YA All-Ages Cafe

Sage

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Come on in, order your cafe drink of choice, and tell us all about your YA writing. Teens, old folks, and everyone in between is allowed in. It’s time we had a social YA space that doesn’t chase away the teens we’re writing for.
 
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Sage

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Tell me about your favorite character in your YA WIP!
 
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Nether

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It’s time we had a social YA space that doesn’t chase away the teens we’re writing for.

Mmmmm, that's some delicious irony!

...wait, is that even irony?
 
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Cyia

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Tell me about your favorite character in your YA WIP!
The MC's best friend (almost always my favorite in any WIP). Holland (MC) is 2000 miles from home, in serious danger, with spotty access to phone/wifi. Her BFF Bria spends days-on-end texting random images in hope of finding a communication window to make sure Holland's safe.

After telling Holland to call her parents while the phones work, and Holland admits she's afraid to hang up in case the phones fail again, Bria tells her she's always with her, even if Holland can't hear her. Bria's a true ride-or-die. (These girls spent a night plotting the imaginary downfall of someone who wronged them, and came to the conclusion a local farmer's pigs meant no one needed to know where the bodies were buried.)
 

Jazz Club

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What did they love about him?
They like his contrasts, I think. He's physically strong but raw and vulnerable emotionally; though he's quiet about his feelings, it's pretty obvious to the reader. He rescues the male MC at a low point and then the two of them become best friends. He's very protective of male MC and his family, and they're protective of him in turn. I think people like the found family aspect of it all, too. I really enjoyed writing it!
 

JoeySL

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I've only ever written two YA novels, and that was ten years ago, but I'm in the process of turning one of them into a hardcover copy (for SP, obviously). I wasn't going to change anything inside, just make a cover and off you go. Turns out, the typesetting needs adjustments, and here I am, making adjustments, rewriting paragraphs where they don't fit. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I'm trying to decide which character I like best, and it's hard! For some reason, one side character comes to mind, who really doesn't get much screen time or influence to the main plot. But he's just so adorable. The lanky, awkward teenager I once was combined with the quick wit I wish I'd had. :LOL: That, and fierce loyalty to his friends. What's not to like?

The biggest struggle now is the last sentence of my back blurb. I don't like it, but I can't think of anything that'd work. Too bad it's in German, or I would post it here on AW.
 

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I don't write YA (or, well, anything, really) but I have a YA friend who we tutor, and I really want to get inside her mindset so I can help her,. Anything and everything helps, so I lurk here.
 

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Joey, that’s so cool! You’ll have to tell us about your self-publishing journey. I haven’t heard much from YA self-pubbers, and I still have the possibility in the back of my mind that I could self-pub my superhero trilogy (book 1 only needs a cover; it was even professionally copyedited).


They like his contrasts, I think. He's physically strong but raw and vulnerable emotionally; though he's quiet about his feelings, it's pretty obvious to the reader. He rescues the male MC at a low point and then the two of them become best friends. He's very protective of male MC and his family, and they're protective of him in turn. I think people like the found family aspect of it all, too. I really enjoyed writing it!
This totally sounds like my kind of character :heart:

I see a theme with the favorite characters mentioned so far, in that being a strong friend is part of why people are loving them.
 

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I see a theme with the favorite characters mentioned so far, in that being a strong friend is part of why people are loving them.
I'm not working on this particular YA project of mine anymore, but my beta readers also loved the MC's best friend who was just a very good best friend despite MC being a gigantic a-hole.
 

JoeySL

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(book 1 only needs a cover; it was even professionally copyedited).

I already have a self-published paperback version that was professionally edited. My graphic designer is too busy at the moment, so I asked her permission to use her cover as a template. She was so kind to even send me her asset files.:love:
 
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I've only ever written two YA novels, and that was ten years ago, but I'm in the process of turning one of them into a hardcover copy (for SP, obviously). I wasn't going to change anything inside, just make a cover and off you go. Turns out, the typesetting needs adjustments, and here I am, making adjustments, rewriting paragraphs where they don't fit. :rolleyes:

Anyway, I'm trying to decide which character I like best, and it's hard! For some reason, one side character comes to mind, who really doesn't get much screen time or influence to the main plot. But he's just so adorable. The lanky, awkward teenager I once was combined with the quick wit I wish I'd had. :LOL: That, and fierce loyalty to his friends. What's not to like?
Haha right? That's a lot of the fun of YA writing, isn't it? Making characters who are relatable to how we really were as teens—all vulnerability and naivety—with their wit/smoothness/strength boosted to slightly larger than life levels 😀
The biggest struggle now is the last sentence of my back blurb. I don't like it, but I can't think of anything that'd work. Too bad it's in German, or I would post it here on AW.
I could take a look if you like...my German is really rusty and I wouldn't be able to think up anything from scratch, but I can give an opinion on how it reads as is.
 

