How To Write, Publish Books For Young Adults

The Twilight Saga's New Moon was a mega hit at the box office this weekend raking in $141.3 million. The film, adapted from a series of wildly popular young adult books. So, could you write the next big thing in teen literature? Regina Brooks author of Writing Great Books For Young Adults stopped by with tips on how you can craft your idea.

Brook's 5 Rules for Engaging Young Adult Fiction Readers
• Convince the reader the protagonist is one of them
• Don't be condescending.
• Read, read read today's young adult fiction.
• Don't worry about commercial considerations.
• Forge new paths.

How to Land a Publishing Deal:

1. Educate yourself on the Young Adult Genre: If you have never written a young adult novel before there are numerous ways to familiarize yourself with the genre
• Buy resource and how–to books such as Writing Great Books for Young Adults
• Participate in Writing Conferences
• Read Young Adult blogs and magazines and tap into social networks where authors discuss the genre
• Enter writing contests such as www.writingclasses.com
to gain credibility as a writer in the genre.

2. Complete your Manuscript: A first draft of your story is not necessarily completing your manuscript. You will want to be sure to have others read it and give you constructive feedback. You must have your full book written before trying to get an agent or a publisher.

3. Submit your work to Agents: Most of the larger publishing houses will no longer accept manuscripts that are sent directly to them. You’ll need to get and agent.
• Research agents on-line and in directories to find out their guidelines and how they want you to submit your work.
• Create a hit list of agents you want to approach with your manuscript. You will probably want to send it out to multiple agents. Just in case you have a few agents who decide to pass on your idea.

Writing Great Books For Young Adults: Everything You Need to Know, from Crafting the Idea to Landing a Publishing Deal is available now.