There’s something alluring about the narrative where a debut YA novel & Author takes the publishing world by storm. Who wouldn’t want that story for themselves?
I know I would. I also know it isn’t the be all and end all. I’d choose longevity over instant, and fleeting, success every single time. But sometimes, it doesn’t feel like publishing has the same view. My observant—on the outside—opinion is that publishing has an obsession with the ‘prodigal debut’. And with that obsession there’s a lot to unpick.
But...this blog post isn’t going to delve into that. Instead, Ruona, a writer friend I met on twitter, and I are going to think up the next YA sensation. The only stipulations are that there is a limited but fair budget and a few bookish factors that must be included. Oh, and along the way I asked Ruona a few questions. This interview has been edited.
Below are the budgetary rules (if you’d like to have a go), followed by our best attempt at conceptualising the next YA novel to take the world by storm
Genre (Must Pick One)
£10: Fantasy/Sci-fi ⚔️/🛸
£8: Mystery/Thriller 🕵
£5: Contemporary Sci-Fi/Fantasy
£3: Contemporary 🌻
£1: One of the many dead genres 🧛🏾 Main selling point (Must Pick One)
£10: Social Justice ⚖️
£8: Retelling/Reimagining ✨
£7: Romance (e.g. enemies to lovers)
£5: Found family 👪
£4: The ‘magic’ system ⚗️
£3: In verse 🎭
£2: An outrageous heist 💎
£1: Revenge 🗡️ Main character traits (Pick As Many As You Want)
£5: Unlikeable 😈️
£5: Cinammon roll 🧇
£5: Reverse himbo
£3: Genius 🤓
£3: Popular 💁♀️
£2: Creatively inclined 🎨
£1: Aloof 😒 Villain Archetype (Must Pick One)
£10: A wolf in sheep’s clothing 🐺️
£8: The villain is the system 🧑⚖️
£5: Understandably evil 🤷
£3: Despicably evil 🦹♂️
£1: There is no villain, only obstacles and challenges ☔ Miscellany (Pick As Many As You Want)
£5:An absolutely massive marketing budget & pre-order campaign
£5: It’s already being adapted into a movie!
£5: Sold in a 15-way auction!
£3: Blurbed by the biggest name in the selected genre
£3: Billboard advertising
£1: Multiple starred reviews
£1: Multiple exclusive editions available to pre-order
£1: A promotional in-conversation with a prominent author at an esteemed book festival
C.S. Lewis in his book 'The Four Loves said this:
Ok. My favourite genre is Fantasy. Do I know why, exactly? I think it's because for as long as I can remmeber I've always been drawn to stories that pulled me into a whole new world and experience. The sort of thing that wasn't part of any other regular day. I love to be swept up in the adventure. I think that's why I prefer it to Sci-Fi stuff. There's always that whisper of reality that says it could happen. At least with Fantasy I know it isn't 'real'.
Right, right. Sci- Fi is a bit scary and bleak at times. I know you write Fantasy, but are there any other genres you'd want to try? I know you're working on what I'll call a Heist story.
Well, a heist is sort of like a thriller in a way so I'd love to write in that space. But I'd probably be too scared to write a thriller thriller. One of two things will happen. It'll either not be scary enough, or it'll be too scary and I won't be able to read it back. So there you go. Are magic schools a genre? Or like an unconventional, high-concept boarding school experience. I just love when the school setting has a subversive element, where what you see isn't always what you get. Like Assasination Classroom (Ansatsu Kyōshitsu) which is one of my favourite animes ever. I'd love to write something with that feel.
Yes! I would love to see it. A bit of an aside but one thing about anime and manga is they have a broader genre pool and aren't afraid to genre-mix. I would love to see more of it. Right onto our first category. What is the genre of our next YA sensation?
I'm going to go with Contemporary Sci-Fi/Fantasy just because we were talking about magic schools and it's a genre I'd like to try as well!
Perfect. Okay before we choose the main selling point of our Contemporary Sci-Fi/Fantasy. What's your favourite thing abour your work in progress at the moment?
Ok, ok. I know! It's the characters obviously. Writing family relationships is something I really enjoy, but the fun thing abut these characters is that they all love each other, but there is also lots of conflict and tension. So writing that contrast where one minute they care about one another, and the next moment things are about to blow up is so much fun. It's what I loved in the Fantasy you've read too.
I know you did. Those reading it don't know the pain you put me through and I haven't forgiven you yet.
[Laughs] I was thinking about it the other day. A lot of my stories have those elements of betrayal and blown up relationships and honestly, I've come to peace with that. I think it's a universal experience that a lot of people can relate to.
I completely agree. Real realtionships have a duality to them and that will always be an evergreen theme. So hurry up and finish your heist story. I can't wait to read. While your stories feature complex relationships what will our new YA offer the masses?
