YA Writing Workshop with Stef Ferrari

Do you remember the book that made you a lifelong reader? For many, it was one placed in our hands during young adulthood.

It’s an emotional time when we start to explore the world, form opinions, and try to find ourselves—and these experiences serve as rich starting points for stories that stay with readers long after they graduate to more mature literature.

The Young Adult genre offers a platform through which to explore major themes that begin in adolescence and follow us well into adulthood. This class is designed to be a time machine back to those days, to help aspiring YA storytellers rediscover and access those feelings, and translate them into a narrative that will resonate with today’s young adult audiences. We’ll talk about the challenges and opportunities of changing language and technology, how to communicate meaningful messages and make young readers feel seen, as well as entertained and engaged.

We’ll look at some examples of YA literature past and present and discuss why certain narratives are timeless, despite our changing world. We’ll use exercises to explore themes common to YA stories of all kinds. Sharing is optional, but whether you’re writing for the YA genre, are looking to incorporate young adult characters into your adult work, or simply want to better understand a tween or teen in your life, this class offers conversation, community, and useful practice.

The works we will look at include:

• Forever by Judy Blume
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
• Children of Blood & Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
• The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
• To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Stef Ferrari is a New York Times bestselling author, and an Emmy-winning writer, producer, and artist. Her forthcoming debut novel is a queer YA rom-com set in Brooklyn amid the magic of the holiday season. As a journalist, she’s a contributing writer to publications including The New York Times, and covers her greatest obsession: women’s sports.

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