I'm a 31 year old guy I must say that when it comes Young Adult I absolutely like it a lot. It's fun to read. There's usually a bit of brevity to it and I tend to like the romantic subplots, too. I also liked seeing the Pokémon gym badges in your video. Nice use of them!
Great video! I've been plotting a fantasy novel, and still have no clue whether it's YA or adult. It shares a lot of the same features as YA (readability, fast pace, focus on characters and coming-of-age), but the characters themselves are in their late teens/early 20's, and there is no romance subplot, instead focusing on the characters' inner struggles and the main plot. There's also a scene where a character is raped, and I wouldn't feel comfortable with marketing that to younger teenagers. Hopefully as I write more I'll get a better idea!
Thanks for creating these videos on YA Fantasy. When writing, it’s challenging to look at the story from an outside POV. But, this video was direct and specific, super helpful for creativity and logistics once the creation is done haha. Thank you!
As a super fan of all things Muppets and John Hurt's the Storyteller, as soon as you started reading that opening from "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" I said, "I bet it's teeth, I collect teeth!" If you've never seen the Storyteller series from Jim Henson, they are AMAZING spoke word stories with people and Muppets. The particular one where the devil collects teeth is, "The Soldier and Death," which is my favorite one.
This is a gorgeous video, Diane! I was wondering if you were planning to do an explainer video on this kind of subject matter, and of course, you did something exponentially better! You're the only person who can make me stop watching a great movie to watch your latest video. I'm so glad I did! This video is like the books you describe in the video: it is immersive and enthralling. I LOVE the colors and the set pieces! Everything you spoke about was something I wanted to know more about and you held my complete attention the entire time as I was spirited away, held captive by your dreamy narration while drinking in everything and wondering about both, what I was seeing, and what I was hearing. As you know, I am a big fan of your work, and of you as a person, and the things that you share via this channel, but there was something about this video that plunged me straight into the magic! Thank you, Diane, for this phenomenal, 3-D-esque, spherically perfect video! You are without question the right person to be doing what you do: a rare find! "Mais comment saurai-je que j'ai trouvé quelque chose de valeur? -Parce que le monde entier aura changé: il aura changé parce que vous l'avez trouvé." ☺️
Olá Diane Callahan! Meu coração inundou-se de alegria quando li o título desse novo vídeo na notificação. Eu e meu sócio de escrita nos sentimos homenageados com o tema, pois era o assunto que procurávamos para nos direcionar na jornada de criação do nosso livro. Estou realmente feliz e ansioso pela continuação. No meu coração você já é a madrinha do livro que estamos escrevendo e desejo do fundo da minha alma que você também seja a primeira a lê-lo. Com carinho; Chris F. Reis _______________________ Hello Diane Callahan! My heart was flooded with joy when I read the title of this new video in the notification. My writing partner and I felt honored with the theme, as it was the subject we were looking for to guide us in the journey of creating our book. I am really happy and looking forward to the continuation. In my heart you are already the godmother of the book we are writing and I wish from the bottom of my soul that you too be the first to read it. With love; Chris F. Reis
Your videos are so good! I feel like I learn a lot. And I really like the way you make examples. It makes me sad, that you don't have more subscribers.
Hi there, viewers! An adapted text version of this video is now available on Medium: quotidianwriter.medium.com/how-to-write-young-adult-fantasy-part-1-defining-the-genre-ff124139f02e You can check out my behind-the-scenes notes for this video on my Ko-fi page! www.ko-fi.com/post/Behind-the-Scenes-Writing-Better-YA-Fantasy-Part-I2I51Q573 I’ve received several comments asking for YA Fantasy book recommendations, and here are twelve (in no particular order) that are a good introduction to the genre. Remember that not all books are going to be five-star reads for all readers, so don’t judge the entire genre based on two or three books you didn’t enjoy. In most genres, I can name more mediocre books than ones I loved. So, keep an open mind, and if you hate one book, don’t let it prevent you from trying something new. 1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo 2. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater 3. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor 4. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman 5. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir 6. The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (starts out with a young protagonist who grows older as the series progresses) 7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 8. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire 9. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (although most say the sequel The Queen of Attolia is the best of the series) 10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore 11. This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab 12. Sabriel by Garth Nix
Thank you for such a great video. Very informative. Rich and quality material and presentation, as well as a pleasant experience just watching. I look forward to the second part. :)
I've just finished my YA sci-fantasy. You're channel is incredible. Really shows your love of the craft. I'm gonna check out all your videos over the next few days. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from you
Always Amazing.✨ I'll definitely keep writing. Don't have a favourite book yet, but the one I'm currently invested in is Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows. 📖
@@leonmayne797 I'm not sure of OP's situation, but that is generally a game-breaker when trying to traditionally publish YA. There are always exceptions, but It's very rare. You'll almost always get asked to age your characters down.
