Figuring out Your YA Novel: A Genre Workshop

Class Description

Have you wondered how to "break into" Young Adult Fiction? Started a novel, but "not sure it's YA"?

In this 3-hour course, we will go through an interactive session on the narrative and stylistic elements of young adult fiction that distinguish it from adult literary and commercial fiction, as well as from middle grade fiction (hint: YA novels *can* have sex and profanity!).

We will consider 3 very different, but equally thrilling YA novels, each one typifying "sub-genre" -- by Angeline Boulley, Sabaa Tahir, and Laurie Halse Anderson. In each of these examples, we will examine the structure of the YA thriller, fantasy and realist novels, **(Maybe choose two here?) respectively, and do writing exercises to generate passages and voices that could appear in a novel you are working on (or will work on!)

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.