loves video games and organizes the chess club struggles with how to tell their parents that he wants to become a female.
After being together for 5 months, a high school couple decides to have sex for the first time.
A teenager with a 4.0 GPA is rejected by all twelve of the colleges she applied to, and decides to go to each college and confront each counselor who rejected her, demanding to know why they ruined her future.
The “it” couple on campus is forced to break up when one of them moves across country for college.
A teenager who has spent their entire life on a boat learns that there are other people in the world and they live on land.
A 14-year-old teenager who is a musical protege is diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.
A teenager makes candles and delivers them to the senior center where unbeknownst to her, her estranged grandfather lives.
A teenager in the foster care system who is relocated seven times in seven years finally finds a family which is loving and functional, until he discovers the father’s dark secret.
After being kicked out of their high school, a teenager is enrolled in the same boarding school his older sibling attended, and discovers there is a mysterious club there that he wants to join.
A high school basketball star is the prime suspect in a murder trial of his ex-girlfriend.
While all their friends are away for the summer, a soon-to-be senior spends his summer vacation working at the community pool, and falls in love with a girl in eighth grade.
A teenager thinks she has it made when she lands the hottest college guy, until he dies in a fiery car accident and she learns about all his other girlfriends.
After attending their first high school party, a freshman goes to school next week to learn that a video of her drunk and saying racist things is circulating around school.
Two days after finishing up his first year at college, a teenager realizes he’s in love with a girl who just graduated and moved back home to a different state.
While on a family vacation in Hawaii, Andrew tries surfing for the first time and receives help from one of the other surfers. It’s not until he gets back on shore that his brother tells him he just surfed with Kelly Slater.
On Natalie’s first day on the job as a white water rafting coach, she loses one of her rafters in the waves.
Instead of getting off on his exit, Charlie kept driving up the west coast until he hit the Canadian border.
After being teased throughout middle school, a teenager decides to lose weight. But he’s really doing it because he’s ashamed of his overweight parents.
After three failed suicide attempts, Liz’s doctor recommends she transfers to a new school.
A teenager keeps a book full of intimate conversations she has overheard at her school. One day it goes missing and little by little, the conversations are leaked to the entire school.
A teen’s mom abandons their family one night and leaves no trace of where she’s gone. But her children are determined to find her and learn why she left.
In the middle of the night, Nate receives a call from his best friend’s mom informing him that her son had committed suicide.
Lucy didn’t want middle of the night visits from her dad anymore, and the only way she knew how to end them was to run away.
While house sitting for his neighbors, Stephen invites some friends over to hang out and watch a movie, but when they see the Porsche in the garage they decide to take it for a drive, even though none of them has their license.
Emily has been trying for years to get recognized by a recording label and decides she’ll play one last show before calling it quits. When she takes the stage, she sees an executive from a Nashville label in the audience.
Jake has messed up one too many times and his parents have sent him to a behavioral correction school. If he messes up again, he goes straight to juvenile detention.
Jess spent every day after school writing in her journal about a world she had created and could escape to. One night after writing, she dreams of her world; but if she doesn’t wake up before sunrise, the dream will become reality and she won’t be able to get back.
A teenage werewolf grew up in a world filled with witches, vampires, werewolves, and mermaids. But then she comes across a book that tells of a world full of only humans, and it changes her forever.

59 comments

I don’t like the wording of number 11. Asperger’s is not a disease. It is a neurological disorder on the autism spectrum.

I love the ideas(so much creative energy). However, as a person with Aspergers, I also didn’t like the wording of number 11. Aspergers is a pain sometimes, but it’s actually a blessing in disguise.

What sucks is that now Asperger’s isn’t in the DSM anymore.

What do you mean by that.

Secretly, yes it is. I also do not appreciate the wording of 11.

D is correct. Asperger’s is no longer in the DSM, the diagnostic manual for developmental disorders and mental health conditions. In its place there is a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, in which the individual is further classified as high or low functioning- the former being previously labelled as Asperger’s

I love the ideas. But I agree with you guys. I don’t like the wording for no.11. My brother has Aspergers and ASD – Autism. And he is especially amazing. What P said is true.

Same Candie. My brother has autism and people treat it as a disease. He is normal just like everyone else and deserves to be called a kid.

Your Ideas are AMAZING! I have never felt my brain flooded with creative ideas. 🙂

I know I’m three years after all of these comments, but these prompts really inspired me to keep writing again. Thank you!

Hi – this website is quite good. I love number 34 and within a minute or two after seeing it I’ve got a story in my mind based on that! Thanks 🙂

I love these ideas, I think they will really help me. I also love reading your blog its so great. Keep it up:)

The 2nd number 18 should probably be edited. An age gap in minors of 5+ years is way too many, and it could definitely be taken as glorifying pedophilia. A high school senior would be 17/18, maybe even 19, whereas an 8th grader is around 13, barely entering puberty. That also comes with an unhealthy power dynamic in relationships that can easily become abusive. I don’t want this to be misconstrued.

Well if each of them were say…10 years older then would it be okay then? Because now they are 23 and 29. That’s only a six year difference. At least he isn’t like, a 40 year old man or something…just saying

Are you serious? Yes, a six year age difference probably won’t mean much where two sexually mature 20-somethings are involved, but does that then, make it ok for a 9 year-old and a 15 year-old to hook up? I’d hope you’d say not. And it’s not much better with a 13 year-old since like ASPEN said, they have barely entered puberty, and cannot even consent to 16+s in many places. I had to do a double-take on that passage myself, because we’re approaching almost American Beauty/Lolita territory here. Inappropriate.

@ASPEN – It does not need to be edited. How someone interprets the prompt is their decision. Saying that this needs to be edited because it could be seen as glorifying pedophilia is basically saying, “This prompt is potentially controversial and therefore should not exist.” Also, do you know how many people find themselves in a situation similar to this, but never actually act on it due to the outlook individuals like you have? Of course, I do understand what you’re saying and I respect your opinion, but it’s definitely a rather one-sided opinion.

@JFON – Are YOU serious? You can’t compare a nine-year-old and a fifteen-year-old to a thirteen-year-old and a seventeen or eighteen-year-old. You also cannot assume that a senior in high school is sexually mature while an eighth grader is not. Puberty can happen extremely early for some and extremely late for others. This could be taken into consideration if using this prompt. Also, please note that the plot does not say ANYTHING about them hooking up. It merely states that the senior falls in love with the girl. The plot could go multiple ways depending on the writer. Unfortunately, the first thing everyone probably assumes when reading that prompt is, “Oh my god! They had sex?!” *rolls eyes* Okay. Again, you also can’t compare this prompt to “American Beauty” or “Lolita” because (although you ironically tried to invalidate what Genevieve said), both plots involve MIDDLE-AGED men being sexually attracted to minors. The prompt above is no where close to approaching such territory. Also, keep in mind that the prompt states that the senior FELL IN LOVE with the eighth grader. The men in the two tales you mention NEVER loved the young women they preyed on; they simply lusted after them.

** TLDR: Whether the prompt is approached in an innocent or controversial manner is ultimately up to the writer. If it doesn’t float your fancy, simply do not add it to your repertoire.

@Genevieve and Mickie: As an 18-year-old senior, there is absolutely no reason why someone my age should be “falling in love” with an eighth grader. It’s honestly disgusting how a bunch of grown adults can argue over this. I don’t care about puberty, this is a CHILD. Her brain is not fully developed, regardless of physical maturity. Imagine how ignorant you were at thirteen. Imagine if an 17 or 18-year-old “fell in love” with your childish, eighth grader self. Not to mention the fact that if they had sex, it would be considered rape under the law. You’re a worthless pedophile apologist and you need therapy.

