Why Writers Should Read Young Adult Novels
When I’m 80 years old, I’m still going to read young adult books. In fact, I’ll likely still prefer them over adult novels. You might be convinced you can’t read them into adulthood, but these books aren’t just for a specific age range.
They also make great references and learning tools for us as writers. Reading YA novels can kickstart your path into the writing world, help you reach your goals and discover your identity as a writer.
Reading Routine
A good writer is an avid reader. Just like you need to write consistently, you need to read consistently, too. You’re most likely to do so if you’re diving into young adult books. They’re undoubtedly page-turners. Think of some of the most popular young adult books like The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, The Fault in our Stars by John Green and The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. These stories are easy to understand, yet are based on intriguing ideas and have successful character development. Just because they’re aimed at young adults doesn’t mean they can’t have intricate plotlines and stunning storytelling. The Wilder Girls by Rory Power, published this year, tackles gender identity, queer love, survival, and feminism weaved within the page-turning plot of a chemical toxin overtaking an all-girls boarding school. The Book Thief is narrated by death during World War II and the Holocaust— a creative, moving and incredibly intelligent concept for readers of all ages.
With all of that being said, reading young adult novels doesn’t feel like work. You quickly get captured into the lives of the characters and the harsh worlds they’re trapped in.
Because of this, you’re most likely to finish them and to read more books. This also makes it easier to branch out into different genres, such as fantasy, romance, suspense, or historical fiction. The greater the variety of genres you read, the more knowledge and inspiration you’ll have yourself when it comes to writing on a particular topic.
Shake Up Your Reading Slump
If you’re a huge book nerd like me, you’ll know that a ‘reading slump’ is difficult to shake off. I’ll often go through a spurt of reading several books within days, but then hit a wall where I can’t get into a book for months. Usually, that’s because I try venturing off into adult books when I’m just wanting an exciting, easy, recreational read that I’m more likely to find in a young adult novel.
Try getting into more young adult series rather than just stand alones. If you love the first book, odds are you’ll be picking up the rest soon enough. To find books you may be interested in, bookish Youtubers are known for their love of YA novels and can offer you a numbre of recommendations. I also love the Goodreads app, where you can set reading challenges for yourself and get recommendations based on your reading history.
Write For a Larger Audience
Young adult novels appeal to a large audience. Teenagers will read them if they’re at a higher reading level and adults pick them up if they’re simply wanting a good read. Because young adults novels are an umbrella covering several age groups, you can follow their styles to attract more attention to your work.
Knowing your audience is important to keep in mind when you’re writing—but if you’re writing for ‘young adults,’ your work is bound to meet the eyes of many more people.
Take Notes
Young adult novels are your textbooks. Fill your personal bookshelf, visit the library regularly and read as many genres as you can. Take note of what you like and what you don’t like. Focus on their use of plot, pacing and narrative arc. Keep a notebook and fill it with what you learn along your reading journey. By using YA novels as blueprints for your future writing projects, you can foster your writing skills, perfect your craft, learn to speak to a new audience and read some really amazing literature along the way.
Want to read more books but don’t have the time? Try listening to your favorite novels on Audible!
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About Jayda Noyes
Jayda Noyes is a journalist in Saskatchewan, Canada, but has been a lover of creative writing for much longer. She’s fresh out of university with a bachelor's degree in journalism, and now writes for a small city's daily newspaper. While she's passionate about giving others a voice, creative writing is how she gives herself one. She shares her poetry on Instagram and her website connecting and drawing inspiration from other creators.