Writing for Young Adults

Here's a true fantasy for a young adult book author, to have your first or even subsequent novels receive multiple book lists, such as the ALA Best Books For Young Adults list, the ALA Quick Pick list, and the Booklist Top Ten Mysteries for Youths. Gail Giles' YA book titled, SHATTERING GLASS (Roaring Brook, 2002) did just that.

When asked why she chose to write for young adults, besides mentioning that she was a high school teacher for years and thus surrounded by them, she says that age is "so fraught with possibilities." IT is that comment which most interested me about her as a writer. "Fraught" and "possibilities" aren't usually words that go together in the same sentence. It made me interested in seeing how she saw and wrote about the world.

I think that the interview done with her and posted on the Cynthia Laitch Smith website (http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/auth-illGailGiles.htm) was very interesting to read. I loved her answer to the question, "What advice do you have for writers just entering the professional children's market?" Her response was to "Submit your manuscript ONE MORE TIME."

As a YA author, I know we pour our hearts and souls into writing books we hope the young adults of America will enjoy reading. It's tough when publishers don't see everything we put into it. (In other words, when they don't think it's the best seller we believe it to be.) So I really believe her advice is right. You just have to keep submitting your work. Make adjustments to it as you go and wait if you feel it's appropriate, but don't give up.
Do any of you write stories, poetry, books, or articles? Have you submitted any of your work? Have you had any success? I'm interested in hearing about your experiences, if you'd like to share.