You’re being rediculous stop exaggerating. It’s just a story idea, you have no reason to call someone that.

the age gap is what makes the story idea controversial and also, sort of interesting. No one here said they were going to hook up. It could just be him meeting a really funny girl and kind girl and later learning she is only 13. He knows he can’t have her because, um, pedophilia much? But maybe he becomes really good friends with her. Btw, kids are evolving. I have a younger sister who could be mistaken as the same age as me because of her personality and looks, but she is actually three and a half years younger

I agree with Amber. A seventeen/eighteen year old falling in love with a thirteen year old child? disgusting. if that prompt is used I hope it’s not romanticized and the high school senior is exposed and condemned for being a predator

This argument is pathetic. Grow up!

As an 18 year old senior, your brain is not fully developed. So, as a person whose brain is still developing, you are bound to make mistakes or bad calls. Same with a fourteen year old. “Relationships” like that one happen all the time, and those sort of struggles are a good thing to write about. See, writing is a way to explore the ways of the world. We don’t live in a perfect world. We have growing teens. We fall in love in impossible situations with bad timing. Maybe you have to be mature to be able to write about those things, but writing is how we can express our thoughts and opinions. Also, please be respectful. It’s no fun to have somebody calling people nasty things on the internet, especially if those people are innocent.

@AMBER no one ever said they had sex. If they did that’s a whole different story and is extremely disgusting and creepy. BTW i’m 10 so saying an eighth grader is childish makes me feel like a one year old baby.

I completely understand what you’re saying and it all is true, but I think the reason it would be a good story is because of the age gap they would have difficulties which is what would make it a story. otherwise, it would be like every other love story. I hope this isn’t coming off as rude these are just my thoughts.

I agree with Grace and Santana L – look at it in a different way and it is not so bad – and if you don’t want to look at it or don’t agree with it, then just ignore it for goodness sake.

This is a quite dumb argument, but I’d still like to weigh in my opinion. The prompt does not state anything about the two being in a relationship. The 17 year old may fall in love with someone, but also be completely ashamed of it because of how the 8th grader is well, 13-14. But the writer could choose to have them not act on anything, just have the controversial showings of how someone could love someone but do nothing about it because of the age gap. I’m 13, going into 8th grade, and judging from a lot of people in my grade I’ve talked to, they say the most age gap they’d date is a year (13 year olds would date 14 year olds, etc). Most 8th graders are more level headed than some would think (sometimes .. definitely not always…) If the protagonist has no intention of doing anything about it, except potentially waiting without doing anything about it, than I don’t see anything wrong with it. If the 17 year old was trying to be in a relationship with the 13 year old, it wouldn’t technically be illegal and all but it would seem a little creepy (modern day wise), depending on motives. Like when they turn 18-19, and they’re dating a 14-15 year old, that’s where it gets a little unlawful. But depending on the direction the writer takes, this prompt could be executed finely. I understand the concern and all, but it just depends on the write honestly. I don’t think Mickië was too far off, in a sense. Thanks, stay respectful of everyone’s opinions 😀

I mean yeah its disgusting and could possibly be dangerous but it could also be okay. Besides its just a story. And by the way 13 isn’t always “barely entering puberty”. It can start as early as age 8 or 9. btw if you don’t like the idea then just don’t use it.

Okay. I’m going to get all of this straight and try to be unbiased here. First of all, like @LINDSAY said, it never says they had sex. Yes it would indeed be illegal if the guy was 18 but it just says senior. I understand how you guys think that is weird for a senior to fall in love with an 8th grader. I mean, hell, I’m a junior and it’s fine to fall for someone a year younger or year older but an 8th grader just doesn’t pass for some people. Sometimes things like that happen but you can honestly make the story anyway you want. For all you know, the guy was so smart he jumped 2 grades. I don’t know because these were just ideas. The purpose of this was to give you an idea for a story and our job was to make endless combinations of it. It’s our imagination and it will take us where ever. As you can see, this argument spiraled when someone mentioned sex, even though it never said that on #18. I agree with everyone so I’m trying super hard to be unbiased right now. But anyways, my point is, some of ya’ll chose to make it to where they have sex, or some of ya’ll may choose to make the guy smart and jump grades, I don’t know. You choose. But, Bottom line, it never said they had sex, it may be weird for them to fall for each other depending on how you make the story. Remember these are just ideas and you can make them however you want. PERIODT. I feel like a broken record, I’m sorry for repeating myself so many times but yeah. That’s what I had to say. This argument has lasted since 2017. I hope this finally puts an end to it and I hope everyone is safe during Covid-19 and uh yeah. 🙂 have a great day person, also if you are in H.S or Middle School, here’s a message for you.

Middle Schoolers, I honestly hated Middle School. Some people liked it, which probably means I did something wrong. The way you can make Middle School the best years of your life is, choose your friends so wisely. I swear to freaking god that’s the only way school will be amazing. Choose real friends, and it’ll be so fun. Don’t focus on being popular or whatever because that crap will mess your H.S years up so bad. I mean if you’re popular, everyone who isn’t gossips about the popular kids. SO yeah. Be a kid while you can because it’s the best thing you can have.

High Schoolers, I mean, I don’t even know where to start with us. Like honestly, all I have to say is don’t vape or smoke. That shit ain’t cool. It’s nasty. But whatever. No one will listen to me anyways but don’t come crying when you’re on your hospital bed trying to get new lungs. That shit messes you up so bad, so don’t even touch one. And one more thing. If someone offers you vape, and you don’t wanna seem like a loser and say no and you think you have to accept it.. DON”T! Just ask them what vape flavor it is and whatever they respond back tell them you don’t like it. ~fax.~ So yeah.. I learned all of this from experience, (except I never vaped or smoked). I hope my lecture and words of wisdom get you somewhere in life.

love, Sadie

Thank you… These are great ideas. But the one about the Forsaken sounds similar to the Divergent trilogy that you criticized. I like the Divergent trilogy… I was surprised a prompt had a similar plot.

Aspen, the idea of the senior and 8th grader sounds great – it could be written in a really interesting way and they probably wouldn’t end up together, since it is a big age gap. The fact that it’s a big age gap seems like a really interesting premise but I’d want to see regret and/or what the girl learns from this.

I liked the 34th one. I got an idea, and I am working towards it.

I really like #2, I hope i can use it to aid my writing!

I love #14! It gave me a huge idea and I hope that idea gets me an A.

I REALLY like these. I do not think the second number 18 needs to be edited because I think it could be a really interesting story without them getting together. Also, we cannot assume that the senior is a 17-18-year-old and the 8th grader is a 13-15-year-old. The 8th grader could have stayed back, or the senior moved ahead. Let’s not forget many, for example, freshmen girls would have crushes on senior boys. (I just got an idea for that story where it turns out the girl is his half-sister whom he never knew existed!) Feel free to use that! Anyways, I am a 6th grader looking for prompts for my school paper, this definitely helped spark my creativity. (I can think of prompts, just never ones that fit the assignment brief! Does anyone else have that problem?) Thank you so much for those great prompts!

LOVING THIS

So West, I am VERY experienced in the world of mental disorders, and I believe that that is not accurate. While Asperger’s is not a disease you would still use the word diagnosed for any mental disorder.

