Emotion, empathy and authenticity: top tips for teen writing from a literary agent

Gyamfia Osei is a literary agent at Andrew Nurnberg Associates. Named a Bookseller Rising Star in 2024, she has built a list of award-winning and bestselling authors writing from middle-grade and YA up to adult fiction.

Gyamfia represents children’s and young adult (YA) genre fiction as well as a select list of adult commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction. Here, she offers a range of insights and actionable tips to support authors working on YA novels – but as is always the case with great advice, most are applicable to writers of any genre.

1. Know the market, but lead with authenticity

When it comes to writing young adult fiction, there can be real pressure to tick off whatever tropes are currently dominating the market — enemies to lovers, ‘not like other girls’, love triangles, and so on. But for readers, it’s usually clear which stories come from a place of authenticity, and which are trying to chase what the author believes is ‘working’ right now. 

It’s worth remembering that once a book is sold to a publisher, it often won’t reach shelves for 12-18 months. By that point, today’s popular tropes may no longer be what readers are gravitating towards. Instead of writing to the market, focus on what generally excites you. What kind of story would you want to read? Authenticity almost always resonates more strongly with readers than trend-chasing.

2. Get into your character’s head

Strong plotting and immersive worldbuilding are important in young adult fiction, but voice is often what first grabs the reader’s attention. Before you even start writing, take the time to get to know your central character — or characters — inside and out, so their voice(s) shine through. 

First person remains a popular choice when writing young adult fiction because it allows the reader to form an immediate connection with the protagonist. Readers don’t need to like them, but they do need to understand them. And before that can happen, you as the author need a deep understanding of who they are, what drives them, and how they see the world.

3. Lean into emotions

There’s a reason why books like The Hunger Games, Heartstopper, and A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder have built such devoted fanbases. They’re very different stories, but they share one crucial element: emotional depth. 

The teenage experience is defined by heightened emotions — love, jealousy, anger, joy — and capturing that intensity on the page is what makes young adult fiction so powerful. When you’re writing the big plot twist or dramatic moment, don’t just focus on the what. Dig into the how. How does this development affect your characters emotionally? How might a teen reader see themselves in these reactions?

4. Let your characters lead

Trust your characters to make their own decisions without needing an adult to constantly step in and show them the way. Teen readers want to watch characters test boundaries, make mistakes, and work things out for themselves. 

Teachers, guardians, and mentors can guide and support, but the most meaningful choices should belong to the characters themselves. Even poor decisions can be powerful, as long as they feel earned and contribute to the character’s growth. 

5. Stay true to teens, if they’re your audience

The line between adult fiction and young adult fiction has become increasing blurred in recent years. Adult readers (including myself!) are reading down, and teen readers are reaching for the adult shelves. While this has created exciting commercial opportunities for books with broad appeal, it also means that we need to be mindful of protecting stories written specifically for teenage readers. If young people are your target readership, keep them – and their needs – firmly in your sights.

Writing with young adults in mind might involve considering appropriate ‘spice levels’ (code for how much intimacy is shown on the page), but it more often comes down to character journeys.

Ask yourself whether those journeys feel relatable, authentic, and emotionally engaging for a true teen reader. When that connection is there, YA fiction can be at its most powerful. 

Want more advice from Gyamfia or one of the other literary agents we work with? Book an agent one-to-one session to get feedback on the first 5,000 words of your novel, your query letter and your synopsis. During a friendly, supportive call, you’ll receive constructive advice on honing your submission pack, plus insight on your novel’s commercial potential from an industry expert.