Today, Fable and the Verbivore discuss some ideas for how to approach writing authentic teenagers.

We start by discussing the importance of understanding the developmental stages (physical, cognitive, and social) that teenagers are going though and treating that with empathy. Another recommendation we mention is, as writers, connecting with our own personal experiences and memories from that time in our lives to help gain some compassion for our characters and ground our writing in a place of authentic emotion.

In this episode we talk about key examples where books used dialogue, identity struggles, character change and introspection, impulsive actions, and shifting relationship dynamics to tap into something real about the experience of adolescence. We also talk about how slang should be used with care and research into the context and timeframe. And above all teenage characters - no matter how flawed and caught up in their world - should be written with understanding and from a place of emotional honesty.

Lastly, we discuss the idea that writing for teenagers should include a message, however small, of hope. Hope from a physiological perspective is important to development, overcoming fear, finding motivation, and maintaining a positive outlook on life. Since our stories have the potential to influence young readers, we feel a responsibility to demonstrate why a life is worth living.

We hope you enjoy this episode, we sure learned a lot through this discussion. Keep creating and putting your unique voice out there!

Into the woods,

Fable & The Verbivore