I Love these ideas! I’ve been writing since I was 9 and have never had so much trouble, thinking on what I should write. BUT now, I’m ready to get typing and writing. THANK YOU –

Loved the one about Forsaken. Working on it..

I love # 26! It actually reminds me of my crush Liazabeth i call her liz and she suicidal i try helping her the best i can but she just recently moved to another school cause the people at school where such bitches toward her. I miss her a lot. We were gonna be the best lesbian couple ever… pls dont hate that where bisexual.

I love the prompts, but I’m having the hardest time writing about any of them. I just can’t get the words to flow.

just picture something like one of the stories happening in your head and just let your fingers do the typing. you just need to make the words make sense to you then reread every sentence, sentence by sentence and reword it.

i agree with u other amber…

I love these ideas for books i might start writing 1. Second paragrah

These are some of the best ideas I have ever heard.

Some of these are great but in my opinion, the vast majority are a very slight variation on the same thing. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. Or – boy/girl x is in love with boy/girl y but they don’t know it. Or – my first love died in a horrific accident/became terminally ill….and finally – my highschool boyfriend/girlfriend split up with me and my life is inexorably changed forever.

I would have liked to have seen more variety of genres represented here. Not all YA stories have to be about forbidden / unattainable love or breakups. Nor do they all have to be set in this timeline/century. Most genres can be adapted to fit a YA story. You really should add more variety here. Just an opinion.

Adri of course you don’t recognize the problem of number 18 because you are only sixteen yourself. When you are older you’ll (hopefully) realize how immoral it would be

I love your ideas, they are so great and creative.

great article might be fun useing one of them in story

i’m trying to find writing prompts for a gift i’m giving my mom for christmas. these give me a lot of inspo!

I really like these. Whenever I start to write something I can never finish it, I just doubt myself. Good luck to everyone writing their stories.

The second number 8 is worded innapropriately. If the MC wants to ‘become a woman’, we can assume that the MC is a trans woman. The correct wording would be “A teenager assigned male at birth who loves video games and organizes the chess club struggles with how to tell her parents that she is a transgender girl.”

While I agree, I do not like the phrase “wants to be female” when describing trans folk, I understand the complications and easily confused language of a prompt such as “A teenager who loves video games and organizes the chess club struggles to come out to her parents as trans” because, in this version, one could interpret it to mean either an FTM teen or an MTF teen. Although, it does allow for more options.

The ideas are great, but the only problem is, how do we know that the topics we chose is not yet chosen by anybody?

I understand how you would see this as a problem, but it really isn’t. Multiple people can choose the same prompt, and every version would turn out different from the rest. So you really do not need to worry about if anyone has already chosen and started working on a prompt that you yourself want(ed) to choose.

i love the creativity that is emitted into these prompts.

To those suggesting that things should be edited and changed, because you didn’t like this or that rubbed you the wrong way, please realize that this person was kind enough to offer brilliant prompts. If your talent truly lies in writing, they would’ve sparked something within your imagination instead of igniting criticism over your sensibilities, mental disorders, and proper vs. improper. I have to say that I was trying to find a spark, which is how I found your site. Thank you because what you’ve provided got me moving in the “write” direction. I won’t be copying any of the ideas, but they did get my wheels grinding. Thanks again.

It’s 2022 and I’m planning to write a story

SO now everyone has a problem with no11 it’s very obvious that the point is gotten

Every writer NEEDS this book.

It’s a guide to writing the pivotal moments of your novel.

Whether writing your book or revising it, this will be the most helpful book you’ll ever buy.

Young Adult Novel I

Learn about writing for young adults as you complete an outline and first chapter of a novel.

What you can learn.

Explore the elements of young adult fiction, including character, dialogue, and description
Determine a setting, plot, and voice for your own young adult novel
Workshop works-in-progress in a supportive, creative environment
Learn about the publishing marketplace for young adult fiction

About this course:

Fall 2024 schedule.

Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required. Materials required.

This online course is conducted through Canvas, a secure website that allows students to log in to access lectures, discussions, and other course materials on demand. There are no required live class meetings. Each course is structured with weekly assignments and deadlines. Lectures and coursework are accessible throughout the week. Workshops are conducted in writing via discussion boards with your instructor and classmates.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC SYLLABUS FOR THIS COURSE.

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You, a Bestselling Young Adult Fiction Writer?

Young adult novels are today’s most exciting category of fiction.

Thanks to classic YA bestsellers like The Hunger Games, Twilight and Divergent young adult fiction has exploded over the past decade.

Yet, despite its immense popularity amongst readers and movie-goers, very little has been created to help aspiring writers like you learn the intricacies of writing teenage fiction.

Introducing the ‘Write Young Adult Fiction’ course!

A comprehensive, yet easy-to-follow online course that teaches you how to write chart-topping teenage fiction – even if you haven’t written a word since high school.

You’ll discover exactly how to generate winning YA ideas, then turn them into polished stories that captivate the hearts and minds of young adult readers.

And along the way, you’ll uncover the closely-guarded tips, tricks and techniques used by top-selling young adult writers like Stephenie Meyer, Suzanne Collins and John Green.

Here are just a few of the vital skills you’ll master through this powerful course:

How to awaken your inner teenager and think like a teen, how to see the world through a teenager’s eyes (most ya writers get this embarrassingly wrong)., how to ‘kill’ your adult perspective and relate to teens, like a teenager, how to tackle sex, drugs and violence (and get the crucial thumbs up from parents and teachers)., how handle delicate issues like racism and homophobia ., how and when to use profanity in your stories (and how to know when you’ve overstepped the mark)., how to let your teen characters confront bullying and rejection in the real world (as well as the virtual one many teenagers live in)., how to develop an authentic teen voice ., how to make your characters make decisions like a teenager (and not like an adult)., how to talk like a teen (there’s a fine balance between using their language, and using that language and looking bad doing it)., how to spot and edit out the grown-up voice that has crept into your story., how to create characters and stories that feel real to teenagers - even when their world often feels like another planet., how to avoid the number one story-killing mistake that almost every novice ya writer makes., how to write stories that teenagers identify with more intensely than adult readers do., how to execute your ya ideas with excellence ., how to overcome s.n.i syndrome . you probably already have this - yet it virtually guarantees your yaf won’t get published., how to draft, redraft, finesse and polish your ya manuscript to complete perfection., how to get your ya book published (in step-by-step detail)., and so much more..

Each lesson is packed with insider intel, skill-building action points and lots of hand-picked examples. There’s never been a more comprehensive, step-by-step course created exclusively for aspiring Young Adult Fiction writers and there’s never been a better time in history to write young adult fiction!

VIEW COURSE MODULES

Below are the comprehensive modules that make up the Young Adult Fiction course. Throughout the modules you will be given action points and exercises that develop your skills in each specific area as you work through the course:

Introduction to Young Adult Fiction	Contemporary Fiction and YA Memoirs
Finding Your YA Idea	Historical, Paranormal and Non-Fiction
Developing Your YA Idea	Mysteries, Thrillers, Horror and Dystopian
Writing Young Adult Character	Fantasy, Magical Realism, Science Fiction
Writing Young Adult Setting	Writing Your First YA Draft
Writing Young Adult Plot	Making Revisions: Thinking Big
Writing Young Adult Structure	Making Revisions: Thinking Small
Writing Young Adult Dialogue	Discovering Your YA Writing Community
Writing Young Adult Voice	Getting Your YA Fiction Published

Each interactive module is packed-to-the-brim with insider intel, skill-building action points, exercises, self-assessment tests and carefully selected writing examples.

