Faith's Friendship

Nazarea Andrews is a great writer and last years ViNoWriMo winner. Her novel Faith's Friendship is now available on Amazon from Key Publications, which opened their doors this January.

On her blog she is giving away a copy of her novel! Today is the last day to participate for a chance to win! Check out her blog at www.nazarea-andrews.com

Young Love

Hey guys I'm sorry I haven't been posting. I promise its not me giving up on the blog. It has just been a bit rough the last two weeks. My boyfriend and I broke up after almost two years...makes writing just difficult, but the experience could be useful in my writing later on..who knows. I'm trying to find some sort of positive in this situation.

Anyway on to some advice about Young Love in YA novels.

Sometimes an adult author writing for the YA genre can forget just how painful young love can be. Sure they've been through it before, but they may have forgotten the intensity. Remember young adults are feeling everything for the first time. Love is a new concept. The intense feelings and emotions that overwhelm a young adult can even scare them. The want to always be with that person and see them is new. Some handle it better than others while others can get obsessive. I've seen the stalker types at my old high school! Remember your first love and even your second. Note the differences. Young love for a freshman in high school is entirely different from the love a freshman in college feels. Make note of this.

Remember your first love in middle school or high school. How different that felt from the full blown thing in college? With each year and grade level love can intensify as young adults start to feel older. A freshman in high school thinks of marriage and college as some faraway concept. A senior in high school has college looming over them along w. many of its responsibilities. Obviously depending on your character and novel sex can come into play as the years progress in high school. Many different things can create deeper bonds between YA's so go hang out by the local high school and watch the couples.

You'll see the skanky/horny ones that make out until the last possible second. The shy ones who only hold hands, the older, mature couples who remind you of when you were younger. etc. Note the differences and remember there are different kinds of love and couples that all occur in different stages in high school. Experience and age play a big role. One 17 year old can be completely in love with their boyfriend and sleeping with him, while her best friend could still not have even had a boyfriend or her first kiss.

Know your character and assess what they have already experienced. Young adult love is different for everyone.

Book Released Jan. 5!

Key Publications is opening its doors tomorrow with the publication of FAITH'S FRIENDSHIP by Nazarea Andrews. Release date January 5th!! If you are interested why not check out her blog and enter for a chance to win a FREE copy. For more information visit her website by clicking on her name.

I promise she's a great writer!


Interested in submitting a query to Key Publications then click here for more info.

Teen Slang in Books

Hey guys,

First of all, sorry I haven't been on lately. I just have been busy, I guess. The New Year didn't exactly turn out as planned but I do hope you all had a better time! Wish you all happiness in 2010! :D

Anyway, so for those tempted to give writing for the YA genre a try stop and please please don't forget about voice. A character's voice should sound authentic. Constantly trying to use slang is just...well annoying.
EX: "Oh my god! Dude, no freaking way! It's like totally rocking, for sure!"

That's just way too much slang for a teen to believe. (Although, I'll admit. I have used, "Dude, no freaking way!" but only for really shocking things... :]
Remember that slang can easily go out of style as quickly as it came. Anyone remember buying your kids those $50 Razor scooters? They are about $10 bucks now and a fad that came and went quickly. That is how slang is so try to refrain from littering your manuscript with slang even teenagers can't decipher.

Also using slang from your childhood=rejection. Teens will put the book down. I know I would.

Too much slang in general sounds cheesy and annoying so use it sparingly. You're usually pretty safe with "dude", but make sure to take into account who your character is. Sorry a preppy girl would never say dude. Rocker chic...hell yes. Get it? Keep the slang to a minimum if you want a shot in the genre.

Happy Writing