@@ayaya5888 The gross majority of adult books I encountered were always placed in the young adult section in some stores, such as Anne McCaffrey Pern series and Piers Anthony Xanth. Perhaps in finding publishers the publishers want under 18 but when it comes to how people organize them and market them, from amazon to brick and mortar stores they are going to go by reading level and not the age of the characters. One could simply go to publish it as an adult novel and find it in the young adult section regardless.
Dare I say, the novel I'm writing now, hence my viewing of this series. Love the series. I also love Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea series, although I didn't think of it as YA even though the protagonist starts out young. I've read it twice, once about thirty years ago and again recently after she sadly passed.
I often come to your videos for some inspiration. Could you do a video on tips for silencing your inner critic? I often come to 40,000 words, compare myself with the greats of the genre and say 'I suck, this is horrible' and delete all 40,000 words and start anew. It's killing me 😭. I've lost so much sleep fretting over whether to tear down my work, tracing my flaws and comparing it to the near perfect works I love.
I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling! My "Writer Problems" video addresses Imposter Syndrome at the start, which seems to be part of what you're experiencing: ruclips.net/video/6HzQMAqf1sg/видео.html. Well-Storied has some good tips for overcoming self-doubt, too: www.well-storied.com/blog/eight-ways-writers-can-combat-imposter-syndrome. Above all, don't compare your first draft to someone else's final draft. You can't really assess the novel's viability until you FINISH it. After that, you can take a step back, examine the big picture, and rearrange the pieces. Many writers scrap their first drafts and start over with the best parts in mind, or they go through a dozen rounds of revision. The published works you love have been through countless readers and editors. It really does take a village to raise a novel, as you'll see in the acknowledgments section of most books, where the author thanks at least a dozen people for critiquing their story. So keep pushing through, and remember that a novel's potential for revision is far more important than the quality of the first draft. Keep writing. :)
@@QuotidianWriter Thank you so much for your kind and reassuring words, Diane. I cannot thank you enough. You really helped me just save 40,000 words and going back to the drawing board. Writing is really such a trying career if you have the slightest self doubt, but your videos and advice are really encouraging for writers like me! I will keep pushing through and I'm learning and try/failing as I go just like character development I suppose haha :) once again, thank you and I look forward to all your content! And if no one has told you before - your videos are phenomenal!
An out of context material regarding the central theme of this video. Actually I was writing a story, for the first time. So I wanted some honest feedbacks about my writing. Feel absolutely free to criticize it. This is my first page; I started it directly so I haven't figured out the title yet. - Woof, woof... Woof, " shut up Tommy," cried Mr. Sen to his dog. As usual as any natural alarm clock, it signalled the start of my day. The sun had already showed up yet it failed to penetrate through the curtains. Everything seemed hazy and fade; as I looked through the partially illuminated room. My eyes burned, the more I tried. I stretched my hand and grabbed the mobile; it showed 8:30AM Sunday. I sighed a relief. Mr. Sen' s dog kept on barking for no reason or maybe for some reason, well, who cares. Re-adjusting my contortions, I got up and headed straight to the kitchen and found no cereals. So, I contented myself with a cup of coffee and some breads. The sun was shining brightly like a halogen kept 30cms away from one's eyes. And, I could feel the warm sensation on my cheeks; as I carried on with my morning crunches. Sipping my hot drink; I went around my legal mess. On the way, I stumbled on clothes and ran over some others; stacked bins lay by the side of the doors. In the midst of all these; I suddenly chewed a tiny chunk of something. I did not know what, but it was tasty. I liked it and kept chewing it until my mind thudded and I recalled; I had unwashed dishes since last night. But, I could care less; the serenity and calmness in my house echoed like a 2 year old screaming child. And, I felt happy about it. Done with my breads; I at once went to fix my bed. While doing my bed, my left foot crashed over a piece of paper. On removing my foot; I saw a crooked paper lying, smeared with dust and dried up spider's web. I picked up the paper, straightened it and read - " BF-266, Qtr-1, salt lake Kolkata, 16th Feb 2016. Roman's classical music course introduces you to the best music course in Kolkata for 6 months. With a guaranteed money-back trials....... Hurry up, contact us on 8736442592 and get yourself registerd. Registered participants will get a free voucher to attend a 2 week seminars of famous musicians around the city." read the last sentence. I parted the paper, down, left and then up and pushed it down my pocket along with my hands. I forced a flashback on myself and remembered, how I got this poster squeezed between my fingers, when I was traveling to college Street. He said " Feel free to contact us whenever you're interested." Such a vivid memory. At least the guy wasn't rude at all, unlike the other distributors. Drop down your opinions on what you felt after reading this.
