Aspiring YA Novelists discussion

What must all dystopian novels have for you to read and enjoy it?

I think the biggest thing-and what you see in all popular dystopians-is killer details. When I say details, I'm talking social norms for the world created, clothing, interactions between characters (say something like Delirium, you have to make sure you're consistent with dialogue and physical interactions), and most importantly world building. I love when the world is intricate and there are a lot of details that make it seem real, like Divergent. So to sum it all up: details and consistency.

I totally agree with Inda, the world building for me is the main part. I don't want to question the world I'm reading, I want to be a part of it. I want to be IN it. So details are the main part. I also want the concept to be relatively original. I'm reading The 5th wave at the moment... and I've never read anything like it. Concepts like that pull me into the book. I also like kick ass protagonists. If they're whiney I can't cope. Ha!

Oh, I know! Whiny main leads are the worst.

Question for the Masses

Okay, so I have this idea for two books. However, I want to write the second one more than the first. I was just wondering could I write the 'second' one first and then make the other one into a prequel? Does anyone read prequels? I could go either way, I have the same general idea of what will happen for both of them, and I've got a bit more of the outline done on the first one, but there's like a year difference between the two of them, so I suppose it would be like a companion novel if I did them in order?

I don't know. Should I do a book with a prequel, a two book series, or companion novels? Which would be more likely to be read?

If you can, I would somehow combine both books into one or make the first a novella. It sounds like you wouldn't have enough material for a whole first book, so I think that sounds like your best bet. Good luck!

Inda wrote: "If you can, I would somehow combine both books into one or make the first a novella. It sounds like you wouldn't have enough material for a whole first book, so I think that sounds like your best b..."

sorry, I wasn't clear, I definitely do have enough for both of them to be full novels, I think they would just be companion novels. It's about a teen pregnancy, and so the first book is from when she finds out she's pregnant to when she gives birth, and the second is at least a few months later if not a year later about her going to college and stuff while being a mother--another problem I'm facing is that the 'second' one is more New Adult while the first is YA

Well then not a novella lol. I understand the problem with the genre mix. Maybe you can just list a warning at the bottom of the synopsis that this is a NA and features adult situations. You could also put in the first book that this is a series but could also do as a stand alone? Just ideas :)

Inda wrote: "Well then not a novella lol. I understand the problem with the genre mix. Maybe you can just list a warning at the bottom of the synopsis that this is a NA and features adult situations. You could ..."

thank you :)

Can we have a thread for What's That Word? I always get words stuck on the tip of my tongue. Luckily I just figured my last one out, but if I hadn't, it would have driven me crazy!

Lisa wrote: "Can we have a thread for What's That Word? I always get words stuck on the tip of my tongue. Luckily I just figured my last one out, but if I hadn't, it would have driven me crazy!"

Yes, absolutely! That's a fantastic idea, I have that problem all the time!

Here's the thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thank you! I'm pretty sure it's happened to me 5 times already in the past day. :)

Lisa wrote: "Thank you! I'm pretty sure it's happened to me 5 times already in the past day. :)"

haha no problem! next time could you please post questions like these in the Questions or Concerns thread?