8.13.2013

Why I write YA

YA has always existed as a genre, though when I read books as a pre-teen, I'd never heard terms like MG or YA; it was all labeled "juvenile", at least in the UK where I grew up. What a horrible label, don't you think? These days, YA has hit the mainstream, largely due to the monster successes Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. Adults everywhere are proudly proclaiming themselves YA readers, and I say "amen" to that.

Why do I write YA? Let me start with why I read YA:

My reading tastes are eclectic, though I confess a huge bias to sci-fi and fantasy. When work turns stressful, and life seems to yak on me at every opportunity, I take comfort from a great YA story. The trials and tribulations of the YA protagonist pull on my fears and insecurities. I shudder at the memory of my teens, when every hill became a mountain, every cruel comment signaled the end of my life. Despite the age gap, I can empathize with the YA protagonist. Everyone and everything seems against him or her, but somehow through tenacity, quick-wits and a noble soul, they win through and save the day. Good YA is a tale of innocent courage and friendship against adversity, yet the simple wisdom of the young can teach even the eldest of us.

It feels good to leave our complicated, adult lives behind. I find most YA books to be a wonderful escape from reality, often a page-turner that keeps me reading late into the night. The plot and pacing are usually simple and easy to read, yet rarely childish or patronizing. These days, I'm thankful not to suffer ponderous back-story  long-winded characters and yawn-inducing talking head scenes that go on for tens of pages. I fear that some adult writers have forgotten how to entertain their readers.

And there lies the crux of the matter. I want to entertain. That's the main reason I write YA. I don't want to impress, I don't want to show off my encyclopedic knowledge of literary style. In truth, I don't have one. I have no aspirations of becoming the next Hemingway or Faulkner. In my head, I relive the wondrous imaginations of my teens, and I want to share those adventures. I believe that none of us has truly let go of our youth, and we yearn to recapture the innocent wonder of those times.

The youth of today are our future. Kids are bright and spunky, willing to see the good in everything, untainted by adult perceptions and neuroses. I owe my own intense curiosity, love of adventure, knowledge and science to all the books I read as a child. I want to pay that forward. This is the second reason I write YA. I want to encourage youngsters to read, and imagine, and know that life is what they choose to make it. As adults, we may be mired in the realities of economic depression, world conflicts, spiraling costs, etc., but kids need and deserve a more creative outlet.

If I can convince one child that the world, nay universe, is an astonishing place in which they can grow and mold for the good of all, overcoming any challenge; then the time I spend writing a book is worthwhile. If I can assist one adult to escape into a world where friendship, moral fiber and the courage to do the right thing can renew their tired souls, and let them put my book down with a smile; then I am happy. Am I a crazy dreamer? Hell, yes, and proud.

That's why I write YA. I can end in no better way than quoting the elegant mission statement of Flux Books: "Where Young Adult is a Point of View, Not a Reading Level."

[This post originally appeared in 2012 on Obsession With books.]

14 comments:

  1. Great post, Graeme. So true about encouraging young people to read and imagine, hard to imagine a better reason to write than that.

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  2. It's so true! Those are a lot of the reasons why I love writing YA, and it annoys me to no end when people claim it as a reading level instead of a point of view.

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  3. Fantastic post! I still read MG and YA books. It's about the story not the label or reading level.

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  4. I love reading YA, too. I find it empowering, even at my age. Like Cherie said, it's not just a reading level. It's the character's ages, not necessarily the reader's ages, although that certainly serves as a guideline for the younger readers. When I was growing up, it was all labeled juvenile, too.

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  5. It's a great POV. There are a lot of wonderful stories in YA.

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  6. To entertain and astonish--what could be better?

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  7. I read all sorts of books as long as the story interests me.

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  8. Those are amazing reasons to write anything. I have been enjoying reading and writing YA as well.

    Love the mission statement and agree with it completely.

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  9. An excellent post! I love the final quote, YA is a point of view.
    I love the escapism and adventure of YA, which you don't always get from a more adult point of view.

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  10. YA is a wonderful genre and while I'm more interested in the story and the character's journey than being entertained. I definitely don't want to be bored and I don't have a set writing style either. Sometimes some books have started slow and ended up surprising me. Thanks for your post and as a YA fan myself it's great to meet a fellow fan.

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  11. Well said! YA is that wondrous time of life when anything's possible and one is not mired in the quicksand of adulthood.

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  12. Loved your post, and the reason you write is just wonderful. To encourage people is a wonderful encouragement.

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  13. You're writing YA for all the best reasons. Great to read your post today.

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  14. Thanks everyone for your kind words.

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