School’s out! Spring is making way into summer, which is one of the best reading and writing seasons for YA authors. Teen bookworms all over the country are ready to toss the textbooks and cuddle up with some new YA reads. At SparkPress, we’re ready for the Best Writing Summer Ever, and are kicking it off with this SparkPress YA author roundup to help you get ready for summer.

We’re bringing you a diverse collection of tips from 5 SparkPress authors, some that we see as the best and brightest in YA Fiction.  Read on for must-have knowledge about capturing the voice of YA characters from our spring 2015 author Melissa Clark, then check out what some of our other YA authors have to say,  including Colleen Oakes, Brady Stefani, and Sandra Kring.

 

Melissa Clark, author of Bear Witness
2015 USA Best Book Awards Finalist

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1. The secret to any believable character is voice.  Are you able to capture and communicate a specific voice in your main character, but also in all your characters? When I think of voice, 16-year-old Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye) comes to mind, with his angry, sarcastic, funny voice. He has a distinct point-of-view, and readers can distinguish him from any other character in the book. Another more contemporary example is the character Hazel from The Fault in our Stars – very distinct voice.

2. If you’re not a young adult writing a young adult novel, chances are you need to observe some young adults. How do they speak? What do they wear? What are they talking about among their friends? How do they gesture? Take mental or physical notes when you come across teenagers. Listen carefully to what they say and how they say it. It can all be research for your burgeoning YA character.

Check out more tips from some of the best and brightest in YA Fiction, including Colleen Oakes, Brady Stefani, and Sandra Kring.

 

About Bear Witness, spring 2015:

Paige harbors a painful memory. Three years ago, she witnessed her best friend Robin’s abduction from a sleepover the girls were attending. Two weeks later, Robin’s body was found abandoned. The effects of this gruesome crime continue to ripple through the community, family and especially Paige’s life three years later. Struggling with debilitating flashbacks and immense guilt, Paige must continue to reconcile with her memories of the past and attempt to overcome the loss of innocence, her best friend, and her faith in the universe. Find this book and more at SparkPress.

About Melissa Clark:

Melissa Clark is an author, television writer and college instructor. She is the author of the novels Bear Witness, Swimming Upstream, Slowly, and Imperfect. Her essay, “Rachael Ray Saved My Life” is included in the anthology The Cassoulet Saved Our Marriage. She is also the creator of the animated television series “Braceface,” starring the voice of Alicia Silverstone which aired on the ABC Family Channel. She has written scripts for “Rolie Polie Olie,” “Totally Spies,” and “Sweet Valley High” among others. Melissa teaches creative writing and literature courses both privately and at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.

 

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