Post your discussions, articles and questions about craft here. Of course, they should always relate to YA. Group Coordinator: Nikki Katz
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Latest Activity: yesterday
Started by christine danek yesterday. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Hi everyone!Here's a great post about how important the first chapter is.Is your chapter making a promise to your readers? What you need to include to make the reader want to turn the page. Check it…Continue
Started by christine danek Jun 13. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Hi everyone! Here's a great link to what literary agents think about first chapters and what not to do.…Continue
Started by christine danek Jun 11. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Good morning everyone! Here's a great link on hooking your reader in the first chapter.Hooking Readers With The First Chapter Of A Teen Novel, by Beth Revisby Steve Rossiter…Continue
Started by christine danek Jun 6. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Hi everyone! Here's a helpful link on what you should think about including in your first chapter.From the website: Flogging the Quill by Ray Rhamey. It is a guest post written by Tracy Marchini.5…Continue
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Comment by Laura Weller on December 10, 2012 at 12:55pm Last weekend, at a writer's workshop, my current epiphany (they are frequent, I love them) was how I can complicate stories. As editors tell me, "there's too much going on".
Am I the only one? Anyone else out there complicating fictional life? THIS is why I am challenged by query letters and writing a synopsys. Okay then, once back in my office I stripped the clutter from my current YA. I pruned gently to find the shape under the mass of leaves. I defined the main plot lines -- clear cut, simple -- and eliminated the other than. And it released the water to the villagers below.
Okay then. I stopped by because craft is the bomb. Don't see too many recent posts. Thought I'd start a little weensy trouble. Anybody here?

I've been seeing some YA manuscripts that have word counts in the 100,000+ word count and I've commented, suggesting the writer cut that word count. Here's something to back up my suggestion
http://deareditor.com/2012/09/28/re-when-is-too-many-words-too-many...

Comment by Eliza Tilton on August 9, 2012 at 9:21pm I'm writing my current WIP inpresent tense which is so weird...but the story calls for it. Anyone know of YA books written in present tense?
Interviewed award-winning YA writer Brent Hartinger. Lots of craft discussion included! Stop by and leave a comment to win one of his published novels! http://ning.it/Q4e3jb"
Ever have trouble with writing convincing dialogue? Blogged today about learning from a not-so-successful novelist. If you stop by, comment and I'll enter you to win a free copy of Seize the Story by Victoria Hanley! http://carpekeyboard.blogspot.com/2012/07/dialogue-albatross.html

Comment by Nikki Katz on April 24, 2012 at 3:23pm Nicole, I think it depends on the POV of the prologue. I usually do prologues from a different character, in which case I think 3rd person is fine!

Question: How do you all feel about, writing a prologue in third person, when the rest of the novel is written in first?

Comment by Nikki Katz on March 24, 2012 at 8:07pm Hi everyone! I'm going to put together a thread on "Romance" and was hoping you'd share your favorite tips or resources for adding romance to your YA novel.
Whether it's tips for writing a kissing scene, or how to up the tension in romance, or keeping the romance alive in a series - whatever it is, send it my way!

Thanks, Cassie. I'll be giving away some YALITCHAT bookmarks in a few weeks. Yay.
Thanks for posting the article on story structure, Ezzy.
Check out this guest blog post on putting the science in science fiction: http://georgiamcbridebooks.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/putting-the-sci...

Comment by Cassie Deaton on February 19, 2012 at 8:13pm Just posted about some actual crafty crafts...Bookmarks! Learn how to make some cute bookmarks
http://shadowkissedcassie.blogspot.com/2012/02/amazing-bookmark-fin...
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