JoeySL

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I could take a look if you like...my German is really rusty and I wouldn't be able to think up anything from scratch, but I can give an opinion on how it reads as is.
That would be awesome! I could DM you if that's okay.
 

susanthebookish

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My favourite character in my WIP is *gasp* not the best friend, but the love interest. It's a villain-gets-the-girl kinda thing, and he's very charming and witty. I really liked writing him because he has this horrible masterplan based on past trauma and hurt, but underneath that he's actually a really sweet and kind person. He's just afraid and confused, because he's never known love himself. (But he's really good at loving.) I like how he calls my MC "cherie", and also, one of his eyes is brown and the other is blue.

I had to research this (it's called heterochromia) quite a bit because there are several ways it can happen, and I wanted it to be relevant. Turns out he had a phantom twin in the womb that ended up dying early in the pregnancy. When this happens, the DNA is usually absorbed into the womb, but *sometimes* it's absorbed into the other fetus. So my character has one eye that's his own, and the other one is from his twin.

Haha that was totally a lecture. Sorry.
 

KennyIsArlos

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Want a topic to start?

Tell me about your favorite character in your YA WIP!
Pick one??? Oh geez. I can't pick a favorite - impossible, I love my whole ensemble for different reasons - so my favorite character (specifically to write dialogue for) in my current fantasy series is Luke. He's a self-fulfilling prophecy who drives everyone away by being an unrelenting asshole, because he's adamant that they'll leave anyway. Even though he never loses that snarky attitude, it's fun to see his character transform through his sort-of-redemption (he was never a bad person, just a prick).

In my horror series, Shane is probably the fan favorite. He's also a ride-or-die bro who'll go to the ends of the earth for his friends. :cool:
After telling Holland to call her parents while the phones work, and Holland admits she's afraid to hang up in case the phones fail again, Bria tells her she's always with her, even if Holland can't hear her. Bria's a true ride-or-die. (These girls spent a night plotting the imaginary downfall of someone who wronged them, and came to the conclusion a local farmer's pigs meant no one needed to know where the bodies were buried.)
That's amazing. Bria sounds like an amazing best friend. Holland owes her a fancy dinner or something after all this is over!
They like his contrasts, I think. He's physically strong but raw and vulnerable emotionally; though he's quiet about his feelings, it's pretty obvious to the reader.
Exactly. Kovac is a teddy bear in the body of a super soldier, and we must protect him at all costs. However, I need to keep my flag high as a Mara girly. Also... #TeamScott!
Anyway, I'm trying to decide which character I like best, and it's hard! For some reason, one side character comes to mind, who really doesn't get much screen time or influence to the main plot. But he's just so adorable. The lanky, awkward teenager I once was combined with the quick wit I wish I'd had. :LOL: That, and fierce loyalty to his friends. What's not to like?
That sounds like all of the best character traits in one! Love it. Great choice, and the fans will be screaming to give him more screen time. >:3
Haha that was totally a lecture. Sorry.
No don't apologize! We want to hear all about your complex LI. There's nothing better than a LI who's more than just the MC they're destined to be with, and your character totally fits that. The villain-gets-the-girl trope (immediately thought of the movie Megamind) and the mismatched eye colors immediately got my attention - I'm hooked and I don't even know the plot! :ROFLMAO: I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers hehe.


Do y'all have a favorite romantic subplot/plot trope specifically for YA? Enemies to lovers is a classic, and also the fake dating trope. Oh no, we have to kiss in front of our friends and go to prom together so they'll believe we're serious! :rolleyes::ROFLMAO: It's like a guilty pleasure of mine! Childhood best friends to lovers is also a classic.