This feels like something I would see in a tintin adventures story- but adult, i get accountant vibes from the protagonist ☆☆☆ it's really cool this writing is like a journal type ♡
Hi! Amazing video, it really helped me. I just have one question I've been looking everywhere and I'm still confused: what is the limit for violence? Like, what is "too graphic"? With sex, I find it easy and clear. But with violence I struggle a bit. Sometimes I believe people might feel like some scenes are too graphic, but they're not too much for me? OMG, that sounded awful lol. But yeah, how do I know when I should take it down a notch? Hope you answer. Thank you in advance!
It seems like a lot of "upper YA" can get pretty dark, especially in terms of assassinations and gritty deaths. Rape is generally avoided (or only referenced obliquely), and if young children are murdered, it's not overly gruesome. I remember Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire feeling more like horror, even though it otherwise had the tone of a children's fantasy story. As YA, The Hunger Games has always seemed quite graphic to me. I recently read Wilder Girls by Rory Power, which is YA sci-fi/horror, and it has some descriptive violent scenes as well. I'd say write what the story calls for without worrying if it's too graphic for some audiences, and then ask your beta readers if they would allow teens to read it.
YA Fantasy is a genre that I am interested in reading more about, but it is hard for me to do so. It’s because of two fears I have with the genre. The first is how long the book or series of books is. If the book looks like a brick and/or is part of a series of big books, I won’t pick it up. The second fear is that I’m concerned about how I would be able to understand a new world when it comes down to world building. I may look at new terms and not sure what they mean. I know that will change when I read more. It’s just an initial reaction I have if learning how to get use to a world I never been too. All that being said, I would definitely like to read a YA fantasy book that is very easy for me to get into. I’m open for some recommendations. P.S. I’ve read A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and I would very much recommend it to anyone who likes historical adventure books.
I loved The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue! It's featured in the third part of this video series when I talk about characters. :) There is always a bit of a learning curve when it comes to fantasy novels; I usually need to get about 20% into the story before I feel comfortable. Urban fantasy can be a good way to enter the genre, since it first grounds you in reality and then slowly introduces fantasy elements. Perhaps you could try This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab, which is only a duology, and both books are on the shorter side at well under 100,000 words. I also recommend The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (which is a four-book series) and of course Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (a trilogy, and the writing is lovely), which is one of my favorites. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare is very popular, too. Keep reading!
The later Harry Potter books are often considered "young adult"! These are my top ten picks for a general audience (in no particular order): 1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo 2. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater 3. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman 4. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir 5. The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (starts out with a young protagonist who grows older as the series progresses) 6. Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor (short story collection) 7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black 8. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire 9. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (although most say the sequel The Queen of Attolia is way better) 10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
A Fantasy series EVERY PERSON should read is Brian K. Fuller’s “The Trysmoon Saga!” Available on Amazon and Audible! It’s the best series I’ve ever read and it’s amazing! You will fall so in love with both the characters and the world! Go give it a chance! :)
And this is why I realized that the novel I'm currently working on, by no means belongs to YA. Mainly because the first book deals with the main character's father, even when she is presented in the story as the focus of the plot, and adding some violence (no sex scenes, I dislike writing it) and other themes.
Well, if the Hobbit is considered YA Fantasy then it would definitely be my favorite. Is there a way for us to submit questions to you without having to do it here in the comment section? You may have already mentioned it and I'm just forgetting.
It's kinda hard for me to find another male reader. I find trouble finding anyone to talk with. It's similar with writers too. I think video games play a role in this. Since fantasy games tend to put plot and lore first. So reading just tends to require attention span. Gaming doesn't really. If you can't get silence it affects your reading in gaming you can use your sense of hearing and eyesight to zone out.
