Would you like to publish a novel, but think you are too young? Well, you are wrong! Anyone can write books, regardless of age, and teens can absolutely create and publish novels just like adults, in some cases even better. What are you waiting for then? Start writing!
Steps
Method 1 of 1: Create Your Teenage Novel
Step 1. Start with an idea, a passion and an inspiration
Write about what is important to you. You must have a good idea about the subject of the novel and you will need enough passion and some drive to carry it out. It is not necessary to know everything with certainty from the beginning; you can start writing even if you have few characters and backgrounds or maybe just an opening sentence. There are many less general articles that can help you decide what to write about if you're not sure (read the wikiHow Writing category). Example: Story: The protagonist moves into a haunted house with her mother, her brother Rory and her sister Sarah.
Step 2. Find your writing style
You will need to try to figure out what best fits the story you are writing. The different styles can include past and present tense, first and third person, prose and poetry. It will depend on the voice of your characters and what you are trying to convey. Try taking the first chapter and rewriting it in different styles until you find an ideal one.
Step 3. Try writing a little a day
However, don't be afraid to put the novel aside for a few days, because doing so is better than hating writing and considering it an obligation. Writing a book will take a lot of time and hard work. When you feel trapped and happen to have writer's block, don't despair. There are hundreds of different ways to overcome it and the most practiced one is waiting. It will pass by itself. Each writer has a different way of approaching the writing of a novel, so no one can really tell you what is the most appropriate way to write it. Some write in one go from start to finish and others skip parts and then return to them; others write a chapter a day and still others write only when the inspiration is felt; in fact, there is no definitive way to get to the end of your book. But, after all, if you take the time and if you have the right passion, the goal will be yours. Example: I had recently fallen asleep when Rory walked into my room, making signs that were senseless to me. I used to get a good grasp of sign language, but I just couldn't register what was going on. It was moving too fast. I asked him to calm down and start over. He resumed making quick signs in a state of apparent panic. I rubbed my eyes, exhausted. He had probably been frightened by a spider, the wind or just his imagination, in that old house it was easy. "Sleep with me," I said, gesturing to accompany him to the bed. He still looked anxious, so I closed the door and turned the key in the old lock. I knew locking it wouldn't hold back a spider, but the action seemed to have a calming effect on him. He lay down on the side of the bed near the wall and I hugged him. But he kept staring at the door.
Step 4. If it is difficult for you to write sequentially and you are more interested in one part one day and another the next, then write in sections
Maybe you know the texture well enough to be able to work in parts and then go back and sew them together. Writing sequentially can be boring, so write about what interests you on any given day. While this is another idea, you will eventually put it all together. However, you run the risk of getting lazy and not wanting to go back to fill in the missing parts, the ones you find most boring to write. Don't get to this point, writer friend; if you're not even interested in a certain part of your book, what makes you think readers will be? Example: I had recently fallen asleep when Rory walked into my room, making signs that were senseless to me. I used to get a good grasp of sign language, but I just couldn't register what was going on. It was moving too fast. I asked him to calm down and start over. He resumed making quick signs in a state of apparent panic. I rubbed my eyes, exhausted. He had probably been frightened by a spider, the wind or just his imagination, in that old house it was easy. "Sleep with me," I said, gesturing to accompany him to the bed. He still looked anxious, so I closed the door and turned the key in the old lock. I knew locking it wouldn't hold back a spider, but the action seemed to have a calming effect on him. He lay down on the side of the bed near the wall and I hugged him. But he kept staring at the door. After that, Rory ran up and went into Sarah's room, gesturing to communicate something to her. She, too, suggested that he sleep in her room. The next morning, she told her mom this, but she thought the scare was only caused by a spider. Mom asked her to show her the sign that predominated. And that sign meant "man".
