When I first began writing young adult fiction in high school, I had no doubt that I was nailing the characteristics of my generation at the time. Now that around 15 years have passed since penning that first book and I’m in my thirties, I no longer have the insider knowledge on how to write characters that reflect today’s teens. Nevertheless, I continue to write young adult books that resonate with their age group.
So, how is it possible to write realistic teen characters when you’re, like, double their age? The key, my friend, is to do the opposite of what you might think. 🙂
Don’t Use Heavy Slang in Dialogue
As an avid BookTube viewer, one thing I’ve found to be a common consensus among younger readers in that they get turned off when YA or NA books use a lot of slang from their generation.
Why is Slang a Turn-off?
Personally, I believe younger readers are turned off by heavy slang in books for a couple reasons:
- Slang dates the book. Unless you’re intentionally writing a book that takes place within a certain year and want readers to know it, writing words or phrases like “talk to the hand”, “yolo”, or, “rizz” will date the book. The problem with this is that readers may not think the book is relevant if the slang is from an older generation. Or, on the flip side…
- An abundance of slang makes it seem like the author is trying too hard to make the book relevant. One of the biggest issues with my debut novel, even though I was around the same age as the protagonist when I wrote it, was that I filled the book with slang terms from the time, like calling the mean girls the “Preps” and had that group mimic how mean girls in 2008 talked. While there’s nothing wrong with being historically accurate, looking back at it now, it’s super heavy to the point it’s downright cringy.
How to Write Teen Dialogue Instead
The thing I’ve learned about writing teen dialogue is to focus more on how the dialogue comes across rather than their specific word choices. For example, teens are known for being self-centered sometimes because many of them do not have to watch out for anyone but themselves. So, instead of relying on slang to help you depict your character as a teen, you might portray them like this:
Example 1
“Mom! I don’t care if I promised Grandma I’d go shopping with her. Liam called and said he wants to go to the movies later.”
Why this Works: This dialogue snippet shows readers that the girl who is speaking doesn’t care that she’s breaking a promise she made about spending time with her grandma, and would rather go off with a boy instead. The reader can deduce that the character is fickle, preoccupied with dating, and has probably not experienced much loss in her lifetime (hinting she’s most likely young), because she is not cherishing time with her grandma while she’s still able to do so.
Teens also tend to idolize becoming an adult, and being treated like one. This is a generalization that has proved to be true among many teens throughout each generation.
Example 2
“I can’t believe my parents wouldn’t let me watch that movie just because it was rated R. I heard freshmen talking about it during lunch. Freshmen!” He slams his locker door. “I’m so sick of them treating me like I’m twelve!”
Why this Works: This dialogue snippet shows readers that the guy who is speaking is most likely under 17 years old because he is not allowed to watch R-rated movies. They can also deduce that he must be a sophomore or a junior who has not yet turned 17, because he mentions freshmen have seen the movie before he has, insinuating that they are below him in status. Finally, the last sentence depicts the classic teenage angst that every past generation of teens has related to, and will continue to as new generations follow in their footsteps: they’re so sick of their parents treating them like kids.
Instead, Ask Yourself this Question: What Would I Want My Teenage Self to Learn from This Book?
Going back to my debut novel, one of the biggest issues I have with it all these years later is that the story itself is superficial. While I tried to address the issues of self-esteem and body image in the book, which are issues teens face, it focuses more on what caused the main character, Riley, to hate her appearance and feel rejected by her classmates and didn’t offer much of a solution other than finding a boyfriend and making friends along the way. What I should have done during the editing phase when I was 22 years old and decided to self-publish the novel was use the lessons I learned in high school about the same issues to write in a real solution to help Riley overcome her misbeliefs. That way, the book could, in turn, help teen readers who pick up the book.
So, what would you have wanted your teenage self to learn from your work in progress? If you’re stuck, below are some examples from my published works that have produced stories that resonate with teen and adult readers alike:
- Speak Your Mind (2018): What if I had learned in middle school that my shyness and social anxiety didn’t make me a freak like I thought, that I could make friends and have fun despite struggling with social situations, and that God made me the way I am for a reason?
- The Crush (2020): What if I had learned in high school that “first loves” don’t always have happy endings?
- The Fall (2022): What if someone had taught me when I was younger that grief can be debilitating and that, even when good things are on the horizon, our past hurts can cloud our perceptions and make us fear what God has in store for us?
- The Dream (2024): What if someone had reassured me that it was okay to follow my dreams when I was in high school rather than just going along with the status quo by going to college for a reliable field instead?
- On the Flip Side (2026): What if someone had told me that, despite my loved one being in a relationship with someone who verbally and mentally abused her, that I didn’t have to take matters into my own hands by trying and failing to talk her into breaking up with him? Instead, what if I learned to trust God with the situation?
The Key Takeaway
The main thing to remember when writing teen characters is this: instead of molding your characters to fit teens of the current time, write them in a way that allows the characters to explore universal struggles that teens face. This way, instead of writing a fast-fashion story that may grab the spotlight now but be deemed irrelevant tomorrow, you could have a relatable, classic-caliber story on your hands that teen readers of each new generation will fall in love with.
Talk to Me, Arrowheads!
Do you write young adult fiction? What are your best tips for writing teen characters?
If you’re a reader and love YA fiction, please drop a few recommendations for books that portray teens realistically in the comments!
Aim high, stay strong, and always hit your mark.
-Allyson 😀