I'm thinking we should go Romance because in our magic school/high-concept boarding school you need that. I'm thinking academic rivals to lovers or even close friends. It doesn't have to be romantic.
Bingo. Loving how our story is taking shape and how conservative we're being with our money. Ok. My next question for you is this: Which main character from a book you've read recently has made most of an impression on you. And why?
Oh, ok. I've read Ace of Spades and I really love Chiamaka and her Blair Waldorf energy. She'd be a fun character to hang out with. I think though that she's a bit hard on herself. At her core she's a good person, even though she's done some 'bad' things.
Intersting. For the record I definitely don't think she's a good person. I think she's very mean. I'm team Devon. He's my favourite. Chiamaka was just...you know what, I admit I am biased. I've known a lot of Chiamakas and they've annoyed me in my lifetime. You know when memories are just brought back? But you know she isn't iredeemable or completely unlikeable. Devon and Chiamaka's dynamic though is priceless. Some of the memes I've seen have cracked me up. Anyway, I've waffled. Over to you. We need to choose some traits for our MC. What's it going to be?
I would like to write a himbo. They're just the best characters. You know when they say the dumbest things but when it comes down to it, they're the deadliest person in the group. Actually, would it be a himbo? Most himbos look strong and powerful but I'm thinking of a reverse himbo. Where they look innocent and unassuming and not at all strong and powerful. But it's not on the list...
I love it. In fact let's rewrite the list. Right our MC is a reverse himbo. Do you want any other character traits?
Hmmm well, most himbos are also usually cinamon rolls so I'm going to leave that trait alone. I think popular? I like the idea that our reverse himbo is well liked because they are seen as a delight, and cute, but actually they're a fighting monster. The character in my head is Kenpachi's vice captain from bleach. She so small and innocent. But she's incredibly strong.
Yes, she's a monster! Appearances are deceiving. Ok. Next up are villains. We love to loathe them. Sometimes we straight up love them. What separates a good one from a bad one?
I feel like what makes a good villain is a good place to start. The villians I love are charismatic. A good vllian needs that. That I think can make a basic villian a good one. But on top of that I love when their very existence hurts the MC on an emotional level. What makes a bad villain for you?
You know there's one movie I will never forigve for its villains and that's Iron Man 3 with the Mandarin--Ridiculous! The villian twist didn't make sense to me. You get me invested in this Mandarin character, and it turns out he's a fraud?
Yeah, I am not a fan of fake out villains. Esepcially when they're at the core of the story. It can be done well though so long as they aren't presented as the core villain. Frozen does it well with Hans. He isn't the big bad. Really, that belongs to Elsa's fear. But it works because his existence stirs the pot immensely. He stays relevant. Why are all my comparisons animated films/shows?
I don't know Ruona, I don't know. But you're absolutely right. Okay so what's our villian archetype? I'm guessing we're going with a wolf in sheep's clothing? I think it's in our writing DNA and I don't know why I'm drawn to that idea of betrayal but I am.
Yeah. I feel it just has so much to offer. First of all, there's the emotional fall out. Then there's the response of the MC and how they overcome, or don't overcome it. It's great emotional content and it's often poignant. It's so interesting and relatable. Anyway I'm going with a wolf in sheep's clothing. Gives me enough money to still get some nice things.
Before we spend our remaining money. Are there any author dreams you have?
So I've got two. One of them isn't an author dream per se, but I feel like being an author could make it happen. And it's to have an interview with BTS. I've gotten into their stuff recently and they have a lot of cool symbolism and storytelling devices in their music. So an interview with BTS would be so much fun. On a more serious note, I'd either want something I've written to be adapted into animation or write for an animated show.
I love that. Writing for an anime or seeing my work adapted into an animation would be amazing. Okay with our £6 left how are we going to build buzz for our YA sensation?
Ok. I'm going with multiple exclusive editions to pre-order. I like looking at visual things. I'd go with that first. And then I'm going with sold in a 15-way action because that is a flex.
And we we have £0 left. If we collate all our choices, let's come up with a pitch.
My mind has gone '...'. How about: Burn Academy is a school for aspiring culinary assassins.
When the prefects start dropping dead, the head boy and head girl are forced to work together to uncover who is after them, whilst both aspire for the coveted valedictorian.
Sold in a 15-way auction, Chef’s Kiss of Death is available to pre-order in multiple exclusive editions.
*Chef's kiss*■
Ruona's choices
Genre: Contemporary Sci-Fi/Fantasy (£5)
Main selling point: Romance (e.g. enemies to lovers) academic rivals > lovers (£7)
Main character traits: Reverse himbo (£5), Popular (£2)
Villain archetype: A wolf in sheep’s clothing (£10)
Miscellany: Sold in a 15-way auction! (£5), Multiple exclusive editions available to pre-order (£1)
Total: £35