Writing a YA Novel in Verse

Undercover · Apr 22, 2017

Anyone here attempt it?
Has anyone here sold one?
Is it a hard sell?
How difficult is it to write one?
Any tips on writing it?

I've read a few, including Crank by Ellen Hopkins. Any recommendations?

Momento Mori · Apr 22, 2017

Sarah Crossan's book One is in verse and won the Carnegie so it's not impossible to sell. The problem you've got is with translation rights because verse can be difficult to translate, especially if it involves rhymes. I've been to a number of publishing and agenting events where professionals have said as much in the context of picture books but the same holds true to verse generally.

MM

Debbie V · Apr 23, 2017

It's as hard as writing really good poetry at the length of a manuscript with a strong plot and characters that make the novel need to be in verse rather than in prose. I have not attempted one for the above reasons.

Helix · Apr 23, 2017

I can recommend verse novel Farm Kid, which won the NSW Premier's Award for Children's Literature in 2005.

Undercover · Apr 24, 2017

Thanks everyone, for the feedback. I've been attempting it for a while and it's proving to be a lot harder than I thought it would be. Thanks for the rec Helix. I'll have to check it out. I'm not going to give up just yet. I need to do more homework on it.

Writing a YA Novel in Verse

Undercover

I got it covered

Momento Mori

Tired and Disillusioned

Debbie V

Mentoring Myself and Others

Helix

socially distancing

Undercover

I got it covered