Step 5. Correct and revise your first draft
Your first critic is you; you will have to go back to every word you wrote and correct it to make the result better. Especially if this is your first novel, you will have a lot to fix. It's hard to let go of parts, but sometimes even good writing needs to be erased or synthesized to get the story moving in the correct direction. There may be some big changes to make before we get to the next step. Example: I had recently fallen asleep when Rory walked into my room, making signs that were senseless to me. I used to get a pretty good grasp of sign language, but I just couldn't register what was going on. It was moving too fast. I asked him to calm down and start over. He resumed making quick signs in a state of apparent panic. I rubbed my eyes, exhausted. He had probably been frightened by a spider, the wind or just his imagination, in that old house it was easy. "Sleep with me," I said, gesturing to accompany him to the bed. He still looked anxious, so I closed the door and turned the key in the old lock. I knew locking it wouldn't hold back a spider, but the action seemed to have a calming effect on him. He lay down on the side of the bed near the wall and I hugged him. But he kept staring at the door. "Don't let your imagination drive you crazy," I tried to tell him. He looked so genuinely scared that I began to feel bad for him. "How about turning on the light?", I asked, and to make myself understood better I went to the lamp. He nodded his head enthusiastically. I went back to bed and hugged him tightly. He was shaking. I woke up startled at the rattle of the doorknob. It was now morning. "Maria! Why is the door locked?”. It was my mother, and she seemed annoyed. I jumped out of bed and opened it. She glanced around the room, frowning and then raised them, surprised at the sight of Rory. “He was really terrified last night, so I let him sleep with me,” I yawned as I walked out the door. “Oh!” She said, picking him up and following me up the stairs. She sat him down in front of the morning cartons with a plate of pancakes. "Poor kid. Of all the houses to move to, I found the most disturbing and isolated,”Mom said as she shook her head and glanced through the newspaper. "It's not that bad in my opinion," I replied, trying to console her. “I think he was scared of a spider, or something like that. He was making different kinds of signs when he entered my room, but I was too tired to strain and understand them. " “Do you remember anyone?” She asked frowning. “Um, he made one like this,” I said, trying to mimic the movement. I joined the pads of my thumb to those of the other fingers in front of my forehead and then lowered my hand to my chest. My mother's face remained blank, but she began to tap her fingers nervously. "Are you sure?" He asked skeptically. “Yes, I don't know. Maybe,”I said, putting a giant forkful of syrupy pancakes in my mouth. My mother looked at Rory and then at me. “What's going on?” I asked as I was trying to chew. “The sign you just made means 'man',” he said thoughtfully. I was amazed. Rory was staring at me, as if she knew exactly what we were talking about. Then, he smiled and continued eating. "He was dreaming," I said without giving it too much weight. “It's just that…” my mother began to say. "It was just a nightmare, Mom," I said putting the plate in the sink. I went to my room. I was not in the mood to put up with his absurd superstitions.
Step 6. Ask someone else for help with the fix
Get some friends or family members to read it and give you advice, and then you might want to go to a real publisher. You can find one online, even in the phone book, and a reviewer can be really helpful. However, it can also be expensive, so if you're confident in the quality of the book, you can skip the part of finding a professional publisher. Also, you should know that your publishing house will likely want its text editor to read the book before publishing it. Either way, you should send the novel to at least one professor or other adult with literary experience and trust before sending it to a publishing house. Your peer friends and other teenagers, while helpful, will miss out on things that teachers and other adults will pick up on the first time and / or be kind so as not to hurt your feelings. Don't be afraid of criticism, because while they are sometimes just embarrassing, in most cases they will help you grow as a writer.
Step 7. Send the finished product directly to the publisher or contact a literary agent
Remember that not every online publishing company is honest and trustworthy. It will also be difficult to find an agent. This professional figure deals with the proposal of your book to the publishers who would probably publish it, and many of them nowadays have to do with the authors only through a literary agent. You will need to find at least one that is available and send him a letter of request. Don't be afraid of being rejected; if so, proceed with the next one. J. K. Rowling were rejected, 12 times, when the writer tried to publish "Harry Potter".
Step 8. When your agent finds the right publisher, you will be able to work with this company from now on
Don't let them take advantage of your age; clearly discuss your copyrights, the images you prefer for the cover, express your opinion. You should be accompanied by an experienced adult, who will be your advisor for matters such as copyright and so on. Different companies work in different ways and expect different things, but they will keep you in the know. Enjoy the process, even if it takes time.
Step 9. Let your book have the right circulation
You are a published writer. Attend public readings and events dedicated to writers and books in your area. Sign books in a bookstore in your city. And be proud of yourself. You worked hard.