Sadly, most writers who attempt to write for this unique audience are completely out of touch with it.

Instead of connecting with teens, they alienate them.

Adults are not teenagers. We don’t talk like teens, act like teens, or think like teens.

“that’s why the garbage cans of so many publishers are filled with failed ya manuscripts packed with clichés, annoying characters, and awkward attempts to relate to teens”, master the teenage mind.

On the other hand, through this eye-opening course you will quickly learn the way teenagers think. Their language. Their interests. Their fears. Their hopes and dreams.

Together we will navigate the sometimes treacherous, but often exciting life stage of a teenager. And we’ll uncover the issues that teens grapple with on a daily basis (the issues that most novice YA writers fail to grasp).

Then, we’ll show you precisely how to transform all this covert knowledge into words that leap off the pages and penetrate the hearts, minds and souls of teenagers with laser-like precision.

A Word of Warning:

As you progress through this course you may begin to reminisce about those carefree times of teenage rebellion, discovery and hope for the future. You’ll revisit some of those issues you remember as a teen – the thrill of your first major crush… and the devastation of rejection.

Your first love. First kiss. First heartbreak. First failures. First success. Figuring it all out, challenging authority and the trouble those raging hormones got you in!

From the very start of this packed YA writing course, we will unleash your creativity and allow your inner teenager to soar free! And by the end you will have gained an unmatched perspective into what makes this unique young audience tick so that you can work your craft with remarkable intuition.

It’s YOUR turn to join the growing legion of credible YA writers!

Writing for young adults can be an incredibly liberating, therapeutic experience (and a whole lot of fun!). You can tackle topics and themes you’d never dream of writing for an adult (perhaps even right some of those wrongs you’ve carried with you all this time?).

This is why writing young adult fiction is one of the most enjoyable and thrilling categories to work in.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s easy. Of all the divisions of children’s fiction – young adult novels are possibly the most difficult.

Your Keys to Young Adult Fiction Writing Success

Developed by an elite team of bestselling YA writers, editors and award-winning e-learn experts – Write Young Adult Fiction is a comprehensive 18-module online course packed with world-class lessons, insider intel, skill-building action points and lots of eloquent hand-picked examples for you to follow along with.

The course has been built on our next-generation LearnLock™ technology – which means you can quickly learn how to write young adult fiction from your Smartphone, tablet or computer (at times convenient to you).

WHAT WRITERS ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR YOUNG ADULT FICTION COURSE

Douglas Brown I found the course extremely enjoyable and informative. I have been considering writing a book for a while now but I’m pleased to have done the course first as it pointed out many pitfalls that I previously hadn’t considered. The presentation was beautiful and made me want to dive into it just as I would a good book. I haven’t put pen to paper yet but I certainly plan to and will do so with a great deal more confidence having learnt from the experts

Julie Holmes I am thoroughly enjoying the course, I have just reached module 7 and am looking forward to each module as they come along. I find the course work interesting and I am picking things up when I am reading other books. Would recommend the course to anyone interesting in writing for children.

Fran Kendall Doing this course was a nice experience. Everything was clearly explained with plenty of examples given and it inspired me not just to take the course but to actually start writing! There’s only one step left now and that’s finishing my book and get it published! Watch out for it! 🙂

Ben Piette I am only up to module 6 but I am really enjoying studying this course and have managed to pass all the tests so far . Not bad for a 75 year old

Margaret Perrett A great course, I’m enjoying the content and the way itis set out. Very glad I took the offer of the book too

Ann Lamont A must do course Hello, I have enjoyed taking part in the course,I have only done 3 parts so far. I am looking forward to finishing it shortly’ It is so interesting the way it takes us through the different age groups,it makes me want to write for all the ages. Many good ideas in this course,I would advise all to join the course and who knows what is around the corner. I personally love it,hope you do to, regards, Maxine.

Maxine I am working each chapter as I go, so I’m still very far from completion. I had started a children’s story and didn’t know where to go with it. The course is directing me with specifics…….plan, outline, set the stage, make it believable and accurate with details that researched, timely and engaging. I have never taken a specific writing course during any facet of my education, so this is a remarkably complex and complete journey….so far, so good!

Mary Heckler I have started that course a month ago and I am really pleased with the content of it, it is full of very interesting professional advises, top tips, I found it easy to understand and to remember the important lines. I live in France it’s so exciting to be able to learn in the comfort of my home and at my own pace

Farida Hafassa Only on module 4 at the moment but loving the course. I find 1 hour a night works for me but you have so much flexibility it’s great. The information against each module is clearly explained. I can’t wait to learn the next bit. I would highly recommend this course, it is well laid out and easy to follow.

Sandra The course is very informative however I miss not having an audio component to it. Also access is only given to a module after the test for previous module has been passed I don’t like that I would rather have access to all the modules so I can read those that interest me first. Also course has some modules of no interest to me like writing screenplays. I would’ve liked it more if all modules focused on topics of interest to me like children’s story books and non-fiction writing for children.

Naima Shaikh Really good and interesting course on writing children’s books. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and thank you for further inspiring me to continue to write.

What Will You Achieve with this Young Adult Writing Course?

We can’t guarantee you’ll reach the dizzy heights of a Veronica Roth or Rainbow Rowell – but we can give you proven step-by-step tuition and tools that enable you to craft the best possible piece of young adult fiction we know you are capable of. And we can navigate you around the many pitfalls that have sabotaged the success of so many other aspiring YA writers.

Who knows? With our guidance perhaps you’ll go on to create a great legacy by writing lasting YA classics that will be read around the world and loved by teenagers for generations to come?

Perhaps you’ll create gritty stories that empower young adult readers or even shape a teenager’s role in this world?

Get Started Today!

Here’s what you are getting today:.

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	✔ 18 Module Writing for Young Adults Course
✔ FREE Printed Course Textbook
	✔ Printed Certificate of Achievement
	✔ Writing Exercises
	✔ Reading Lists
	✔ Downloadable Help Sheets
	✔ Lifetime access
	✔ 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Our Promise To You

Write Academy stands behind every course with an iron-clad 30-day money-back guarantee. If for any reason (or no reason at all) within 30-days you decide to cancel your course, then our support team will happily provide you with a refund in full. No hassle. No questions asked. You are completely protected.

100% Satisfaction | Zero Risk | Guaranteed

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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Most in the U.S. say young adults today face more challenges than their parents’ generation in some key areas

About seven-in-ten Americans think young adults today have a harder time than their parents’ generation when it comes to saving for the future (72%), paying for college (71%) and buying a home (70%), according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in October 2021. These findings come at a time when younger Americans are more likely than previous generations to have taken on student debt with tuition costs steadily rising, and to face an affordable housing crisis as rent and housing prices have grown markedly faster than incomes in the last decade.

To learn more about how Americans view the circumstances young adults face across various life measures compared with their parents’ generation, Pew Research Center surveyed 9,676 U.S. adults between Oct. 18-24, 2021. Everyone who took part is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way, nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and its methodology .

Bar chart showing that when it comes to savings, paying for college and home-buying, most say young adults today have it harder than their parents' generation

There’s less consensus when it comes to assessing labor market outcomes for young people today compared with their parents’ generation. Similar shares say finding a job is easier (40%) as say it is harder (39%) for young adults today. A smaller share of U.S. adults (21%) say it’s about the same.

