What Makes a Book YA?

Young Adult, or YA, is kind of a strange term. Publishing is somewhat unique in that when we say "young adult," we're referring to books for and about teenagers. The YA label also comes with certain rules that writers should follow to make sure their book has the best chance of succeeding in the marketplace.
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AUDIENCE, SUBJECT MATTER, CHARACTER ARC, AND VOICE:

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• YA books are aimed at readers aged twelve to eighteen. Within YA, there are two divisions, 12+ and 14+. (You can often see these in reviews of YA novels from industry publications like Kirkus and School Library Journal.) Books in the 12+ range tend to have fifteen-year-old protagonists and somewhat lighter content, Books in the 14+ range address usually heavier topics with more complex language, and the protagonists are sixteen or older.
• YA protagonists are almost always on some journey of self-discovery. They're at a point in their lives where they don't depend on their parents as much and value their independence, and they're often looking forward to what lies ahead. They want to choose their own paths in life and overcome their own obstacles.
• The best thing about YA is that all the books are shelved together in bookstores and libraries. You'll find science fiction next to romance next to contemporary stories. So when you're wondering, "Can I write a YA novel about...?" the answer is probably yes. Teen readers have a wide variety of interests and maturity levels. Some sixteen-year-olds are ready to take on the world, and some aren't ready for their first date. Both can be totally believable in the hands of the right author.
• The most important factor in any YA novel, in my opinion, is the voice. Agents and editors can tell in a page or two whether the protagonist in a YA novel feels like a real teenager. When a voice is too wise or tries too hard to teach a lesson to the reader, everyone can see it. When you're writing a YA protagonist, go ahead and let them make mistakes and learn from them. Let them be self-centered because they haven't done a lot of living yet. Let them be the change they wish to see in the world...but don't make that change too easy.

Attend a writers conference in 2025:

• Feb. 7-8, 2025: San Diego Writing Workshop (Online)
• Feb. 22, 2025 Las Vegas Writing Workshop
• March 1, 2025: South Carolina Writing Workshop
• March 7, 2025: Carolina Writing Workshop (Charlotte)
• March 7-8, 2025: Texas Writing Workshop (Online)
• March 8, 2025: Carolina Writing Workshop (Raleigh)
• March 14, 2025: Alabama Writing Workshop
• March 15, 2025: Atlanta Writing Workshop
• March 15, 2025: Writing Workshop of South Florida (Fort Lauderdale)
• March 22, 2025: Oklahoma Writing Workshop
• March 22, 2025: Chesapeake Writing Workshop
• March 22, 2025: Colorado Writing Workshop
• March 28, 2025: Connecticut Writing Workshop
• March 29, 2025: Boston Writing Workshop
• April 4-5, 2025: Ohio Writing Workshop (Online)
• April 5, 2025: Toronto Writing Workshop
• April 5, 2025: Minnesota Writing Workshop
• April 11, 2025: Florida Writing Workshop (Orlando)
• April 11, 2025: Sacramento Writing Workshop
• April 12, 2025: Writing Workshop of San Francisco
• April 12, 2025: Florida Writing Workshop (Tampa)
• April 25, 2025: Kentucky Writing Workshop
• April 26, 2025: Tennessee Writing Workshop
• April 26, 2025: Philadelphia Writing Workshop
• May 2, 2025: Arizona Writing Workshop
• May 3, 2025: Michigan Writing Workshop
• May 3, 2025: Writing Conference of Los Angeles
• May 9, 2025: Portland Writing Workshop
• May 9-10, 2025: Pittsburgh Writing Workshop (Online)
• May 10, 2025: Seattle Writing Workshop
• May 17, 2025: Cincinnati Writing Workshop
• June 13-14, 2025: California Writing Workshop (Online)
• June 21, 2025: Writing Workshop of Chicago
• July 26-27, 2025: New England Writing Workshop (Online)
• October 2025: Writing Retreat in Santorini, Greece
• October 2026: Writing Retreat in Tuscany, Italy

This post was composed by ​Carlie Webber, a certified professional editor and former literary agent currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Pepperdine University. Her favorite genres to read and edit include MG, YA, mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, and contemporary fiction. ​Carlie is part of the social media staff at Writing Day Workshops.

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