Advice
- Don't stay up late or all night trying to finish the book in a month. This is unlikely to happen and will only make you feel really tired. It will also make it harder for you to think and work on what you have. Get enough sleep, eat breakfast, do well in school, etc. You will finish it sooner or later, even if it takes a year, but, if you are constant, you will come to the conclusion. Rushing to finish it will not improve your writing, in fact, it may make it worse.
- As much as you want to be honest with the agents you're meeting, it's best not to tell them your age. You'd be surprised how many authors (even adult ones) don't tell agents how old they are. If you write the request letter and manuscript well enough, agents will let the writing speak for itself and won't understand if you are 13, 15 or 1017 years old. If they like your book, they will call you, regardless of your age and past credentials.
- If the agent makes you uncomfortable in any way, then stop the conversation as quickly as possible. Don't let him take advantage of it. "Yes, thank you very much, but I've had other offers to consider and I'd love to take care of them" (say it even if it's a lie, use this excuse anyway. It's polite, it's a white lie, and it's better to dismiss a bad agent and wait for a good one, those who can't do their job won't help you). "Should I get in touch if I decide to be represented by you or do you prefer another mode of communication?". Or something like that. A bad agent won't get you anywhere.
- Don't be intimidated. You are competent. Your age doesn't matter. In fact, you're writing a teenage novel, your age connects you to your readers.
- It's really hard to find time to write as a teen, with school, homework, friends, parties and distractions, but be consistent. You will always have a few free minutes here and there. The end result is worth it.
- Send your work to multiple agents at a time. Many are good, but only a few work miracles, and they sure will be really busy. They have dozens and dozens of manuscripts to read in addition to yours. In your request letter, don't forget to thank each agent for giving you their precious time - this time could spark their interest in your work and get the book published. Also, doing so is a general rule of courtesy.
- When looking for an agent, find one who is interested in the kind of book you wrote. Read some tips on how to write application letters for literary agents and get some practice; do not write more than one page and stick to the agent's preferences. If it tells you to send a letter by regular mail only, then do it. If he wants the first chapter, don't send him the whole book. Check out agentquery.com to find out more.
- When an agent calls you, then feel happy. Be polite and kind and thank him very much for reading what you wrote. Be humble, don't compare your work to bestsellers or other books the agent represented, or to any other novel. It is not ideal. You can ask questions; even the literary agents do not know everything. Be professional, and when he asks how old you are, be very mature and state your exact age. Lying won't help you, you can't sign a contract if you're under 18, it's illegal, and lying will backfire.
- It takes time. Do not rush. Each step of the article will require multiple stages.
- Don't get involved so much in writing that you forget everything else. Spend time with others, laugh, fight pillows, eat so many sweets that you feel sick. Do the things your peers do, play sports, do your homework, and read other books. A writer needs to fully experience each stage of life. Many times, it's life experiences that trigger ideas, and these ideas are often crucial and relevant to your work.
- People say agents do not accept requests from writers who have not already been published or not famous: this is absolutely unfounded and not true at all. Almost every agent, except those who are more exclusive and only work with a client, not dealing with general content, accepts letters from anyone who has written a novel of a genre they represent. In principle, this is the case.
- Read texts containing writing tips. These types of books give you tips and ideas to help you overcome writer's block and, moreover, they are enjoyable.
- Join other writers. There are writing centers and clubs for teenagers. Get the support of your peers around you, this will help you tremendously.
- You can even post stories on sites like Miss Literati or WattPad!
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Regarding the creation of your novel:
- Chances are you're writing about a teenager or preteen trapped in a certain situation. Here are some things to remember:
- Don't use confusing words and long paragraphs. Your reader will immediately lose patience.
- The terms used by preteens and teenagers age after some time. If you use old-fashioned words, you will not win readers over. Don't always use the same terms. Your audience will be bored.
- Make sure the novel is appropriate for the age you're writing for. For example, don't write a teen book called "The Magic Rainbow Pony Saved the Day".
- When you finish, show your work to a friend, parent, or teacher. Let them give you some feedback regarding what you should change.