When it comes to finding a spouse or partner, Americans are more than twice as likely to say younger adults today have it harder than their parents’ generation (46%) than to say they have it easier (21%). Around a third (32%) say it’s about the same.

On some other measures, Americans are more positive in their assessments of young adults’ circumstances. A significant majority of U.S. adults (74%) say it is easier for younger generations today to stay in touch with family and friends. Only 14% say this is harder for young adults compared with their parents’ generation. A plurality (41%) says getting into college is easier for young adults today compared with their parents’ generation; 33% say it’s harder for young adults today and 26% say it’s about the same.

There are notable age differences when it comes to assessing the circumstances of young adults today.

While majorities across all age groups say young adults have it harder when it comes to buying a home, saving for the future and paying for college, Americans ages 18 to 29 are more likely than older age groups to say this. More than eight-in-ten adults younger than 30 (84%) say buying a home is harder for young adults today, while 80% say the same about saving for the future and paying for college. Among those ages 30 to 49, 72% say buying a home and paying for college is harder for young adults today, and 74% say this about saving for the future. Those 50 and older are the least likely to say these measures are harder for younger generations to reach, with 63% saying this about buying a home, 67% saying this about saving for the future, and 66% saying this about paying for college.

Dot plot chart showing that views about whether young adults have it harder today differ significantly by age, especially when it comes to buying a home and finding a job

When it comes to finding a job, younger Americans are again the most likely to say this is harder for young adults today. Overall, 55% of 18- to 29-year-olds say finding a job is harder for young adults today than it was for their parents’ generation. About four-in-ten or less of those ages 30 to 49 and those 50 and older say this about young adults (39% and 33%, respectively). There are also double-digit differences between the views of adults younger than 30 and those ages 50 or older when it comes to finding a spouse or partner (52% of 18- to 29-year-olds say this is harder for young adults today vs. 42% in the older group) and getting into college (45% vs. 27%, respectively). In fact, a plurality of adults 50 and older say getting into college is easier today (44%). There are no large differences by age on the measure of staying in touch with family and friends.

Generally, these views differ only modestly by gender, with one exception. On finding a spouse or partner, about half of women (51%) – compared with 40% of men – say this is harder for young adults today than it was for their parents’ generation. This gap is only present among those ages 30 and older; roughly equal shares of women (53%) and men (52%) younger than 30 say this is harder for young adults today. Notably, women in older age groups give similar answers as younger women, while older men are less likely than their younger counterparts to say finding a spouse or partner is harder for young adults today (42% of men 30 to 49 and 34% of men 50 and older say this).

Finally, on most of these measures, there are no significant differences between adults who are parents of children ages 18 to 29 and those who are not. On a few items where such differences exist, they tend to disappear when looking at adults 50 and older. The only item where such differences persist among older adults is on assessments of finding a job. Interestingly, those 50 and older who are parents of adult children ages 18 to 29 are more likely than those in the same age group who do not have young adult children to say young adults today have it easier when it comes to finding a job (47% vs. 42%, respectively).

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and its methodology .

Homeownership & Renting
Personal Finances
Unemployment
Younger Adults

Stella Sechopoulos is a former research assistant focusing on social and demographic trends research at Pew Research Center .

Methodology: 2023 focus groups of Asian Americans

1 in 10: redefining the asian american dream (short film), the hardships and dreams of asian americans living in poverty, majority of americans prefer a community with big houses, even if local amenities are farther away, single women own more homes than single men in the u.s., but that edge is narrowing, most popular.

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Writing for Young Adults (YA)

One of the most rewarding but complex areas of writing, the teenage and YA market is as varied as any other but it poses its own challenges. As a category, it includes books for 11-13 year-olds (Clean YA), books for the 14-16 age group and ‘crossover’ books, which appeal to both YA and adult readers.

The subject matter and how this is treated is what diﬀerentiates the books in each age range. Similarly, the diﬀerence between older middle grade books and YA lies almost entirely in content; YA books are not necessarily longer but the ideas and subject matter can be more complex and often deal with aspects of life that would be entirely unsuitable for pre-teens. YA novels frequently feature characters looking within themselves and thinking about identity and life choices as well as all of the other issues that aﬀect the emotions and experiences of emerging adults.

YA novels encompass almost every genre; science ﬁction, fantasy, thrillers, crime, romance, historical and realism. The main focus is the young person and their concerns, so unless it involves their parents and thus directly impacts on their lives, subjects such as mortgages, divorce, old age and associated problems or high ﬁnance are not likely to be of interest. This does not mean that they are narrow in outlook or possibility – quite the reverse, in fact. YA books often feature a deep consideration of many bigger world problems explored in ﬁctional terms, including subjects in as wide a range as ecology, war, refugees, cults, and serious illness, but also consider personal issues such as body image and the full range of interpersonal relationships.

What most YA novels do best, and in my opinion so much better than many adult novels, is grab the reader’s attention and hold it, with little waﬄing or self-indulgent writing in the middle, because the best YA writers know that it would lose them readers.

Many YA novels are written from a ﬁrst-person perspective, because it puts the reader immediately in touch with the main character, hearing their voice. In some ways, it is a natural way to start since often teenagers feel that the whole world does (or should!) revolve around them, and until something bad happens they may have little thought as to the consequences of their actions.

The ﬁrst-person viewpoint gets the reader immediately inside the character’s head, observing the world as they do. This does have a drawback, though, if the character’s narrow interpretation of what is happening is ﬂ awed or if the writer wants to show something happening elsewhere in the story.

To write in any character’s POV, you need to know that character well and their voice must be distinctive. I often begin by letting the character rant at me about whatever they want. I know that sounds a little strange, but try it; it works. I start to write with whatever comes to mind, not stopping to think too hard, and once they talk to me I ‘discover’ all sorts of things about them. It might go something like this:

'I hate my sister, really I do. She is the most irritating person on this earth, greedy and totally self-centred, but if anyone tries to hurt her they’ll have to come through me ﬁrst. And that means Godfrey, my step-dad, especially him. But if she goes through my emails one more time I’ll… ’

Having the character complain and get annoyed helps me get a sense of what matters in his life and also it often gives me ideas about the plot, which is good since I am not a planner. It is even more important to get the ‘sound’ of a character right if you decide to have more than one POV in a story, because if the characters don’t sound diﬀerent enough, the reader will get confused and eventually lose interest in the story.

In Spider, I have three diﬀerent characters speaking in the ﬁrst person: Spider; his friend, Andy; and Deanna, his new girlfriend. Spider has been caught stealing cars and joyriding, but is trying to stop as he has a lot to lose if he gets sent to prison. He is persuaded by Deanna to go on one last ‘ride’, and with Andy they steal a car, ending up in a horrendous crash. I also used the third-person POV for times when I needed to follow the only adult main character, a detective, because I wanted the reader to see him less personally. It can be tricky for a reader to handle all these diﬀerent points of view so I asked the publisher if we could have slightly diﬀerent typefaces for each of the three main characters, as a subconscious hint to the reader.

Architect or gardener, planner or pantser?

Whatever you call it, whether you plan or not is a personal choice and I would suggest you try both and ﬁnd out what works best for you: there is no right or wrong way and each book might be diﬀerent for you.

