The Most Overused Things in YA Fiction

On January 25, 2011 · In Children's Books, The Writing Coach, This Writer's Life

As promised, a look at the most overused things in 9+ and YA fiction – with thanks to Joelle Anthony (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Bulletin) www.joelleanthony.com

In the latest SCBWI magazine Joelle Anthony talks about the most common things in fiction for children and teens. She reads about 100 YA books a year (impressive!) and has created a list of overused things. Here are some of them:

Do feel free to add to this list in the comments box below.

1/ Boys with long, lush eyelashes
2/ Main character who can’t sing
3/ Fingernail biting
4/ Dead mothers

Here are some others:

1/ Main characters who hate maths (or math in the US)
2/ Guys with green eyes – green is the new blue
3/ Clumsy characters
4/ Main characters who are the only people in the world without a mobile
5/ Gorgeous, popular younger sisters
6/ Poor girls who are scholarship students
7/ A main character with only one best friend
8/ Female characters who are obsessed with Jane Austen
9/ Hot, young looking mums
10/ Characters who like retro music – generally of the era when the author was in school
11/ Irresponsible parents
12/ …

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My Favourite Books on Writing

On January 20, 2011 · In Getting Published, The Writing Coach, This Writer's Life

I just did this short piece for my friend’s new website – www.writing.ie which will go live very soon – more news on that anon.

But for now – some of my very favourite books on writing and some quotes – one mine, one by E L Doctorow.

Enjoy! Yours in Writing, Sarah X

PS Some interesting stuff coming up next week blog wise on the most overused things in YA fiction – triggered by a great piece in the latest SCBWI magazine – including irresponsible parents (Jackie Wilson), characters who like 80s/90s music (of the era when the writer was at school – very common all right!), and clumsy characters (a la Bella in Twilight). Are you guilty? Lots more next week . . . stay tuned!

Books

If you want to or do write popular fiction, or kind of fiction really, the best book I’ve ever read on the subject is without doubt On Writing by Stephen King. It’s funny, inspiring and honest.

The best book on getting published is From Pitch to Publication by Carole Blake, an invaluable guide from an agent who really knows her stuff.

And the best book on living a writer’s life is …

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What Children Have Taught Me About Writing

On January 7, 2011 · In Children's Books, Getting Published, The Writing Coach, This Writer's Life, Writing a Series

My New Year’s Blog Resolution

This year the focus of this blog from now on will be WRITING for both adults and children. It will be aimed at writers of all kinds and all ages – new, old, experienced, just starting out. Those interested in getting published and those hoping to stay published!

It will also cover marketing and promoting your book, author interviews, book trade interviews and reviews. When I work out how to do it, I will a/ come up with a good name for the blog – it is currently The Launch Lizard but as there are less and less of these happening it is due for a change and b/ when I can nab my lovely webguy and get him to change it, along with a lot of other website updates – note to self – must find time, must make time, must get on with it!

This is the first blog of 2011 – so Happy New Year and I hope 2011 is a good writing one for you all.
If anyone is interested in guest blogging, do let me know. Laura C? Claire? David M? Luisa? I know you’re out there, you can run …

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