Here I will post various articles that surface around current subjects in YA writing circles. Please feel free to post an article of your own, whether in agreement or opposing views. I'd love to hear from you.

YA Fictional Main Characters

Many of the leading roles in YA fiction have morals so to speak, but lack the conviction to stick with them through the end of the book. As a writer, mother, and junior high reading teacher, I feel like society is attempting to sway our young adults into making decisions that “feel right at the moment” and not for the future they may come to see.

While many of our young female main characters begin as timid, unsure future heroines in the making, they almost always end up outspoken and brave in the end. And sometimes a little too sarcastic even! However, developing a character like that has to be cleverly done to pull off it’s authenticity.

A young girl on the inside may be thinking thoughts centered around “how did I get myself into this” where on the outside she is saying seemingly bold statements like “I will do anything to get what I want”. Is that really how we want our young girls to behave to achieve results?

Problem solving is a key part of any fictional piece. The heroin of a story needs to be seen as taking in all the facts and acting on them. Not all characters are created the same, you say. Yes, we need a degree of error for the character to grow, mature, and become better problem solvers through experience. However, not all main characters have to make meaningless “airheaded” decisions and say “oh well” when they royally screw up. Sometimes the characters need depth simply because, as women, we strive to prove that we can be treated equal.

“In a world where PG 13 means kinda-sorta-depends on your level of morals, I don’t wish to loosen our kids’ morals just because some adults choose to say, “They are going to see it anyway.” If we don’t show them that integrity is something you should always have in the back of your mind, then we’ve given up on them.”

Sometimes our life gets bogged down with…well LIFE! This week I worked and worked and worked. I haven’t finished a novel in six days and the effects are showing. Since I am a heavy reader, I de-stress most days with reading my latest favorite download. Now that it is Friday, my mind relaxed enough to notice I haven’t taken time to have ME time.

Cast yourself into your favorite fantasy world, biography, historical fiction, or whatever floats your boat. Reading can force your brain to relax from the everyday grind. This University of Minnesota Center of Spirituality and Healing article gives a few pointers on getting yourself back on track to a healthy you. Take a look! http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/t...

During a bird rescue performance yesterday I learned that the brain of an owl takes up less than 25% of its brain. So...that age old phrase, "wise as an owl" isn't so much of a compliment.

Reading classic fiction, whether fantasy or realistic, is a key lesson in life. If a single phrase from a book lingers in the mind after it’s over, the book has made an imprint on the future. Most lovers of classic fiction can name that one underlying quote from their favorites. Can you?