Despite not being a planner myself, I usually have an idea of what is going to happen at the end of a book; it might not be in detail, but at least I have something to aim for. Sometimes I will even write a scene close to the end, especially if I can ‘see’ it in my head. When this happens, by the time I get to that part of the book it usually ﬁts in, with just a little editing. With Dead Boy Talking, I was not sure whether Josh would live or die, but by the time I got there I knew what felt right; if you read it, you can decide for yourself. Not being a planner does cause problems, sometimes, though, especially when I was writing my third YA novel, a kind of detective story.

If you want to hide something from your readers, be careful not to give away even small clues, inadvertently. As I mentioned above, Don’t Judge Me is about a ﬁre but it is also about the four young people who are suspected of starting it. I wrote the entire book not being sure who or what had caused the ﬁre, and it took me rather a long time to puzzle it out while I was writing because I kept changing my mind. Despite that, it worked out well because many readers have told me they too had not worked out who did it until the very end of the book. For me, too much planning takes the joy out of discovering what the story is, but it doesn’t work like that for everyone. Do what feels right for you and your book.

The W&A Guide to Writing for Children and YA provides informed, practical advice from a successful and experienced writer of children's books across all ages. Its coverage includes picture books through middle grade and young adult; fiction and non-fiction; books for reluctant readers and books for the education market. It is one author's lifetime of experience distilled into an engaging guide on how to manage, kickstart or begin your writing career. You can order your copy now .

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Essay competition to amplify young voices

In celebration of International Youth Day (#IYD) 2024, the National Youth Council of Namibia (NYC) will have an essay competition to inspire and mobilise young people to explore the role of digital technology in sustainable development.

The #IYD 2024 Essay Competition is open to Namibian youth aged 16 to 35.

Participants are invited to craft original essays in English, ranging between 1 200 and 1 700 words, focusing on how digital technology can foster sustainable development.

This initiative seeks to amplify the voices of young people, and encourage them to reflect on the transformative power of digital tools and innovations.

International Youth Day, observed annually on 12 August, highlights youth issues on the global stage and celebrates the potential of young people as catalysts for change.

This year’s theme is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”.

NYC chairperson Sharonice Busch said participants in the essay competition are required to submit original essays, which will be evaluated against the criteria outlined in the Concept Note.

In each of the three categories, finalists will be selected and invited to present their perspectives/arguments in front of a panel of independent, invited judges. This is expected to take place towards the end of this month.

“As we celebrate International Youth Day, we recognise the vital role of young people in harnessing digital technology for sustainable development. This essay competition provides an opportunity for youth to share their insights and contribute to the conversation on how we can overcome digital divides and use technology to build a more equitable and sustainable future,” she said.

Busch added that the competition in itself is not yetan annual endeavour. However, it is in commemoration of an annual celebration of young people’s potential.

“The top essays will be selected by a panel of judges and winners will receive prizes as well as recognition in a special ceremony. The competition not only aims to engage youth, but also to generate actionable ideas and solutions that can be implemented at local and national levels,” added the youth leader.

In each category, five finalists will be selected and invited to deliver a 15-minute presentation on a date to be announced.

Cash prizes of N$10 000, N$5 000 and N$2 500 will be awarded to the top three entrants, respectively, per category (topic), with the overall winner receiving N$15 000.

“So, as the saying goes, ‘The more the merrier!’,” she said enthusiastically.

She added: “We seek diverse perspectives and insights from Namibian youth across the country, and, thus have not set any limit on the number of entrants into the Essay Competition.”

Recent statistics reveal that three-quarters of individuals aged 15 to 24 were Internet users in 2022, reflecting a higher engagement, compared to other age groups.

Despite this, notable disparities remain, particularly in low-income countries, and among young women who often face barriers to digital access and skills development.

The essay competition aims to address these gaps by promoting digital inclusion, and exploring how technology can drive positive change.

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The Precarious Online Lives of Young Men

Young man wearing headset and play computer video games online

A s the new school year is upon us, parents are worried about their children’s mental health—and they should be. The latest CDC data from the largest ongoing study on youth well-being finds high rates of helplessness, suicidal ideas, bullying, among other forms of violence. For girls, the rates are often higher . But boys are far less likely to seek help when they need it, and are more likely to take out their problems on others.

In recent years, lots of young men feel adrift—and as a result, oftentimes find solace in misogynist and anti-democratic spaces online. That’s the alarm being raised by experts, including the U.S. Surgeon General, who recently called for warning labels on social media platforms.

The crisis among young men is real. Equimundo (the organization one of us, Gary Barker, leads) carried out a 2023 national study of 18 to 45-year-old men in the United States , which found that two out of three 18-23 year olds said “No one really knows me well.” In addition, 30% of the youngest men said they see no one outside their home on a weekly basis. And about 40% thought about suicide in the past two weeks.

Read More: Why America’s Fathers Aren’t Living Up to Expectations

As leaders of two organizations concerned about young men’s mental health and working to prevent violence online and off, these findings gave us pause. In the study, nearly half of men said their online lives are more interesting than their offline lives. Forty five percent of the youngest men said they trust one of the many angry, racist, misogynist, anti-democratic voices online. More trust Andrew Tate than the President. How do we hold a democracy together in light of that?

We recently shared these statistics with a group of high school boys of various ethnicities and income groups from the Washington, DC area. In response, the boys shared fears, doubts, frustrations about adults who judge and don’t understand, confusion about what it is to be a man, and concerns for despondent peers. They also told us about their search for friends, deeper relationships, and intimate partners—for just about everything —online.

In 2024, we followed up on that survey with a six-month long study of young men’s online lives, including an AI-assisted analysis of over 40 hours of Twitch streams, over 1.5 million lines of chat logs and 36,963 lines of Discord chat logs, and spent more than 100 hours observing the six largest male-dominated digital channels. And the results were striking: What we found was that, for young men, there is little distinction between “in real life” (IRL) and “online life.” Our review of young men’s online world confirms that their online communities dwarf their real-life spaces by a factor of at least a thousand. YouTube, the mothership of online platforms for young men, has about 2.49 billion monthly active users , between 55%-65% of which are men. Fantasy Football has 75 million users, more than two-thirds men. By contrast, 750,000 young men belong to U.S. fraternities and more than 1.1 million are in Scouting America. The upshot is that young men’s largest gathering spaces are online and much of their lives are spent in virtual meeting spaces. This means that we have to pay attention to what’s happening there—the positive, the harmful, and the in between.

Despite what we often think of the "manosphere," YouTube, Reddit, Fantasy Football, and other sites popular with young men lean more positive than negative. Queries like this one, posted by a young man on Reddit , speak volumes: “Hey other dudes. How many of you are dealing with the existential dread of not being able to afford it like our fathers and grandfathers were able to?” Thousands posted “likes” to that question in agreement and solidarity. From economic stress to gaming, being loveless to being a "lookmaxxer" seeking to improve physical appearance, young men feel that the internet gets them and their deepest fears.

In reality, the absence of real-life connections in the manosphere often becomes a space where misogyny and conspiracy theories feed real-life violence or self-harm. The pathway from clicking on or following the dark sides of the web—and engaging in violence or self-harm because of it— is, of course, complex. And while the majority of visitors in even the most misogynist spaces don’t carry out harm, frequent internet use has been associated with loneliness, poor communication with family, and depression. These unhealthy online spaces don’t just mirror those feelings—they often exacerbate them.

How can parents, educators, and media content makers help? First, we need to trust the boys. Young men (and young women) can be critical consumers and citizens in their online worlds. Start with a belief that young men’s engagement with dubious content online is not an automatic pathway to self-harm and violence.

