The Young Adult Market: The Business of Writing and Publishing Books for Teens

Readers of Young Adult (YA) books are some of the most passionate and influential audiences in today’s publishing landscape. Writing for these readers requires both creative skill and market awareness. YA books tackle important themes, memorable characters, and high-stakes emotions, making the category exciting for writers but also highly competitive. Writers hoping to break into the YA market need a clear understanding of what’s selling, what publishers are actively acquiring, and what obstacles they might need to face on their journey to publication.

This live webinar explores the business side of writing books for teens. Literary agent Maria Vicente will analyze current trends in the category, the tropes and themes that YA readers love, and the expectations agents and editors have when considering YA submissions. You’ll learn what defines a standout YA manuscript, how to navigate current market trends, and what you should include in a pitch to make your book stand out in a crowded category.

In The Young Adult Market, literary agent Maria Vicente covers everything you need to know about the business of writing and publishing books in this space. This is an OnDemand webinar. 

What You Will Learn:

• The common elements of a YA book
• What the current YA market looks like in publishing and predictions for the future
• What YA readers are looking for in a book
• What editors want to acquire in the YA space
• The appropriate word count for YA manuscripts of all genres
• The common themes and topics found in YA books
• How to find your own YA writing voice
• How to create engaging and diverse YA characters
• The importance of a high concept plot with high stakes conflict
• The mistakes to avoid in your manuscript’s opening chapter
• How to write a successful pitch for your YA manuscript
• The best resources to return to as you continue writing, revising, and pitching 

Who Should Watch:

• Writers who want to better understand how to write for YA readers
• Writers who want to learn about the YA market in publishing
• Writers of other categories who want to transition into writing YA
• Writers interested in writing compelling, diverse characters for teens
• Writers interested in writing unique, immersive stories for teens
• Writers and illustrators seeking information about the YA graphic novel market
• Writers who want to write an effective pitch for their YA project
• Writers looking for YA publishing resources 

Instructor:

Maria Vicente is a Senior Literary Agent at P.S. Literary Agency representing writers and illustrators of innovative and beautiful books for readers of all ages. With over a decade of experience in the publishing industry, Maria has helped launch the careers of many bestselling, award-winning, and critically acclaimed authors and illustrators. Whether it’s collaborating on manuscript drafts and proposals, negotiating book deals and contracts, or exploring adaptation opportunities, she advocates for her clients every step of the way. Maria is a board member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) and a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents. She lives in New Brunswick, Canada, reading and selling books from the Atlantic Ocean shore. Learn more at www.mariavicente.com.