I loved Mistborn and I generally like YA fantasy, but I've found myself sort of falling out of love with it, if that makes sense. Every book I pick up seems to have the same protagonist with the same emotional struggle and the same character voice and the same resentment toward their parents and all governing authorities above them. Every protagonist seems to be Katniss Everdeen with variations. The romantic interest also seems to be the same, even when he has a personality. It's just the same personality as the rest. I don't mean to complain, i mean, I loved it the first nine times. But after that, I got this creeping feeling like I was reading the same book over and over again and being convinced by marketing strategists that it was a different one each time. Maybe it's because I don't find the edgy teen character relatable anymore? I'm a teen writer, and a lot of their traits I don't find relatable or engaging. Angry at all adults in your life? I love my parents. Heck, I even like them. Moody and rebellious and won't take crap from anyone? Only in the mornings. Reckless? Uh, no. Abuses the power set before them? Maybe, I've never had enough power to find out. But it would just be nice to have something different. I guess I don't like most YA, I just like the possibilities it presents. Which makes me concerned about my own YA novel. It definitely has the PG-13 rating and the age appropriate characters, but the pace is much slower. It tells about a long journey of five unlikely characters who are called by a god to become holy knights. It incorporates themes of forgiveness (especially of yourself), unity, mercy, and becoming a better person through painful experiences, as well as the bitter pill of why good people are allowed to suffer. I don't think these themes are unique to teenagers, and I don't think they are limited to adults, and I don't think they should be. But I know that as a young person, questions I have about these topics plague me, sometimes without my knowledge. I feel that teens needed to be thinking about them if they aren't already. And yes, I have a romance in there, but it's actually quite understated. I just know what I want to write and write it. But I want this book specifically targeted toward teens. Help, anyone? Also, I have read Seraphina. Great book. And I liked Eragon for what it was.
what if it is like a time leap type story where the guy is an adult who made mistakes in his life and is able to go back to the past when he was younger to right those wrongs. Would such a story qualify as YA?
That's a good question! If the majority of the book takes place in the past when he's younger, it might qualify as YA. However, when I think of retrospective books like Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane (the narrator is an adult telling the story of his childhood), that makes me see how it could also be considered an adult novel. It really depends on the tone and themes you're exploring, I think. If the themes appeal more to adults than teens (or vice versa), then that might answer your question for you.
I'm sorry, but as a member of the lgbt community, i don't need more sad attempts at same sex romance. I prefer a good story over shallow "representation" any day. Its not my place to demand the world and universe to notice me and validate me. That comes from within.
I agree that shallow representation is a problem, which is why writers should focus on creating interesting personalities first and identities second. I'm also part of that community, and I appreciate it when authors try to include meaningful representation rather than not trying at all. Representation isn't about being noticed or validated, but about showing the full spectrum and realities of the human experience. I talk more about giving LGBTQ characters depth and humanity in this article: medium.com/@quotidianwriter/not-all-rainbows-rise-of-the-queer-antihero-aa8890dd51fc
@@QuotidianWriter I wholeheartedly appreciate the sentiment. You adore and love the craft of writing as much as I do, if not more. For you, you do consider the interesting stories and narratives that can be constructed and what we could take away from them. In other cases, the call for representation seems patronizing. As if we're so weak or small in the world, we have to look up to big media giants to represent the idea of our existence and put a good word for us out there in the big bad world. I don't personally feel that is necessary. Just my two cents anyways. Thanks for the reply! Keep up the good work. I look forward to your next video c:
@@skinkhunt6525 I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts, and I think a lot of people would agree with that sentiment. It is frustrating to see half-assed or back-patting diversity, especially when it seems to imply that those within the represented community aren't capable of speaking for themselves. My hope is that people will strive toward empathy, both as writers and readers. Keep writing! ;)
I'm a 31 year old guy I must say that when it comes Young Adult I absolutely like it a lot. It's fun to read. There's usually a bit of brevity to it and I tend to like the romantic subplots, too. I also liked seeing the Pokémon gym badges in your video. Nice use of them!
Wait ....am i first on my favorite youtiber's video ????! I am so happyyyyyyy ! Love you!!!!!
Most people just say "First" and leave it at that.
@@sethseth9059 most people aren't aspiring writers.
Great video! I've been plotting a fantasy novel, and still have no clue whether it's YA or adult. It shares a lot of the same features as YA (readability, fast pace, focus on characters and coming-of-age), but the characters themselves are in their late teens/early 20's, and there is no romance subplot, instead focusing on the characters' inner struggles and the main plot. There's also a scene where a character is raped, and I wouldn't feel comfortable with marketing that to younger teenagers. Hopefully as I write more I'll get a better idea!
And also this video came just in time ! I was hoping you would release something about fantasy !
Thanks for creating these videos on YA Fantasy. When writing, it’s challenging to look at the story from an outside POV. But, this video was direct and specific, super helpful for creativity and logistics once the creation is done haha. Thank you!
As a super fan of all things Muppets and John Hurt's the Storyteller, as soon as you started reading that opening from "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" I said, "I bet it's teeth, I collect teeth!"