P.S. I love this thread. Hello, fellow YA enjoyers. c:
 

Sage

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My favourite character in my WIP is *gasp* not the best friend, but the love interest. It's a villain-gets-the-girl kinda thing, and he's very charming and witty. I really liked writing him because he has this horrible masterplan based on past trauma and hurt, but underneath that he's actually a really sweet and kind person. He's just afraid and confused, because he's never known love himself. (But he's really good at loving.) I like how he calls my MC "cherie", and also, one of his eyes is brown and the other is blue.

I had to research this (it's called heterochromia) quite a bit because there are several ways it can happen, and I wanted it to be relevant. Turns out he had a phantom twin in the womb that ended up dying early in the pregnancy. When this happens, the DNA is usually absorbed into the womb, but *sometimes* it's absorbed into the other fetus. So my character has one eye that's his own, and the other one is from his twin.

Haha that was totally a lecture. Sorry.
Gotta love your charming villain/love interest. He and Ace can hang out (just kidding, Ace would prolly hate him).
 

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Do y'all have a favorite romantic subplot/plot trope specifically for YA?
I don’t always let it happen, but friends to lovers is my fave. I just love watching friendship and love that already exists develop into something more.
 

susanthebookish

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Do y'all have a favorite romantic subplot/plot trope specifically for YA?
I do love enemies-to-lovers, but it has to be done right. I don't like it when it's like, "they hate each other then they spontaneously kiss and realize they're in love." If it's enemies-to-lovers, there has to be buildup for me. Like, a slow softening towards each other first.

I also love friends-to-lovers ... my absolute favourite is Anne and Gilbert ;)
 

Jazz Club

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Pick one??? Oh geez. I can't pick a favorite - impossible, I love my whole ensemble for different reasons - so my favorite character (specifically to write dialogue for) in my current fantasy series is Luke. He's a self-fulfilling prophecy who drives everyone away by being an unrelenting asshole, because he's adamant that they'll leave anyway.
So relatable. I had a friend like that when I was younger! Sounds like a great character, looking forward to getting to know him 😀
In my horror series, Shane is probably the fan favorite. He's also a ride-or-die bro who'll go to the ends of the earth for his friends.
Shane is the poster boy for ride or die!
Exactly. Kovac is a teddy bear in the body of a super soldier, and we must protect him at all costs. However, I need to keep my flag high as a Mara girly. Also... #TeamScott!
But of course! 😍
Do y'all have a favorite romantic subplot/plot trope specifically for YA? Enemies to lovers is a classic, and also the fake dating trope. Oh no, we have to kiss in front of our friends and go to prom together so they'll believe we're serious! :rolleyes::ROFLMAO: It's like a guilty pleasure of mine! Childhood best friends to lovers is also a classic.
Yeah childhood best friends to lovers is great in YA because there are all those moments of slowly beginning to see the best friend in a more adult way...and it's somehow more touchingly awkward than in an adult childhood-best-friends-to-lovers romance! Though those can cute, shy and sweet, too!

I like the good boy/bad girl trope, I think because there's already so much good girl/bad boy in YA and it's a subversion. In my YA novel I kind of use it, though Mara isn't really a 'bad girl'. More like forced into drastic actions by circumstance. She's definitely more steely and calculating than Dan, though, who's a total golden retreiver 😂I also like how he's more naive in many ways even though she supposedly comes from the 'sheltered background'.
 

Jazz Club

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I do love enemies-to-lovers, but it has to be done right. I don't like it when it's like, "they hate each other then they spontaneously kiss and realize they're in love." If it's enemies-to-lovers, there has to be buildup for me. Like, a slow softening towards each other first.

I also love friends-to-lovers ... my absolute favourite is Anne and Gilbert ;)
Haha right?? Deservedly a classic pairing!! Remember that scary moment when we were all afraid that
Anne might marry Roy?
 

susanthebookish

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Since this is a *cafe*, I just thought I'd ask: what's everyone's favourite order at a coffee shop?

Mine is a bit complicated. At Tim's, I love a French vanilla (I call it a cupcake in cup, cause that's what it tastes like), and if I'm at Starbucks, I try to replicate it by ordering a blonde roast latte with half-vanilla and half-hazelnut flavouring. It's pretty heavenly.