- Don't let other people tell you how your book should be written. You are the author. This is true even if a professional editor is giving you suggestions; you can choose whether to follow them or not.
- Go to the bookstore to try and find a book about how novels are published.
- Sending the manuscript directly to the publisher might save you the expense of hiring an agent, but it takes a long time for the publishers and their reviewers to take a look at what is called "the Manuscript Mountain." There is a reason she was given this nickname. So contact a literary agent. It won't be cheap, but it makes the writer's job easier. As stated earlier, many publishing houses only work with agents. Submit your work to various; if you find the right one, he will really give you a hand. But make sure you give him exactly what he asks for; if you don't, he may lose interest in representing you from the start. And that will only make things more difficult.
- Remember to take your time. If you get to a point of impasse in the novel, take a break and come back to it later. Frustration will be your only reward if you sit in front of the book and struggle and try to do something you can't. A good book or series takes time to reach the conclusion. J. K. Rowling and her books ("Harry Potter") took 17 years to come to an end. Take your time and it will be worth it in the long run.
- Read a lot. Read as much as you write, and more. Read books of all genres, not just the one you write about. Read poetry texts, novels, current affairs books, biographies, fantasy books, the dictionary. All of this will help you create a great story.
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There will be waste. You could really get quite a few. You could get hundreds of them. Don't let this put you down: it happens to everyone. Even to Tolkien.
“I love rejection letters. They show me I've tried”- Sylvia Plath
- Not all agents get paid right away, they generally receive a portion of the money earned from the book. This is called a commission, this is how, in general, this job figure earns a living.
- If you are interested in publishing, check out “CreateSpace”, an Amazon service. It presents the possibility to publish for free and the author decides the price and distribution. Be sure to ask your parents for advice anyway, as it will require certain documents.
Warnings
- Do not send your book to a literary agent unless you have finished and proofread the entire manuscript. You may turn out to be unprofessional. Also, the agent may be interested in what you have to write (although sometimes it seems that this will never happen; instead, it happens quite often) and, if so, will ask you for the entire novel. He's not sure if he's willing to put it aside for as long as it takes for you to finish it. The chances of this happening are limited, unless you write super fast and finish pages and pages a day, but this is rather unlikely, you risk sacrificing quality.
- Never send your manuscript to a publisher without first having Google its name, along with the words "scam" or "cheat". If you think it won't happen to you, take a step back and do some more research.
- Do not give up. It could take months and months to get accepted by a publishing house, and then there are so many to consider. It's a matter of finding the right one.
- As a teenage writer, you may not be taken as seriously as someone who has already graduated from college. That said, you need to be professional and serious when discussing the manuscript and submitting it to publishing houses.
- If you want to make writing your job and make money, don't post your story on the web, on writing sites. Sounds like a great idea, but you won't be protected by copyright once it's published.
- Make sure the agent or publisher you find is trustworthy. You might want to research the other books he has devoted himself to. There are people who know they can fool a novice teenage author who has never done anything like this in his life.
- Learn to accept criticism. No good writer can survive long without them.
- Dream big, but be realistic. That way, if you don't convert into a nationally famous writer, you can still have your own writing, and not let others convince you otherwise.
- Always proofread your work, at least twice, because you will probably miss out on things during the first draft and the first proofreading. The care is never too much.
Teen Books
- The three stones of Flavia Bujor
- Bran Hambrick of Kaleb Nation
- The Pet Smart Trilogy by Aaron E. Kates
- Swordbird and Sword Quest by Nancy Yi Fan
- Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance by Christopher Paolini (started writing Eragon at age 15)
- The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
- In The Forests Of The Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (wrote it at age 14)
- Corydon and the Island of Monsters by Tobias Druitt (a pseudonym behind which lies a literary collaboration between a mother and a son)
- 7 in 1 by Joanna Lew
- Trouble All the Way by Sonya Hartnett
- The Strangest Adventures Trilogy by Alexandra Adornetto
- Halo Trilogy by Alexandra Adornetto
- Tweaked by Katelyn Schneider
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Starters with Mocktales by Aditya Krishnan
- A Cry From Egypt by Hope Auer
- Sorry I'm 15 by Zoe Trope