Second, talk to young men. Researchers at the University of Liverpool developed a “Men for Change” curriculum that engages young men in conversations about what they consume online and were able to measure important attitude shifts. Parents, business leaders, and organizations have to get in the conversation, too. Vodafone's AI "aggro-rithms" campaign , for instance, raises awareness about how harmful AI algorithms target Britain’s boys and included a toolkit that supports parents in having online safety conversations with their children.

Read More: Parents Need to Talk to Their Sons About Care

Third, build on the many influencers and spaces that already connect positively with young men. Such influencers are out there and can be engaged—we need to turn up the traffic to those spaces, as the men’s health group Movember has done.

Finally, guide young men to safer spaces—in real life— particularly when they are on the cusp of going down the rabbit hole to one of the angry, dark spaces, and are on the verge of causing harm to themselves or others. The group Diverting Hate, for instance, uses redirection campaigns—essentially buying ads linking to healthy manhood messages. Their results show that about 50% of users on platforms with harmful content looked at the ads, and in one setting they measured an increase in interest in positive off-line spaces for men.

Our work tells us that harmed young men, cut off from others, too often harm themselves or others. But if we engage them, care for them, listen to them, understand what they consume online, they both live better lives and they become better allies for others—for women’s rights, for racial justice, for our democracy—they will find their way. Let’s stay in the room for the difficult talks. Engage. Listen more. Don’t panic.

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Want to write a college essay that sets you apart? Three tips to give you a head start

1. Keep it real. It’s normal to want to make a good impression on the school of your choice, but it’s also important to show who you really are. So just be yourself! Compelling stories might not be perfectly linear or have a happy ending, and that’s OK. It’s best to be authentic instead of telling schools what you think they want to hear.

2. Be reflective . Think about how you’ve changed during high school. How have you grown and improved? What makes you feel ready for college, and how do you hope to contribute to the campus community and society at large?

3. Look to the future. Consider your reasons for attending college. What do you hope to gain from your education? What about college excites you the most, and what would you like to do after you graduate? Answering these questions will not only give colleges insight into the kind of student you’ll be, but it will also give you the personal insight you’ll need to choose the school that’s right for you.

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The Best Therapy for Our Anxiety Epidemic

Solutions to the mental-health crisis striking young people in particular are within reach.

An illustration of a young woman lying on her bed with her face glued to a device screen

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T o note that a mental-health crisis is hitting American adolescents and young adults is hardly news—data to that effect emerge almost every day. The latest confirmation, in April, comes from a survey that I was grateful to help develop: This major survey, sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation and fielded by Gallup , revealed that some 38 percent of respondents aged 12 to 26 had received a formal diagnosis of anxiety or depression. That finding broke down by gender as 29 percent of young men and 45 percent of young women. Even among those who have not received a diagnosis, about half say they often feel anxious; a quarter say they often feel depressed.

In a search for answers and solutions, Jonathan Haidt’s recent best-selling book, The Anxious Generation , ascribed blame to the overuse of screens and social media. The Gallup/Walton data support his argument: Among adolescents and young adults who spent more than 20 hours a week on social media, 65 percent said they felt anxiety “a lot of the day yesterday” (as opposed to 49 percent of those who spent 20 hours or less so engaged); 49 percent of the heavy social-media users felt sadness for a lot of the day before (versus 26 percent of non-heavy users); and 80 percent of them felt a lot of stress (against 59 percent of those other users).

But I believe a deeper philosophical problem affects the lives of young people today as well, and of many people who are no longer young. Folks lack a sense of meaning; they don’t feel they know the “why” of their lives. Worse, evidence suggests that they’re not even looking for it, nor are we encouraging them to do so. This creates a feeling of hollowness and futility, especially when times are inevitably rough, and that encourages a culture that strives to provide a sense of security that is doomed to prove false and can only make the problem worse. If you see this syndrome taking effect in your life or in the life of someone you love, here is how to apprehend and address it.

Arthur C. Brooks: The meaning of life is surprisingly simple

I have written about the meaning of life, including the way to understand and define it, in a past column . In my research, I often refer to the work of the psychologists Frank Martela and Michael F. Steger, who have defined meaning in life as a combination of three elements: coherence (how events fit together), purpose (having goals and direction), and significance (a sense of the inherent value of one’s existence). I find this conception helpful because it takes a huge, amorphous problem ( What is the meaning of life? ) and breaks it down into three categories that, though they still require a lot of work, are more manageable. The big question thus becomes three smaller, more specific ones: Why do things happen the way they do? What are my goals in life? Why does it matter that I am alive?

A quite similar version of these questions appears in the Gallup survey, and the answers map powerfully onto the findings about unhappiness, depression, and anxiety. After my team and I investigated the survey’s microdata concerning the 18-to-26-year-olds, we found that 20 percent of them rarely or never felt that “things in my life happen for a reason” (the coherence measure). These young adults were 16 percentage points less likely to say they were “very happy” than their peers who often or always felt things happened for a reason (7 percent versus 23 percent); they were also 11 percentage points more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression (48 percent versus 37 percent). Similar patterns applied among the young adults who answered “rarely” or “never” on the purpose and significance questions.

One explanation for this pattern might be that, for some reason, depressed and anxious young people simply can’t come up with answers for these questions. But it’s also possible that these are the ones who simply aren’t looking. Consider the longitudinal survey data from the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA showing that, over a 40-year period starting in the mid-1960s and ending in 2006, the percentage of American undergraduate freshmen students that reported that “developing a meaningful philosophy of life” is a “very important” or “essential” personal goal fell from 86 percent to less than 50 percent, where it has remained to this day .

Haidt’s work on the dramatic rise in people’s screen time and internet use shows that the problems began in the mid-2000s, almost certainly making any quest for meaning cognitively harder. Notably, neuroscientists have found that the default-mode network—the set of brain regions that become active when we are mentally at rest—is crucial for finding high-level meaning, memory, future contemplation, and daydreaming. Other studies have demonstrated that this neuro-network exhibits disrupted or abnormal functioning during tasks that require external focused attention, which would surely include heavy internet usage.

Arthur C. Brooks: Three paths toward the meaning of life

O ne very obvious implication from all of this is that to seek meaning in life in order to lower symptoms of depression and anxiety, we should stop spending so many hours online. But that still leaves unresolved the issue for those who have forgotten how to find meaning—or never learned in the first place—of getting started. How do you search for meaning? Where should you look?

Reframing the problem is a helpful way to begin: Try putting yourself not in the position of the asker but of the asked. This was the technique proposed by the psychiatrist and psychotherapist Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor who wrote the influential Man’s Search for Meaning and created “logotherapy,” a clinical method based on identifying a personal sense of meaning. Frankl’s approach starts by inverting the original question: “Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather he must recognize that it is he who is asked.” In other words, put aside your need to find a formula for your own gratification and instead see the world’s need for you to find meaning—so that you can do more with your life and benefit the world.

In that spirit of service, Frankl put forward three practical ways of discovering meaning. First, create something or accomplish a significant task—you will make meaning simply in the process of striving for an accomplishment. Second, experience something fully or love someone deeply, which is to say: Stop thinking about yourself and dive into an external experience or a relationship with another person. Third, adopt an attitude of strength and courage toward unavoidable suffering, and resolve to learn from your pain.

An alternative approach involves breaking down the quest for meaning into the components identified by Martela and Steger. Enquiring into coherence, purpose, and significance naturally elicits serious reflection on life and death—why your limited time on Earth matters and what you’re supposed to do with it. In my own work, I’ve found that this centers on trying to answer these two big questions: Why am I alive? And for what would I give my life? A sustained effort to find answers to those will reveal your life’s coherence, purpose, and significance.