If you've never seen the Storyteller series from Jim Henson, they are AMAZING spoke word stories with people and Muppets. The particular one where the devil collects teeth is, "The Soldier and Death," which is my favorite one.
agreed! it's an amazing series.
This is a gorgeous video, Diane! I was wondering if you were planning to do an explainer video on this kind of subject matter, and of course, you did something exponentially better! You're the only person who can make me stop watching a great movie to watch your latest video. I'm so glad I did! This video is like the books you describe in the video: it is immersive and enthralling. I LOVE the colors and the set pieces! Everything you spoke about was something I wanted to know more about and you held my complete attention the entire time as I was spirited away, held captive by your dreamy narration while drinking in everything and wondering about both, what I was seeing, and what I was hearing.
As you know, I am a big fan of your work, and of you as a person, and the things that you share via this channel, but there was something about this video that plunged me straight into the magic! Thank you, Diane, for this phenomenal, 3-D-esque, spherically perfect video! You are without question the right person to be doing what you do: a rare find! "Mais comment saurai-je que j'ai trouvé quelque chose de valeur? -Parce que le monde entier aura changé: il aura changé parce que vous l'avez trouvé." ☺️
Thank you so much for your kind words, Joel! Your comments are their own works of art. :)
Olá Diane Callahan!
Meu coração inundou-se de alegria quando li o título desse novo vídeo na notificação. Eu e meu sócio de escrita nos sentimos homenageados com o tema, pois era o assunto que procurávamos para nos direcionar na jornada de criação do nosso livro. Estou realmente feliz e ansioso pela continuação. No meu coração você já é a madrinha do livro que estamos escrevendo e desejo do fundo da minha alma que você também seja a primeira a lê-lo.
Com carinho;
Chris F. Reis
_______________________
Hello Diane Callahan!
My heart was flooded with joy when I read the title of this new video in the notification. My writing partner and I felt honored with the theme, as it was the subject we were looking for to guide us in the journey of creating our book. I am really happy and looking forward to the continuation. In my heart you are already the godmother of the book we are writing and I wish from the bottom of my soul that you too be the first to read it.
With love;
Chris F. Reis
One can see all the work you put in your videos, thank you so much for your help!
Your videos are so good! I feel like I learn a lot. And I really like the way you make examples. It makes me sad, that you don't have more subscribers.
Your videos are awesome! You are helping lots of newbie writers like me, keep it up!
This series is amazing you really inspire me!
Hey, hope you’re all good. Good to hear your voice after lockdown here in NZ
Hi there, viewers! An adapted text version of this video is now available on Medium: quotidianwriter.medium.com/how-to-write-young-adult-fantasy-part-1-defining-the-genre-ff124139f02e
You can check out my behind-the-scenes notes for this video on my Ko-fi page! www.ko-fi.com/post/Behind-the-Scenes-Writing-Better-YA-Fantasy-Part-I2I51Q573
I’ve received several comments asking for YA Fantasy book recommendations, and here are twelve (in no particular order) that are a good introduction to the genre. Remember that not all books are going to be five-star reads for all readers, so don’t judge the entire genre based on two or three books you didn’t enjoy. In most genres, I can name more mediocre books than ones I loved. So, keep an open mind, and if you hate one book, don’t let it prevent you from trying something new.
1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
2. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
3. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
4. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
5. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
6. The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (starts out with a young protagonist who grows older as the series progresses)
7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
8. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
9. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (although most say the sequel The Queen of Attolia is the best of the series)
10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
11. This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
12. Sabriel by Garth Nix
Great work. I REALLY got a lot out of it. I'm looking forward to the next parts.
Thank You. 💜
Great information! Thank you. The Neal Schusterman Unwind books shook me up. Powerful story.
Thank you for such a great video. Very informative. Rich and quality material and presentation, as well as a pleasant experience just watching. I look forward to the second part. :)
Thank you. I’ve just finished my first book and have been battling the genre issue. Hopefully by the end of the second video I have it figured out.
I've just finished my YA sci-fantasy. You're channel is incredible. Really shows your love of the craft. I'm gonna check out all your videos over the next few days. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from you
Let us know so we can read it please! 😄
Always Amazing.✨ I'll definitely keep writing.
Don't have a favourite book yet, but the one I'm currently invested in is Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows. 📖
The sad thing is my characters age is above 18, I guess it's really good to see this video it helps me understand a lot. Thank you ❤️💛💙💚
That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not YA.
@@leonmayne797 I'm not sure of OP's situation, but that is generally a game-breaker when trying to traditionally publish YA. There are always exceptions, but It's very rare. You'll almost always get asked to age your characters down.
