Writing a Young Adult Novel
A course by Carola Martinez ArroyoWriter, Editor, and Educator
A course by Carola Martinez Arroyo, Writer, Editor, and Educator
Discover the tools to help turn your next idea into a novel for teens
According to writer, editor, and educator Carola Martínez, young adults are readers in training with a wide variety of options to choose from, and that is precisely what makes them a challenge for writers. That's why it's crucial to have a set of tools at your disposal to help you conquer your fear of the blank page and successfully develop the plot of your story.
In this course, Carola teaches you different techniques to start writing a young adult novel and transform your next idea into engaging literature for teens. Create a plot outline that allows you to organize the characters, conflicts, and narrators that your story will revolve around.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 29 downloads
Reading for inspiration
11 minutes, 50 seconds
Youth book background
13 minutes, 44 seconds
Difference between short story and novel
7 minutes, 5 seconds
Narrative rundown
11 minutes, 21 seconds
Characters
20 minutes, 24 seconds
Dialogue
13 minutes, 34 seconds
What's included in this course?
Begin the course by getting to know Carola Martínez, who tells you about herself, her life, how she started writing, and how she improved her work. She then shows some of her favorite writers and explains how books and, more specifically, their authors have influenced her throughout her professional career.
Reflect on the concept of reading and why it's important for writing as well as the crucial role it plays in childhood and adolescence. Learn some techniques to generate ideas you can draw on for inspiration and get your first look at the tool you'll be using to elaborate your story throughout the rest of the course: the plot outline.
To start, create your characters using a character sheet and develop their personalities through dialogue. Lay the foundation by working on the plot and the conflict. Then, fill in the gaps with equally important details such as the narrators, setting descriptions and emotions, possible endings, and the distinction between internal and external time–when events occur versus when they are narrated.
Finally, explore the processes of writing and rewriting your plot outline. Carola shows you how to turn a stack of pages into a manuscript and edit with a critical eye to rework it as many times as needed. To round out the course, Carol teaches you everything she's learned about the publishing world and markets for young adult books.
What is this course's project?
Create your own plot outline with a detailed structure of your story.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in writing for young adults or learning more about the world of YA literature.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is necessary to take this course.
All you need are basic writing materials such as a pencil and a notebook, or a computer with a word processor if you prefer to write in a digital format.
Reviews
- 5 months ago
Me ha gustado mucho este curso. Te ayuda mucho con los recursos para crear la estructura de tu historia. Lo recomiendo
- 11 months ago
molto interessante
- 2 years ago
El curso está bien. Da las herramientas para escribir cualquier tipo de novela y esto es la base para planificar cualquier novela. Quizá esperaba que se centrara más en la novela para jovenes y me ha parecido muy generico.
- 2 years ago
Muy buen curso
- 2 years ago
Ayuda a dar una estructura básica para contar una historia
She is also an editor and runs a specialized blog and bookshop under the same name: Donde viven los libros. When she's not creating, she shares her passion for books by directing a reading program in Buenos Aires and teaching classes and training courses on reading, writing, and literature for education professionals and curious young minds.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
Laying the foundations
- Reading for inspiration
- Youth book background
- Difference between short story and novel
- Narrative rundown
- U3
Tools and structure: elements for writing a novel
- Characters
- Dialogue
- Conflict
- Storyteller
- Atmosphere
- Weather
- U4
Let's do it
- Write
- Rewrite, the best part of the process 1
- Rewrite, the best part of the process 2
- Publishing market
- FP
Final project
- Tools for writing a youth novel
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
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FAQs
You’ll learn how to structure plots, build believable characters, distinguish narrators, write authentic dialogue, and apply rewriting techniques to craft compelling youth and children’s novels.
This is an intermediate-level course, perfect for those who already have basic writing skills and want to deepen their understanding of children’s and youth storytelling.
All you need is basic writing knowledge, access to a computer, and a willingness to read and write regularly throughout the course.
A narrative outline is a tool to organize your novel’s structure: plots, characters, and conflicts. It helps you plan and develop your story coherently.
You’ll learn how to develop your characters’ personalities, backgrounds, and motivations using descriptive profiles and observation to add depth and authenticity.
A short story is brief and focuses on a single conflict, while a novel allows for more complex plots and character development. You’ll learn how to choose the right format for your story.
Rewriting means reviewing, adjusting, and refining your plot, characters, and dialogue to create a more coherent, smooth, and engaging narrative for young readers.