Wild Ink: How to write fiction for young adults

Category: Writing Awards Publisher Marketing Reviews YouTube: Victoria's intro to Wild Ink! Available in trade paper If you're wondering what it takes to break into the flourishing YA market, this book guides you through young adult sub-genres, writing resources, submitting your manuscript, and what to expect when you get a "yes" from a publisher. It includes interviews with editors, agents, and authors who draw on their experience to give advice on writing young adult fiction.
Awards
	Finalist, Colorado Authors’ League Top Hand Award
Publisher Marketing
	Author:  Victoria Hanley Publisher: Cottonwood Press, Inc. (September 1, 2008)   Available in trade paper
Reviews:
	Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (November 2008) Midwest Book Reviews, 2009
	Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database -Phylliss Kennemer, Ph.D:
	Aspiring authors will appreciate the concise information and helpful hints about writing books and getting them published. Hanley obviously knows the adolescent audience well. After a brief discussion of some of the elements that appeal to teen readers (passion, honesty, independence, explorations, and breakthroughs), she succinctly describes subgenres (contemporary fiction, multicultural, gay/lesbian, fantasy, science fiction, horror, graphic novels, historical fiction, humor, etc.) Her section on finding your writing self includes creative exercises to help start the process and keep it going. She gives encouragement for overcoming obstacles and demons, including ways to deal the infamous writer’s block. Her recommended resources for writers includes a discussion of common problems, an annotated book list, classes, professional meetings, and critique groups. She explains how to submit a completed manuscript. The discussion of the pros and cons of searching for agents includes sections of interviews with agents and with authors in the process of acquiring agents. The process for publishing a book is described and the advantages/disadvantages of self-publishing are discussed. Quotations and suggestions from authors are included throughout. Interviews and profiles of nineteen successful YA authors offer “Words of Wisdom” near the end. They comment on their subgenres, dealing with rejections, approaches to finishing books, important lessons as writers, rewarding experiences, and they offer their best advice to aspiring writers. A valuable resource for both authors and teachers of writing. ----Phylliss Kennemer, Ph.D
	Midwest Book Review -- Peggy Tibbetts:
	Most readers will find that reading “Wild Ink” is like attending a workshop dedicated specifically to writers who write for young adults. For me, reading “Wild Ink” was almost like being at an author schmooze. Among the pages, I re-connected with several good writer friends and I even bumped into my agent. I ate my lunch with all of them. Amid the plethora of writing books in the world, this one stands out because of Victoria Hanley’s talent as both teacher and author. Do the exercises in Chapter 1: Finding Your Writing Self, and you will know whether you really want to write for teens. Only then will you be able to face Chapter 3’s Obstacles and Demons. While Hanley presents a realistic picture of today’s publishing industry she is generous with advice, compassion, and humor. This book is not just for beginning writers because of all the interviews with writers, agents, and editors. While Hanley features such well-known authors as Chris Crutcher and Lauren Myracle, she also includes some “not yet published” in the YA genre authors, like Coleen DeGroff and Olgy Maria Aleu, plus interviews with self-published authors, like Becky Clark Cornwell. These writers’ stories give this book a feeling of “we’re all in this together”. As a professional for 30-plus years in the field of children’s literature, I am impressed with Hanley’s thoroughness, accuracy, and honesty. All writers whether beginners or experienced professionals, published or unpublished, will find themselves in good company. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Copyright (c) 2009 by Peggy Tibbetts