Why I Write For Young Adults

My son is graduating from high school next week. Yes, this freaks me out/makes me feel old. I have no idea where time has gone. (Kids, every adult you know will say this to you at some point, and today it’s my turn—time goes so, so, way too fast.) This graduation is a turning point for my whole family.


After this, I will have one-fewer child in pre-college schools. It’s entirely possible I’ll have one-fewer person living in my house, going on family trips, doing, well, other family things.


I remember being at this point myself not long ago. (Seriously, it was only like last year!) There was such a sense of excitement/trepidation/terror/happiness/fear/anxiety/expectation involved with growing up and being a real-life adult. I could make my own decisions and do my own thing and go my own way.


For me, turning eighteen was the biggest turning point in life. And now, years and years later, it remains that place where I catapulted into an entirely new existence.


The other day, I realized that the majority of characters in my books are right on this same cusp. They are seventeen/eighteen, standing on the ledge, ready to dive into that place from where they can never, ever come back.


It is the place where one big important thing ends, and something new and exciting and HUGE begins. It’s the day when everything changes, and the day life will never be the same.


This is where our real stories begin. And I think that’s why I write for young adults.

What time of life stands out most in your mind? Do you tend to write about those experiences too?

What Have You Done?

We’re running out of time!

I don’t know where this year went. Seriously. Winter lasted like, forever, and then there was spring. Summer was here, and then it wasn’t, and now there are only three weeks left of 2011. Makes me wonder what I’ve done this year.

I know I’ve written another book, queried a LOT of agents, been to a number of conferences, etc, etc, etc. But really, what have I done?

I loved my family, made priceless memories with the people I love most in the world (friends and family), tried to be of service to others, and put together beautiful words that will someday mean something to someone else.

All in all, I’d say 2011 has been good to me. What about you? What have you done this year?