Your search might also illuminate just why you feel so hollow. For example, if your best answer to the first question is “a sperm found an egg,” and to the second you say “nothing,” that could explain why life seems random and trivial to you. If you find yourself in that position, the right strategy might be to decide to live in a way that provides more existentially substantive answers. That, in turn, may well lead you to purposely adopt a set of beliefs to live by. You might, say, decide to live with the conviction that you have the gift of life in order to serve others, and you might also decide that a cause you would die for is your family’s safety and survival.

Of course, these issues are intensely personal and individual, which is why you’ll find no substitute for the deep introspective work you’ll need to do to arrive at your own right answers. And there’s no substitute for using screens and social media responsibly so that you can do that work. But as Frankl taught us, the work itself is an exciting, productive adventure.

Jonathan Haidt: End the phone-based childhood now

O ne last point I’d make is that having meaning in life can protect you to a degree when suffering inevitably comes your way. A theme that emerges throughout Haidt’s work is a critique of “safetyism,” the belief that safety is a sacred value, and of the trend among parents and schools to elevate this value above others. Safetyism, in his analysis, is a direct consequence of a decline in people’s sense of life’s meaning, because meaning makes sense of suffering—so if you lack meaning to help you cope with suffering, then safetyism is the reflexive response, to try to provide a shield against suffering.

In other words, when pain has no seeming purpose, the only logical course of action is to fight against it. In a doomed effort to forestall suffering, we protect our kids from conflict, danger, and anything that might offend or alarm them. This strategy has proved catastrophic for happiness: It leaves young people ill-prepared for the inevitable threats and challenges that everyone has to face, and for the suffering that is impossible to avoid in our highly complex world. The only reliable way to travel through that world with courage and hope is to do the work to find meaning, and encourage those we love to do so as well.

About the Author

Are We Thinking About the Youth Mental Health Crisis All Wrong?

Global trends in economics, climate and technology are weighing on young adults, a report finds. It recommends overhauling how we approach mental health care.

Boy sits behind his backpack leaning against lockers with his hand on his head while two other people walk down the hall.

By Christina Caron

Chloé Johnson, 22, has been feeling hopeless lately.

She’s struggling to focus on classes at her local community college in Dallas while also working full-time, making $18 an hour as a receptionist.

Her car broke down, so the $500 that she had managed to save will now go toward a down payment for a used vehicle.

And she was recently passed over for a promotion.

“Right now it just feels, like, very suffocating to be in this position,” said Ms. Johnson, who was diagnosed last year with bipolar II disorder, depression and A.D.H.D. “I’m not getting anywhere or making any progress.”

It’s an endless loop: Ms. Johnson’s mental health has worsened because of her financial difficulties and her financial problems have grown, partly because of the cost of mental health treatment but also because her disorders have made it more difficult to earn a college degree that could lead to a more lucrative job.

“I’ve failed several classes,” she said. “I burn out really easily, so I just give up.”

The mental health of adolescents and young adults has been on the decline and it’s partly because of “harmful megatrends” like financial inequality, according to a new report published on Tuesday in the scientific journal The Lancet Psychiatry. The global trends affecting younger generations also include wage theft , unregulated social media , job insecurity and climate change , all of which are creating “a bleak present and future for young people in many countries,” according to the authors.

Why focus on global trends?

The report was produced over the course of five years by a commission of more than 50 people, including mental health and economic policy experts from several continents and young people who have experienced mental illness.

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The math behind why harris picked walz and why she may regret it.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz hadn’t been in the top tier of potential running mates for Kamala Harris until the past few weeks. But his selection to join the vice president on the Democratic ticket underscores both the power of social media and of being relatively affable and nondivisive.

So what took Walz from, nationally speaking, a relative unknown to major-party vice presidential nominee? You might just call the entire thing “weird.”

Recall how Democrats started calling Republicans Donald Trump and JD Vance “weird” a few weeks ago. The attack might have felt like something out of high school, but the crazy thing is that it seems to have worked .

A look at Google trend data reveals a recent increase in searches for the word “weird.” More than that, the topics associated with “weird” were Make America Great Again, the Republican Party, Vance and Walz.

Why Walz? He’s been credited as the first one to have started calling Republicans weird in any large-scale way.

And we know that the Harris campaign was paying attention because it fired off at least one email missive that suggested that the “weird” attacks against the Republican ticket were driving the online conversation .

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a Biden-Harris campaign and DNC press conference on July 17 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Related article Harris decides on Tim Walz as running mate

The fact that Harris selected a candidate who does well online shouldn’t be surprising – this is the campaign that has embraced “coconut tree” and “ brat .” Harris has also done very well on TikTok, which is something Joe Biden ’s campaign couldn’t do.

But is the Walz pick indicative of a campaign that is too online?

That’s a fair question given that Harris skipped over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in favor of Walz. Shapiro, who was long seen as a front-runner for the vice presidential pick, divided a lot of the online left over his perceived views on the Israelis and Palestinians.

Notably, Walz shares many of those same views on the issue but received far less backlash than Shapiro, who is Jewish.

The fact that Walz faced virtually no opposition from any of the major Democratic Party factions almost certainly helped him. After all, the Harris campaign has been riding a wave of good emotions since she became the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Walz’s nondivisive manner on a larger scale seemed to play on a smaller scale as well. Harris had good personal chemistry with him and particularly liked his “happy go lucky” attitude, according to CNN reporting.

Getting along with a running mate and not potentially dividing the party with the choice is reason enough to pick someone.

One of the first rules when it comes to a vice presidential pick is to “Do no harm.” Harris likely did no harm with this pick. Walz served 12 years in the US House and is currently in his second term as governor . He can’t be attacked for having little experience, unlike his Republican counterpart Vance, who is the least liked vice presidential nominee coming out of his party’s convention on record.

A selection not without risk

The big question now is whether Harris left points on the board by choosing Walz instead of Shapiro.

Minnesota is likely not going to be competitive this fall. No Republican nominee for president has carried the state since 1972 – it’s Democrats’ longest presidential winning streak (outside of Washington, DC). And polling in the North Star State since Harris entered the race has shown that the streak is likely to continue.

Related video This pathway is wide open for Harris: Harry Enten examines possible paths to the White House for Harris

Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is almost certainly a must-win state for Harris if she wants to be president. In fact, it is probably the most important swing state this cycle, and the polling there has been very tight.

Shapiro currently holds a 61% favorable rating in Pennsylvania and outperformed Biden’s 2020 baseline by 14 points in 2022 .

Whether that would have been enough to propel a Harris-Shapiro ticket in Pennsylvania this fall is a question mark, though political science literature suggests it very well could have .

What we can say, though, is that Walz is not likely to help Harris with many swing voters. He did less than a point better than Biden in Minnesota when he won reelection in 2022. In fact, Shapiro seems to have done better with White voters without a college degree in Pennsylvania than Walz did with the same demographic in his state two years ago.

And even if Walz had been an electoral juggernaut, it remains to be seen whether he can help the Democratic ticket outside his home state.

If Harris ends up losing Pennsylvania and the election by a small margin, it will be one of history’s great “what-ifs.” Did she not choose Shapiro because she was afraid of the online left?

Harris, of course, is hoping the election won’t be that close. She seems to have momentum, and the Walz pick will probably do nothing to impede it.

Show all

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