@@ayaya5888 The gross majority of adult books I encountered were always placed in the young adult section in some stores, such as Anne McCaffrey Pern series and Piers Anthony Xanth. Perhaps in finding publishers the publishers want under 18 but when it comes to how people organize them and market them, from amazon to brick and mortar stores they are going to go by reading level and not the age of the characters. One could simply go to publish it as an adult novel and find it in the young adult section regardless.
You videos are like vacation for the soul.
Reading Scythe right now -- really liking it for its exploration of philosophical themes
Awesome perfect video! ♥️
Dare I say, the novel I'm writing now, hence my viewing of this series. Love the series. I also love Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea series, although I didn't think of it as YA even though the protagonist starts out young. I've read it twice, once about thirty years ago and again recently after she sadly passed.
I think this is just wat I needed. Thank am a YA writer tooo. Thanks so much
🙆🏼♂️😍😍😍😭😭😭😭😭😭🤞🏿This is so Amazing, Helpful... informative ! I will definitely keep on writing ✍️📃
I love your videos!!!
I often come to your videos for some inspiration. Could you do a video on tips for silencing your inner critic? I often come to 40,000 words, compare myself with the greats of the genre and say 'I suck, this is horrible' and delete all 40,000 words and start anew. It's killing me 😭. I've lost so much sleep fretting over whether to tear down my work, tracing my flaws and comparing it to the near perfect works I love.
I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling! My "Writer Problems" video addresses Imposter Syndrome at the start, which seems to be part of what you're experiencing: ruclips.net/video/6HzQMAqf1sg/видео.html.
Well-Storied has some good tips for overcoming self-doubt, too: www.well-storied.com/blog/eight-ways-writers-can-combat-imposter-syndrome.
Above all, don't compare your first draft to someone else's final draft. You can't really assess the novel's viability until you FINISH it. After that, you can take a step back, examine the big picture, and rearrange the pieces. Many writers scrap their first drafts and start over with the best parts in mind, or they go through a dozen rounds of revision. The published works you love have been through countless readers and editors. It really does take a village to raise a novel, as you'll see in the acknowledgments section of most books, where the author thanks at least a dozen people for critiquing their story. So keep pushing through, and remember that a novel's potential for revision is far more important than the quality of the first draft. Keep writing. :)
@@QuotidianWriter Thank you so much for your kind and reassuring words, Diane. I cannot thank you enough. You really helped me just save 40,000 words and going back to the drawing board. Writing is really such a trying career if you have the slightest self doubt, but your videos and advice are really encouraging for writers like me! I will keep pushing through and I'm learning and try/failing as I go just like character development I suppose haha :) once again, thank you and I look forward to all your content! And if no one has told you before - your videos are phenomenal!
Great vid✌️
An out of context material regarding the central theme of this video.
Actually I was writing a story, for the first time. So I wanted some honest feedbacks about my writing.
Feel absolutely free to criticize it.
This is my first page; I started it directly so I haven't figured out the title yet.
- Woof, woof... Woof, " shut up Tommy," cried Mr. Sen to his dog. As usual as any natural alarm clock, it signalled the start of my day. The sun had already showed up yet it failed to penetrate through the curtains.
Everything seemed hazy and fade; as I looked through the partially illuminated room. My eyes burned, the more I tried. I stretched my hand and grabbed the mobile; it showed 8:30AM Sunday. I sighed a relief. Mr. Sen' s dog kept on barking for no reason or maybe for some reason, well, who cares. Re-adjusting my contortions, I got up and headed straight to the kitchen and found no cereals. So, I contented myself with a cup of coffee and some breads. The sun was shining brightly like a halogen kept 30cms away from one's eyes. And, I could feel the warm sensation on my cheeks; as I carried on with my morning crunches.
Sipping my hot drink; I went around my legal mess. On the way, I stumbled on clothes and ran over some others; stacked bins lay by the side of the doors. In the midst of all these; I suddenly chewed a tiny chunk of something. I did not know what, but it was tasty. I liked it and kept chewing it until my mind thudded and I recalled; I had unwashed dishes since last night. But, I could care less; the serenity and calmness in my house echoed like a 2 year old screaming child. And, I felt happy about it.
Done with my breads; I at once went to fix my bed. While doing my bed, my left foot crashed over a piece of paper. On removing my foot; I saw a crooked paper lying, smeared with dust and dried up spider's web. I picked up the paper, straightened it and read - " BF-266, Qtr-1, salt lake Kolkata, 16th Feb 2016. Roman's classical music course introduces you to the best music course in Kolkata for 6 months. With a guaranteed money-back trials....... Hurry up, contact us on 8736442592 and get yourself registerd. Registered participants will get a free voucher to attend a 2 week seminars of famous musicians around the city." read the last sentence. I parted the paper, down, left and then up and pushed it down my pocket along with my hands. I forced a flashback on myself and remembered, how I got this poster squeezed between my fingers, when I was traveling to college Street. He said " Feel free to contact us whenever you're interested." Such a vivid memory. At least the guy wasn't rude at all, unlike the other distributors.
