The trouble with YA contemporary

The impossible timeline of contemporary fiction PLUS writing links and resources!

*For tons of writing news and resources, scroll down.*

When a forty(ish)-year-old writes about teenagers…

I’m currently drafting a YA time-travel novel in which a girl from the present day is transported back to 1997.

My writing group suggested I really highlight the differences between being a teen today versus being a teen in the pre-smart-phone era. They’re absolutely right, but that’s easier said than done.

I think the teen experience — the intense feelings and the desire for independence and belonging — hasn’t changed much, but what “teens today” are wearing, doing, thinking, listening to, saying, etc. changes at breakneck speed. Sure, they’re making Tik-Toks today (but ARE they? Is Tik-Tok still cool?), but what about a year from now? What new online platform will they be using? And will wide-legged jeans still be having a moment?

How I keep my YA Contemporary novels from being out-dated:

1. I try not to mention specific bands or musical artists unless they’re old ones I think (hope) some kids will still be into. When I was in high school in the 90’s there were some kids who were very into Led Zeppelin, just like these days there are some kids who are into Nirvana. I will also sometimes make up fake band names.

2. I don’t mention specific social media sites. I might say, “she posted the picture,” or “she messaged him,” but I don’t specify on what platform.

3. I don’t use trendy slang. I probably don’t know it in the first place, but I avoid slang unless it’s something I think has true staying power.

4. I consult with actual teens. I have teenage babysitters for my kids, and I run a summer camp with teen counselors. So I will sometimes ask them awkward questions like, “so, if two people like each other and are hanging out a lot, what would you call that?”

   (I also recently asked my ninteen-year-old babysitter if I could borrow her high school yearbook to see what “kids today” are wearing. SPOILER ALERT: jeans and t-shirts, people. And sweatshirts. They are wearing the most boring things.)

   

   Here I am in high school in 1998 wearing a very large pair of jeans. The wide-leg jean trend seems to be back (FOR NOW).

An impossible timeline

Still, it’s hard to write contemporary, especially contemporary YA, because of how quickly teen and technology trends change, combined with the snail’s pace of writing and publishing.

Let’s say you decide to write a contemporary YA novel, and you consult with a seventeen-year-old to find out about “teens today.”

Here’s an imaginary timeline that is extremely generous. For many of us (especially those with full-time jobs, kids, and other time constraints), it takes quite a bit longer to write a novel and get it published:

Summer 2024 (Your teen consultant is 17)

You get an idea for a novel. You do some research, you talk to teens, you brainstorm, you take a novel-writing class. You write seventeen different versions of Chapter One. You freak out that you’re going to fail. Finally, a year after first getting the idea, you start drafting for real.

Summer 2025

If I’m really diligent I can draft a novel in six months, but let’s say this is your first novel, so it takes you a year (which is still fast — novels are super hard to write).

Summer 2026

You finish the first draft of your novel and let it sit for a few months. You get some critique partners to read and give you feedback then you embark on a MAJOR revision.

Summer 2027

You finish a second draft and let it sit for a few months. You get a beta reader or two then embark on yet another revision.

Summer 2028

Your novel is revised and polished and ready to send out to agents. You research and query agents. With the agent I have now, it took me a year and a half of querying to find and sign with her, but let’s say for you it only takes a year.

Summer 2029

You sign with an agent! She gives you an 18-page editorial letter. (Hey, that’s what happened to me.) You spend the next year working on revisions with your agent.

Summer 2030

You go out on submission! But editors are slow to read these days. There’s one editor who likes your book but can’t get it past the acquisitions board. It takes a full two years before you are offered a book deal… and you’re one of the lucky ones! At least your book didn’t die on submission.

Summer 2032

You sign your book contract. Hurray! Now you will work with an editor to make even more changes. Your book will get a cover. Eventually you might get a publicist. Your debut novel will come out in two years!

Summer 2034 (Your original teen consultant is now 25)

Your novel is finally out in the world! IT ONLY TOOK A DECADE! Hmm, wonder if those specifics of teen life you wrote about still apply?

You see the problem, right? It’s my theory that so many people write YA Fantasy because in some ways it’s easier than contemporary. With fantasy you don’t have to worry about the changing tech and trends of teenagers, and a book that takes ten years to write and publish won’t be out-dated by the time it hits the shelves.

And this is a problem not only for YA, but all contemporary fiction!

On the hunt for a tech-savvy mom!

I recently became a co-host for the

Literary Mama

podcast This Mama is Lit, in which we interview writers who are also mothers. Currently, Literary Mama is still on the hunt for an audio editor, and until they hire one, the other hosts and the producer and I are doing the editing ourselves.

Here is a picture of me trying to figure out how to edit a podcast:

Editing this podcast episode is giving me gray hairs.

I’m actually starting to get the hang of it, but still, PLEASE spread the word:

Literary Mama

is seeking an audio editor for their podcast, This Mama is Lit, which releases two episodes a month. Great experience for your resume, plus you get to work with a fantastic group of literary moms (like yours truly). Read more about the position here.

