Writing Adolescent Fiction

Welcome to the textbook on writing adolescent fiction. Adolescent fiction is a personal, identifiable and casual genre. When they have entered their teen years, many boys and girls alike try their hands at writing it. Sometimes they will decide a few years later that they have written utter garbage and throw their stories into the trash (or the Recycle Bin on their computers). Some end up writing best-selling adolescent novels as adults.

Whether you are interested in writing novels that will be read by millions or just writing stories you want to share with a few friends, this textbook is for you.

Much of this advice will be specific to the genre of adolescent fiction, although some parts of it are useful to writers anywhere.

Basics

 * /Setting/
 * /Plot/
 * /Style/
 * /Dialogue/

Character development
see wikibook Character Creation
 * /Creating your characters/
 * /Describing physical characteristics/
 * /Revealing personality/

Handling themes

 * /Depression and suicide/
 * /Teen pregnancy/
 * /Drugs/
 * /Dealing with loss/
 * /Teen angst/ (against social norms, corporations, laws that restrict teens, apathy, stupidity, etc.)
 * /Eating disorders and body image/
 * /Academic pressure/
 * /Gangs and violence/
 * /Bullying/
 * /Internet and social media/
 * /Sexual orientation/
 * /Poverty and socioeconomic class/
 * /Growing up ethnic/
 * /Risky sex/

Special considerations for the genre

 * /Generations in history/
 * Teen myths and stereotypes to avoid
 * /Abortions/
 * /Culture difference/
 * /LGBTQ/

Miscellaneous

 * /Representing pop culture in your novel/
 * /Character names/