Drop down your opinions on what you felt after reading this.
This feels like something I would see in a tintin adventures story- but adult, i get accountant vibes from the protagonist ☆☆☆ it's really cool this writing is like a journal type ♡
You deserve more
Hi! Amazing video, it really helped me. I just have one question I've been looking everywhere and I'm still confused: what is the limit for violence? Like, what is "too graphic"? With sex, I find it easy and clear. But with violence I struggle a bit. Sometimes I believe people might feel like some scenes are too graphic, but they're not too much for me? OMG, that sounded awful lol. But yeah, how do I know when I should take it down a notch?
Hope you answer. Thank you in advance!
It seems like a lot of "upper YA" can get pretty dark, especially in terms of assassinations and gritty deaths. Rape is generally avoided (or only referenced obliquely), and if young children are murdered, it's not overly gruesome. I remember Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire feeling more like horror, even though it otherwise had the tone of a children's fantasy story. As YA, The Hunger Games has always seemed quite graphic to me. I recently read Wilder Girls by Rory Power, which is YA sci-fi/horror, and it has some descriptive violent scenes as well.
I'd say write what the story calls for without worrying if it's too graphic for some audiences, and then ask your beta readers if they would allow teens to read it.
YA Fantasy is a genre that I am interested in reading more about, but it is hard for me to do so. It’s because of two fears I have with the genre. The first is how long the book or series of books is. If the book looks like a brick and/or is part of a series of big books, I won’t pick it up. The second fear is that I’m concerned about how I would be able to understand a new world when it comes down to world building. I may look at new terms and not sure what they mean. I know that will change when I read more. It’s just an initial reaction I have if learning how to get use to a world I never been too.
All that being said, I would definitely like to read a YA fantasy book that is very easy for me to get into. I’m open for some recommendations.
P.S. I’ve read A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and I would very much recommend it to anyone who likes historical adventure books.
I loved The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue! It's featured in the third part of this video series when I talk about characters. :) There is always a bit of a learning curve when it comes to fantasy novels; I usually need to get about 20% into the story before I feel comfortable. Urban fantasy can be a good way to enter the genre, since it first grounds you in reality and then slowly introduces fantasy elements. Perhaps you could try This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab, which is only a duology, and both books are on the shorter side at well under 100,000 words. I also recommend The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (which is a four-book series) and of course Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (a trilogy, and the writing is lovely), which is one of my favorites. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare is very popular, too. Keep reading!
@@QuotidianWriter Thank you for the recommendations. I'll start this genre with YA Urban Fantasy and see where I go from there.
I like this video.
nice video, do you plan to add a series for not YA fantasy?
I don't know that I've ever read a YA Fantasy novel. What are THE VERY BEST 10 out there that I should read?
The later Harry Potter books are often considered "young adult"! These are my top ten picks for a general audience (in no particular order):
1. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
2. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
3. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
4. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
5. The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (starts out with a young protagonist who grows older as the series progresses)
6. Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor (short story collection)
7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
8. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
9. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (although most say the sequel The Queen of Attolia is way better)
10. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
A Fantasy series EVERY PERSON should read is Brian K. Fuller’s “The Trysmoon Saga!” Available on Amazon and Audible! It’s the best series I’ve ever read and it’s amazing! You will fall so in love with both the characters and the world! Go give it a chance! :)
Nice....I also want to see Adult Fantasy
👏👏👏
And this is why I realized that the novel I'm currently working on, by no means belongs to YA. Mainly because the first book deals with the main character's father, even when she is presented in the story as the focus of the plot, and adding some violence (no sex scenes, I dislike writing it) and other themes.
Well, if the Hobbit is considered YA Fantasy then it would definitely be my favorite. Is there a way for us to submit questions to you without having to do it here in the comment section? You may have already mentioned it and I'm just forgetting.
A bad YA fantasy would be Cassandra Clare's "The Mortal Instruments" last two books.
Harry Potter series is still my favorite
Is the Gone series by Micheal Grant considered a Y/A Fantasy?
It could be considered urban fantasy, but it looks like it's more often categorized as dystopian sci-fi, given the apocalyptic feel.
