For Road Trip Wednesday this week, YA Highway wants to know: What’s the next Big Thing in YA?
I am not even going to pretend I know what the next big thing will be. I am not a trend analyst, and honestly I try not to think about upcoming trends too much. It is a lot harder to just be alone with my work when I have suggestions coming from all sides.
*Write steampunk–it’s the next big thing.*
*You should try your hand at writing about angels–they’re the next big thing.*
*Why don’t you try a Yeti romance–it’s the next big thing.*
I don’t know what the next big thing in young adult literature will be. And I really don’t want to know. I just want to work on writing the very best book I can, regardless of whether it will fit the trends or not.
While I don’t want to guess what will be big next, I do have some things I would like to see more of (all of which I have in one–or more–of my stories…curious 
). I would like to see more:
- YA novels from a male POV
- gothic YA
- Southern gothic YA
- family bonds
- focus on friendship over a romantic relationship
- strong, independent female protagonists
6 Comments
I’ll second male POV. Most of my faves are– 13 Reasons Why, Looking For Alaska, Perks.
I agree! Some of the best YA out there has a male POV, yet we still don’t see it often. It makes me a wee bit sad.
Good thoughts. I’ve been thinking lately about a move to focus more on familial bonds and friendship. Like that idea a lot.
I love when I see that in books. It seems like a lot of YA is so focused on romantic relationships that other important relationships fall by the wayside. That is part of why I am SO excited for Jackson Pearce’s SISTERS RED…the focus on sisters really intrigues me.
I really am, but anyways… I hate the concept of the next big thing. Some may see it as a challenge to write in conformance with the “in” theme. Maybe the idea inspired them, but the reason the next big thing exists is because someone grew a proverbial pair, went out on a limb, and put out something original. Good is good, no matter the theme. Be yourself, not a parasite.
Along with that, I don’t wish to characterize all as a parasite. If it really did give you inspiration along similar lines, go ahead and rock it. That’s just how it worked. As for the parasites, they know who they are, and their day will come. Grrrrrrrrr…..