YA Discussion Panel

The panelists who participated in the Middle-Grade/Young Adult Discussion Panel were: Rob Wells, Allyson Condie, Dan Wells, James Dasher, Janette Rollison, J. Scott Savage, and Tamra Norton.

The following are the notes that I took from the questions asked of the panel.

Q&A

- What is the difference between Middle-Grade and Young Adult? MG starts at chapter books and goes up to seven grade. YA adult then goes from 8th grade on up to 16 years of age. In the publishing industry a book is no longer YA is the main character is older than 16 years old. At that point the book is marketed as an adult book.

- What is the difference in word count between MG and YA? Word count is generally less in middle grade unless it is a fantasy novel. Fantasy novels in general tend to be longer in word count over other genres.

- What are other differences between MG and YA? The younger the reader, the focused the problem for the main character is. (i.e. dealing with achne or lost love vs. saving the world).

- What control do authors have over their book covers? Authors have very little control over covers. Bookstores have the greatest control (especially B&N) over covers. They know what sells. Book covers are like plumage on a bird. They are what attract the attention of the readers enough to get them to pick up the book and read it. If the bookstores feel that the cover won't attract enough attention, they will not purchase it from the publisher, or insist that the cover be changed.

Other Thoughts/Comments:

- On average kids tend to read books with characters that are two years older then themselves.
- Young Adult book has more attention given to opposite sex and romance. Middle Grade doesn't care as much.
- If you are going to write MG/YA make sure to talk to kids in that age range while you are writing. That way you make sure that your characters/plots are age appropriate. Then have those kids read you manuscript when you are done and provide you with feedback and what needs improvement.
- With kids books try to present suspense/scare without adding graphic descriptions. It can be done. Keep in mind that responsibility scares kids and that fantasy needs the scary elements (don't hold back).
- Empower your characters.
- Keep in mind how parents might react to having their kids read your book.
- The non-supernatural stuff scares people more than the supernatural. If you think your book is too scary make it a little more supernatural.
- Middle Grade books are uniformly geared to both genders.
- Boys read as much as girls. They just don't read as many novels. Usually boys read more on the Internet and things that are video game related.
- If you are going to write about drinking, sex, or drugs, then you have to include the consequences that that choice will bring up.
- Book One will always be the better seller of a series.

Fantastic Video - I Wanna Be A Bestseller

I KNOW!!! Three posts in one day...what can she be thinking?...you might be asking yourself. I just wanted to make sure to pass on this fantabulous video that several authors put together for the LDS Storymakers conference over the weekend. HILARIOUS!!! Please check it out - I Wanna Be A Bestseller.

My personal notes from: "Plot and Conflict" with Rachel Ann Nunes

(Updated Post: In order to comply with copyright law I have removed anything that was directly taken from the course syllabus and have left only my summarization of the course. I apologize to LDS Storymakers and Rachel Ann Nunes for any conflict of copyright and thank them for their patience.)

On Saturday I attended the LDS Storymakers conference where I was able to learn tips, tricks, and helpful information from published authors within the LDS community. The first class that I attended was on Plot and Conflict which was taught by Rachel Ann Nunes (http://www.ranunes.com/).

Rachel is an award winning author of women's fiction. She has written over 28 books and is most known for her works of her Arianna series, and her award-winning picture book Daughter of a King.


To have a strong, successful story you must focus on plot. Your characters must have a direction, a purpose, conflict and resolution. All this is accomplished through the plot.

Things to keep in mind with plot:
- If you have too many characters in your story the less the reader cares about them. Stick with one or two MAIN characters, then use plot to draw the reader into the characters lives and make them care about what happens to that one or two characters.

Parts to a Plot:
- Main character's conflict -
- The initiation force. Start with a severe event or point of change in the main character's live. (i.e. death of a loved one, change in social position, tragedy).
Complications:
- To keep the plot strong your main characters must confront complications (i.e. complications with other, with self, with nature, etc.)
- Make sure to include suspense/mystery throughout the plot. Don't try to resolve things too early. Draw out suspense through methods like: the ticking time bomb, foreshadowing, etc.
Climax:
- Climax should be seen through the main character's point of view. If you don't tell it through their point of view you risk angering the reader. The climax also should be fully developed and the highest point of tension in the book.
Resolution:
- Clean up all hanging threads. Leave no sub-plot unresolved or you risk irritating the reader and risk losing them. - Make sure that the resolution makes sense. Don't let the leading up sequences lead you to a surprise ending that makes no sense. - Finish - Do not drag on your ending for any longer than it really needs.

Other things to help make a strong story
Coincidence:
- Coincidences can be tempting for a writer to find a way out of a situation (i.e. someone who suddenly shows up with the answers or clues that you have never seen before and probably will never see again). So be very careful how you use them.
Hooks:
- Hooks are things that keep the reader involved and asking "What happens next?" Hooks make it so that the reader can't put the story down until they've reached the end of the story.
Protagonist:
- Should take action and not be waiting around for some action to happen to them.
- A positive action by the protagonist doesn't necessarily require positive result. If something goes wrong because of the protagonist action you increase the tention of the story and show that even well-meaning intent can have negative resutls.
- The more than an act/event means to the main character, the more you can create an effective plot and have the reader care about what happens to that character.

I want to again thank Rachel Ann Nunes and the LDS Storymakers for their wonderful advice and support of all of us out here striving to become better (and need I say) published writers. Stay tuned for further thoughts the other classes and discussions that I attended.

Keep on writing.

Congratulations to James Dashner and Brandon Sanderson

This weekend I was able to attend part of the LDS Storymakers Conference down in Provo, Utah. Most of the authors present are local to Utah and mainly write for the LDS Market, though there were also authors, agents, and editors that focus on the National Market.

After two days of fabulous discussions, panels, skits and much, much more, the conference ended with the Whitney Awards Dinner to celebrate some of the many amazing LDS authors out there. Here are a few of the authors nominated for awards in their areas:

- Jessica Day George
- Brandon Sanderson
- Brandon Mull
- J. Scott Savage
- Jessica Day George
- James Dashner
- Orson Scott Card
- Stephanie Meyer
- David Farland

Even though I was unable to attend the award ceremony I want to give a shout out of congratulations to James Dashner who won Best Youth Fiction for his book The 13th Reality and to Brandon Sanderson who won Best Speculative Fiction for his book The Hero of Ages. I have had the privilege of meeting both gentlemen several times and want to thank them for their wonderful books and their efforts to continually motivate those of us working to break into the field. You both deserve the kudos!!! Please keep up the great work.

Keep on the look out for fabulous notes from this conference which will be posted throughout this week on this blog. I learned so many wonderful things I am eager to pass on the knowledge to anyone who wants to know about, but was unable to attend themselves. I do hope these notes are of help to you. Keep up the good work and never give up hope.