Writing News & Resources:

For All Writers:

• Free online workshops from Good Story Company:

  • “Ask Me Anything” Editor Panel on July 31.

  • Writing Irresistible First Pages on August 8.

  • Story Snobs Pitch Contest on August 28 (pitch your work to editors for a chance to get feedback!)

• Listen to the latest episodes of This Mama is Lit, a podcast from

  Literary Mama featuring interviews with writer-moms.

• Check out the free event replays of various workshops at Manuscript Academy.

• CRAFT First Chapters Contest: Deadline Aug. 4.

• NYC Midnight’s Rhyming Story challenge starts September 20. Register before then!

• The Writers Center website is a GREAT resource for finding grants, fellowships, residencies & retreats, publishers (who publish non-agented authors), and literary journal opportunities.

• Ready Chapter 1 is a community-powered platform connecting book publishers with undiscovered writers. Find peer critiques and more.

• Check out all the many upcoming online craft workshops from Savvy Authors!

• Writing Workshops also offers lots of online classes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, picture books, and the business of writing.

• Check out the meet-up group called Shut Up & Write. There are in-person chapters all over the country, as well online events.

• NewPages has tons of submission calls from literary magazines and journals.

For KidLit Writers:

• Applications for the We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Program will open August 15.

• New book from

  Mary Kole & Good Story Company
  : Writing Irresistible Picture Books Workbook

• Searchlight Writing for Children Awards. Contests for PB, children’s, and YA writers. Deadline Sept. 1.

• Each week Kidlit411 posts The Weekly 411 with links with articles and opportunities for writers of picture books through YA.

• Check out the Voyage YA 3-Sentence Story contest and their genre flash fiction prize (deadline July 31).

• Mary Kole has a new book: the Writing Irresistible Picture Books Workbook

• Wow Con, WriteMentor’s annual online conference for writers of children’s fiction: Sept. 27-29.

  • Register by July 22 for a chance to win prizes like critique packages from agents and editors.

• A list of places that publish stories for children from The Write Life.

• Literary Rambles has information on kidlit agents and agent interviews.

• Submit your children’s book to these publishers: no agent required!

• Here’s an incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!

• Check out SCBWI (The Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) fir events, conferences, critique partners and more. (Picture book through YA.)

For Querying Writers:

• Register for the Live Queries & Pages Feedback Panel with Agent Eric Smith on July 24. (Chance to get live feedback on your submission!)

• Here’s a list of small publishers, most of which do not require agents.

• I love that this person on Twitter is making “rejection art.”

• A query letter template from agent Samantha Wekstein and lots of querying advice from agent Eric Smith.

• Andrea Bartz has a list of successful query letters (many of them thrillers).

• Pitch contests on Twitter(“X”) seem to be coming back. These events can feel like a bunch of authors screaming into the void, but it doesn’t hurt to try. After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. So read my article:13 Things to Know About Twitter Pitch Events then mark your calendar for these upcoming pitch parties: 

  • #SmallPitch on July 25 for unagented authors to find small/indie publishers interested in their work.

  • #PitchDis on Sept. 10-12 will take place online but NOT on Twitter. This event is for writers who self-identify as disabled, neurodivergent, and/or chronically ill.

• I occasionally choose a subscriber for a FREE submission package critique. Send me your query and first two pages, and, if I chose your submission, I will send you in-depth feedback on both. Fill out the form here.

Writing Conferences & Events:

• Live in the mid-Atlantic region and looking for a writing retreat get-away?

  • 2024 Writing Retreats ​at ZigBone Farm (​Just one hour from DC/Baltimore area in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains). MD residents can apply for a grant to help cover costs!

    • July 28 - Aug 2: Summer Novel Writing with award-winning author Tammy Greenwood. For writers at all stages of the journey.  

    • September 22-27: Fall-on-the-Farm Women's Poetry Writing Retreatwith Award-Winning Poet and Writing Instructor Ann Quinn 

  • The Writer’s Retreat at Good Contrivance Farm. Open year-round, the only requirement for this peaceful retreat north of Baltimore is that you use the time to work on your writing. Spaces normally book about two months in advance.

• The James River Writers Conference in Richmond, VA is happening Oct. 4-6.

• Thinking about going to a conference or applying for a residency? Check out the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.

• The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences are affordable and helpful. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. For online conferences, attend from anywhere in the world! Check out the upcoming conferences: 

  • Texas Writing Workshop: July 26-27, 2024 (online)

  • Carolina Writing Workshop: September 13-14, 2024 (online)

  • Florida Writing Workshop: October 4-5, 2024 (online)

• Wow Con, WriteMentor’s annual online conference for writers of children’s fiction: Sept. 27-29.

• Writers Digest offers loads of virtual conferences on a variety of publishing and writing craft topics.

• For more writing conferences, check out this list or the free searchable database on Poets & Writers.