One Piece of Advice From 15 Young Adult Fiction Authors in 2024

Here I’ve collected one piece of advice from 15 young adult fiction authors who were featured in our author spotlight series in 2024. Be sure to click the author names if you’d like to read their full author spotlights from earlier this year.

“Lead with curiosity, not just passion. Curiosity is often the root of inspiration and it also can be a source of resilience and joy in your career. We often hear writing talked about as a passion, but passion can wane over time; curiosity is infinite. Passion doesn’t always come when we want it to, but a curious mind is an open invitation. Ask questions, not just as the start of the writing process, but throughout—a deep curiosity opens you up to new ideas, it challenges you. One of the very simple ways I’ve tried to lean into this practice is to write down my questions and observations in a physical notebook that I call ‘Seeds.’ Life gets busy and I don’t always have time to go down a research rabbit hole when things pop into my head, but I almost always have thirty seconds to jot down a question. I use this not only for observations I have as I’m walking through my day but as I’m working on my revisions, especially when I receive my edit letter. I read the letter, noting all my questions on the note and then set it aside. These are sometimes questions for my editor, but often are things I want to push myself on as I revise. Your mileage may vary, but I believe that a curious mind may well be one of the most powerful tools in your writing arsenal.” –Samira Ahmed, author of This Book Won’t Burn (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

“This is very cliché, but my advice is to just never give up. Take breaks. Protect your mental health. Step back when you need to. But don’t give up. The world needs your voice, and someone somewhere needs your story. As an immigrant, there are so many books from my childhood that were there for me—that saw me—when I felt out of place. It didn’t matter if they were ‘good’ or even if they hold up today. For the length of time I spent between those pages, I was not alone. Every reader deserves that experience, and you never know what book will give it to them. So, if you can’t keep writing for yourself, keep writing for that future reader. Keep writing.” –Kamilah Cole, author of So Let Them Burn (Little, Brown Young Readers)

“The one I use for myself when things look or feel very bleak: I can ‘quit’ today, but I can always come back tomorrow. There is something freeing about that. A way to take control in an industry that can make a writer feel powerless. And because I have that control, every time I ‘quit,’ I come right back. So, writers, you can always quit, but if writing is in your soul, you’ll be right back. And that’s OK.” –Ronni Davis, author of This Night Is Ours (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

“I suggest investing in craft books that break down character arcs and story structure. There are also YouTube channels dedicated to analyzing screenplays and the hidden parts of storytelling I find very useful.” –Tigest Girma, author of Immortal Dark (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

“Read widely—especially in the genre you’re writing in. Find the books that you love and figure out how the author pulled it off. Do they use certain character archetypes you’re drawn to? At what point in the story do they introduce an antagonist or conflict or plot twist? Try making a beat sheet of a book you think is particularly well done and study their plot. Make your best guess at what you think the character wants and motivations are and write out all the ways the author tortured that character until they finally overcame (or didn’t overcome) their flaw/wound/problem. If your character is stuck in a basement and you don’t know how to get them out, read a good book and see how that author got their character out of their basement. The solution you come up with will ultimately suit your story and be from your own brain, but you’ll gain invaluable inspiration by studying other great stories.” –Amanda Glaze, author of The Lies of Alma Blackwell (Union Square & Co)

“Find a writing community. Surround yourself with people who take the craft seriously, folks who can talk craft and story with you. Also, having people who understand what you go through is huge. It’s a lonely business, one where you have to be greedy with your time, often to the dismay of friends who don’t’ get that you have to be alone with your characters and spend more time writing on your computer than is healthy.” –Desmond Hall, author of Better Must Come (Caitlyn Dlouhy Books)

“Write about something that made you laugh! Think of the funniest thing that ever happened to you—something that made you absolutely lose it with laughter—and share it with your reader. Perhaps have one of your characters experience it—get it on the page! People love to laugh—it feels good, after all. In other parts of your story, you can relate sad or scary or angry thoughts, but do give the reader a gift of laughter wherever it fits. Life is hard enough, and we owe it to each other to pass on any happiness we possibly can.” –Hope Jahren, author of Adventures of Mary Jane (Delacorte Press)

“No matter what, stick to improving the story. No matter how long it takes to finish your book. Then, follow through and write another book.” –Arlene Klasky, author of Ming & Leopold: A City in the Sky (self-published)

“Know that it’s OK not to produce. As creatives in a creative space, many of us are constantly confronting the successes of others. Which can be inspiring—but can also feel like you’re racing to reach that next goal or announce that next deal. Sometimes it seems like everyone else is being more productive or achieving greater things. But you also need time to rest and just think, and often my best ideas come when I’m not looking for them. A painter is still a painter when they’re not in front of the canvas. You’re still a writer even when you’re not actively putting pen to paper. Now, if I could only get myself to remember that…” –M. K. Lobb, author of Disciples of Chaos (Little, Brown)

“When you’re putting so much of your own life into a story, it won’t always come as naturally as writing pure fiction. That doesn’t mean the story isn’t right or valid or worthy. It’s just a different conversation with yourself, or at least it was for me.” –Bethany Mangle, author of Conditions of a Heart (McElderry Books)

“Don’t be afraid to experiment. Experiment with voice, with plot, with genre. Try writing in first, second, and third person. Set your story in outer space. Make your protagonist 100 years old. Find the characters and stories that unlock something inside of you and don’t worry too much about where it fits or what it means for your career. There is very little you can control in the publishing industry, but you can produce work that is authentic and meaningful for you.” –Joseph Moldover, author of Just Until (Holiday House/Margaret Ferguson Books)

“It might be a little cliché, but one thing I learned is that the worst thing you can do is stop writing. Every book you write, even if it does not get published, helps you improve your craft. And this also applies to drafts. Don’t look back when you’re drafting—just keep on writing. Even if you think it’s bad. Skip over scenes if you must, or leave placeholders, but just. Keep. Writing. You can fix everything in the next draft. What matters is you have a blueprint to work from.” –A.B. Poranek, author of Where the Dark Stands Still (McElderry Books)

“Trying to get a book published is a marathon, not a sprint. So many writers jump the gun with their first manuscript and send it out before it’s ready, and you only get one chance at your debut novel. My advice is to take your time revising your first book and get several pairs of eyes on your work before you share with literary agents—they will be waiting when it’s done!” –Kara Thomas, author of The Champions (Delacorte)

“Distract yourself! I genuinely feel like the hardest part about publishing is all the waiting—as soon as I’m done writing one book, I begin working on the next.” –Tiffany Wang, author of Inferno’s Heir (Bindery Books)

“Read. Write. Be tender and brave. (I read that somewhere and I don’t know who said it, but it’s the best possible combination of virtues.) Think deeply for yourself. Be wary of sloganeering (even from your echo chambers). Don’t lose your sense of humor. Read. Write. Don’t worry about publishing. Repeat.” –Wendy Wunder, author of Mysterious Ways (Wednesday Books)

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While there’s no shortage of writing advice, it’s often scattered around—a piece of advice here, words of wisdom there. And in the moments when you most need writing advice, what you find might not resonate with you or speak to the issue you’re dealing with. In A Year of Writing Advice, the editors of Writer’s Digest have gathered thoughts, musings, and yes, advice from 365 authors in dozens of genres to help you on your writing journey.

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