Pick up the Pace: Keeping it going for a YA Audience

 

When asked about the differences between YA writing and writing books for an adult audience, the main answer, outside of the intended reader age, is pacing. This is why many YA books are considered crossover novels, because some adults prefer a quick pace rather than a slow build-up. Pacing is important in YA writing as teenagers have so many draws on their attention, including the internet, Netflix, schoolwork, social media, and socializing. Reading time may be limited, so most teens want to pick up a book and get right into it. So how do we keep up the pace when writing for a YA audience?

Plot Structure 

As a YA writer, you want to choose plots that lend themselves to action and a quick pace. You want your plot structure in order so you can see fluctuations in pacing, which usually means plotting in advance or at least having a general idea of where your plot is going. This is especially crucial in fantasy and sci-fi writing, where you might have world-building to do, which takes up time and keeps your protagonist from getting to his or her inciting incident. 

Cutting the Fat

This is most often done in the editing and revision stage, where you are zooming in on excess material and cutting words and passages if need be. Specifically, you'll want to look for areas that drag on, scenes that are not important to the plot, dialogue that has no purpose, or words that are redundant and unnecessary. It might sound odd, but if you, as the writer, grow bored reading back your own work, there's some cutting to be done.

In Medias Res

Another way to grab teen readers is to start in medias res, or in the middle of things. With this method, you'll want to open right in a scene, especially one of high action. You will have to do a fair amount of showing your character here, because you won't have time for telling. After, you can weave in some backstory, just try not to slow down the pace. 

Teen Feedback

Finally, ask your teen readers for their help. You might want to find some family members or teens online who would be willing to read over your MS and raise a red flag when they are feeling the pacing slow down and their attention wander toward social media. Don't be afraid to ask for their honest opinion of your work, as they are your intended audience.