At the outset, this question seems silly. There are no official qualifications to write young adult literature; as long as you can put a good story on the page and get it into the hands of the readers, then, yes, you’re qualified. Age, race, gender, ethnicity, none of these factors predict the quality of your story (though, yes, sadly, they may predict your success in getting your book out there). And, given that I have one YA novel already published and a second one coming out this year, I even have the evidence to prove that I can write YA.
But 2024 is a milestone year for me. In a few weeks, I will turn 50. A half-century. Most likely more than half my life gone already. To be frank, my age has never bothered me, and honestly, it doesn’t now, either. 50 is 50. But 50 is a long way from 17, or 18, the ages of my protagonists. I was much closer to being a teen when I was in my 30s, or even 40s, but wow, 50 makes adolescence seem like it was a million moons ago. Are my own recollections of teen-hood even relevant anymore? Has too much changed in the decades since I survived my teen years? Am I out of touch??
This is especially true since I no longer teach high school. For almost two decades, I was around teenagers every day. So yeah, if my own experiences were out of date, at least I was learning the what’s-new every day with my students. I was in the know (as much as any teacher can be, really). But now? Maybe not?
For a while, I banked on my own kids, teens themselves, and their friends. But in this milestone year, my oldest will age out of her teens; she’ll turn 20, and my youngest will turn 18, becoming a legal adult. As of June, I won’t have any connection to high schools.
And my husband and I are also celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this spring. A heartfelt milestone (I am a romantic at heart, after all) but the blush of first love, the exhilaration of new relationships is long in the past. I wouldn’t trade what I have for the world, but well, after 25 years of marriage, plus raising two kids, and living life as a responsible adult for so long, can I still connect with my characters?
To be clear, my question of “qualification” isn’t a fear. It’s a genuine curiosity. I know what I wanted as a teen when I picked up a book. I knew what my students wanted, and what my own daughters wanted. But now that adolescence is passing me by, can I still appreciate and understand what’s relevant to my readers?
The answer, I decided, was yes. I suspect I’ll mess up the lingo, or not get technology habits right. I’ll stumble over memes, or the latest trends. But at the heart of every YA book, is the heart of a teenager who just wants to be loved. The push and pull of independence and acceptance, of searching for self and searching for family, of a sense of belonging and a sense of adventure is all the same. People are people are people. Teens have a distinct view of the world they’re just learning about, and each of their experiences shapes that world view. Having a book (or dozens) in which those worldviews are reflected can go a long way in helping teen readers cope with the tsunami of changes happening in their lives. What they most need from their YA stories, then, is empathy.
I have that in spades.
So yes, whether I’m 40, 50, or 100, I think I can still burrow into the heart of a teenager who is doing their damnest to make sense of their reality.
Besides, I reminded myself, it’s never about the author; it’s always about the story.