It's kinda hard for me to find another male reader. I find trouble finding anyone to talk with. It's similar with writers too. I think video games play a role in this. Since fantasy games tend to put plot and lore first. So reading just tends to require attention span. Gaming doesn't really. If you can't get silence it affects your reading in gaming you can use your sense of hearing and eyesight to zone out.
I've met a lot of male readers and writers on Reddit! You could check out www.reddit.com/r/fantasy and www.reddit.com/r/books. :)
I loved Mistborn and I generally like YA fantasy, but I've found myself sort of falling out of love with it, if that makes sense. Every book I pick up seems to have the same protagonist with the same emotional struggle and the same character voice and the same resentment toward their parents and all governing authorities above them. Every protagonist seems to be Katniss Everdeen with variations. The romantic interest also seems to be the same, even when he has a personality. It's just the same personality as the rest.
I don't mean to complain, i mean, I loved it the first nine times. But after that, I got this creeping feeling like I was reading the same book over and over again and being convinced by marketing strategists that it was a different one each time. Maybe it's because I don't find the edgy teen character relatable anymore? I'm a teen writer, and a lot of their traits I don't find relatable or engaging. Angry at all adults in your life? I love my parents. Heck, I even like them. Moody and rebellious and won't take crap from anyone? Only in the mornings. Reckless? Uh, no. Abuses the power set before them? Maybe, I've never had enough power to find out. But it would just be nice to have something different.
I guess I don't like most YA, I just like the possibilities it presents. Which makes me concerned about my own YA novel. It definitely has the PG-13 rating and the age appropriate characters, but the pace is much slower. It tells about a long journey of five unlikely characters who are called by a god to become holy knights. It incorporates themes of forgiveness (especially of yourself), unity, mercy, and becoming a better person through painful experiences, as well as the bitter pill of why good people are allowed to suffer. I don't think these themes are unique to teenagers, and I don't think they are limited to adults, and I don't think they should be. But I know that as a young person, questions I have about these topics plague me, sometimes without my knowledge. I feel that teens needed to be thinking about them if they aren't already. And yes, I have a romance in there, but it's actually quite understated. I just know what I want to write and write it. But I want this book specifically targeted toward teens. Help, anyone?
Also, I have read Seraphina. Great book. And I liked Eragon for what it was.
what if it is like a time leap type story where the guy is an adult who made mistakes in his life and is able to go back to the past when he was younger to right those wrongs. Would such a story qualify as YA?
That's a good question! If the majority of the book takes place in the past when he's younger, it might qualify as YA. However, when I think of retrospective books like Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane (the narrator is an adult telling the story of his childhood), that makes me see how it could also be considered an adult novel. It really depends on the tone and themes you're exploring, I think. If the themes appeal more to adults than teens (or vice versa), then that might answer your question for you.
The Alien Plan by Jack Fleming
This comment of mine isn't necessarily geared toward any one video of yours, Ms/Mrs? Callahan. ...
... Thank you.
Tintenherz (Inkheart) by Cornelia Funke
Thats probably right. :) But the two following books are nothing for middle-graders at all, I think.
Arkanae
I'm sorry, but as a member of the lgbt community, i don't need more sad attempts at same sex romance. I prefer a good story over shallow "representation" any day.
Its not my place to demand the world and universe to notice me and validate me. That comes from within.
I agree that shallow representation is a problem, which is why writers should focus on creating interesting personalities first and identities second. I'm also part of that community, and I appreciate it when authors try to include meaningful representation rather than not trying at all. Representation isn't about being noticed or validated, but about showing the full spectrum and realities of the human experience. I talk more about giving LGBTQ characters depth and humanity in this article: medium.com/@quotidianwriter/not-all-rainbows-rise-of-the-queer-antihero-aa8890dd51fc
@@QuotidianWriter I wholeheartedly appreciate the sentiment. You adore and love the craft of writing as much as I do, if not more. For you, you do consider the interesting stories and narratives that can be constructed and what we could take away from them.
In other cases, the call for representation seems patronizing. As if we're so weak or small in the world, we have to look up to big media giants to represent the idea of our existence and put a good word for us out there in the big bad world. I don't personally feel that is necessary.
Just my two cents anyways. Thanks for the reply! Keep up the good work. I look forward to your next video c:
@@skinkhunt6525 I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts, and I think a lot of people would agree with that sentiment. It is frustrating to see half-assed or back-patting diversity, especially when it seems to imply that those within the represented community aren't capable of speaking for themselves. My hope is that people will strive toward empathy, both as writers and readers. Keep writing! ;)
Get the communist/SJW zealots out of the way, and YA will radically improve immediately.
Tip 1: Don’t