Do readers line up for hours, read loads of books in one night, and are found tattooing quotes from YA fantasy novels on their skin? One reason is that the best stories in this genre don’t just provide an escape. They offer transcendence.
YA fantasy books and novels aren’t just mere stories. They speak directly to the profound feeling of being on the peak of greatness. They have turned ordinary teens into influential figures who have defied odds, empires, and evil. These very characters master forbidden magic and usually choose their own destiny.
This desire for agency is the ultimate book in the genre. YA fantasy books are written with genuine devotion and immersion, keeping readers hooked for hours.
Is it easy to stand out in the YA fantasy books market?
But standing out in a crowded market of YA fantasy books is a challenge indeed (and that too of the highest order). It requires more than just a prophecy and a select few. Writing these books requires razor-sharp pacing, a fresh magical system, and the main character whose internal struggle is equally compelling as the external conflict.
A plot with a weak opening or one of a derivative nature will likely see the book get lost among millions of other books in the genre.
How can authors make it big in this genre?
This blog will serve as the essential guide for helping authors move beyond cliches and capture the elusive magic of these books. It will highlight core YA tropes worth retaining, common pitfalls to avoid, and the precise tips needed to craft a bestseller in this genre. This will help secure a devoted audience of readers, turning the book into a literary phenomenon.
Briefly understanding YA fantasy books
Royalty, medievalism, magic, evil wizards, sword fights, elves, orcs, dragons, trolls, and medieval times are some of the elements readers will see in high fantasy books. In the young adult genre, it typically refers to princes, princesses, noblemen, noblewomen, or young, influential individuals (who may be highly skilled, gifted with magic, and the like).
These stories will involve a lot of action, with excellent pacing, romance, humor, and other emotional moments that fluctuate in intensity. Consistency will obviously be present.
Let us now explore the pros and cons of YA fantasy books:
| Pros | Cons |
| Authors can do just about everything. Meaning each thing should fit the world they create and make sense of the literature. The sky’s the limit. | Building a world is tough. It can be advantageous as it is fun. However, it can also be a significant problem. Everything is built from scratch. Rewarding but also exhausting. |
| The key essence is medievalism. Sword fights are not only fun to watch but also fun to read. Royalty is never dull to read. However, authors should work around the obstacles posed by the lack of technology in magic and realism. | Most of it has already been done. YA fantasy books involve medieval European culture and settings (especially England). However, authors can be pushed to their limits, and trying new things may not align with readers’ expectations. |
| Young adults are more independent. This differs indeed. Yet in medieval times, young adults were viewed as mini-adults with more responsibilities and pressure on their shoulders. That can make for an outstanding story. | The market is indeed challenging. But if authors love the genre, then they should not be deterred. |
Examining the best YA fantasy book writing tips to help authors stand out
No one starts writing successful stories immediately. Everyone has endured an arduous journey of some kind. Many authors have spent at least a few years perfecting their manuscripts. Before they even start writing, they choose the genre.
Those who are writing a YA fantasy book are not alone. They, too, have faced some helpless moments and sleepless nights, wondering what to do right. They should not worry because we have them covered. Let us now examine worthwhile tips for writing top-class YA fantasy books.
Getting the Point of View (POV) done right
The POV should be accurate and done right. Not just for the first or second person, but from what point in time is the narrator speaking? When writing YA fantasy books, there is no need to write as an adult looking back in time. The perspective needs to be immediate.
A teenage character can look back on his younger years. Yet he cannot have an adult’s wisdom gained immediately from recollection. It can be more complicated than it seems. Why? Because it requires authors to put themselves in the mind of a teenager and not care much about the grown-up world.
The character’s age should suit the audience
Authors must ensure the character’s respective age suits the audience. The protagonist’s age in YA novels will most likely be the age of the intended reader. Kids read up instead of down. They will also choose to read a book about a child who is a few years older than themselves, rather than the reverse.
Hence, middle-grade novels typically feature characters of middle-school age. Young-adult novels deal with high school-age characters.
Yet, most high-school students are reading adult books. Hence, the real audience for young adults is between seventh and ninth graders. Again, the important thing is not to have an adult’s perspective; there is no need to look back and reflect on either the emotions or the situation, or both.
The character needs to learn, grow, change, and adapt throughout the story’s course, as influenced by the events they experience in the books.
The book’s voice and language
Authors need to determine the voice. This helps the language to follow the trail. The plot, sentence structure, and vocabulary in a middle-school novel are more complex compared to those in a chapter book. Yet not as complex as that of most YA fantasy books.
No author should dwell on this when preparing their first draft. They should find the correct voice, and the proper language follows. This helps them make the correct sentence structures using the right words. There is no need to talk down to the reader.
No need to shy away from touchy subjects
No need for authors to shy away from touchy subjects. These days, any issue is considered appropriate for young-adult fiction. As a general rule, middle-grade fiction won’t actively involve intimate relationships or drug abuse.
There is no need to be preachy
No author should get preachy about things. Nobody wants to be taught lessons while reading fiction. This holds when authors write YA fantasy books for young adults. Writers do not need to answer questions; instead, they should raise them.
With certainty, their opinions and views will peek through the narrative. But there is no need to enter this special contract between the reader and writer with the intention of changing someone’s mind or preaching. Indeed, teenagers have sights for this. It can cause the voice to feel inauthentic.
The endings should be hopeful
Indeed, authors must write hopeful endings. For the most part, YA novelists leave their readers with hope (even if it is a glimmer) despite the earlier grim moments. These novels, when addressing the same issues, can leave readers feeling sorrowful and bereft.
However, writing for young adults comes with a sense of responsibility. It does not mean drilling in lessons and warnings. There should be room for the possibility that really good things and endings happen. Let the story end in power, and the choice is theirs.
Over to You
YA fantasy books are truly worth their money. They indeed have excellent storylines and can involve a variety of factors. But they cannot preach things to readers. They aim to demonstrate to readers the power of magic in fantasy, the joy of happy endings, and how to make informed choices.
These fantasy books should still be written with care. They should not be overloaded with dark aspects. Deliver what readers want and conclude the story on a high note. A hopeful ending is preferable to a grim one.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How important is the main character’s age?
A: The main character’s age in YA fantasy books is very crucial. The protagonist needs to be aged between 14 and 18. They should experience an acute period of growth and internal conflict. The central theme should be about agency, with the main character choosing their own destiny.
Q: What makes a magic system feel fresh?
A: Authors must avoid generic and straightforward abilities. They must define apparent limitations and costs of using magic. The magic itself should be tied to a specific culture, resource, or setting. This approach makes the magic more dangerous and unique. Even if the author chooses to hire fantasy book writers for assistance, keeping these facts in mind is still essential.
Q: Should authors focus on the plot or on the romance?
A: The plot should always drive the narrative. The romance should either be a catalyst or an obstacle that can potentially complicate the character’s quest. It should not be the story’s core focus. Such an arrangement may not affect the cost of fantasy book writers, but the story should not be pointless.
Q: How can an author avoid familiar YA story glitches?
A: YA fantasy books must avoid the Damsel in Distress and The Chosen One cliches. The characters need to have struggles, genuine flaws, making them earn their power, and ensuring side characters are complex. They must have three dimensions to add depth to the stories.