Writing Better Young Adult Fantasy: Part 3 - Memorable Characters

This third video in my Writing Better YA Fantasy series is a comprehensive guide to creating characters readers will love and remember for years to come. I want to read more YA Fantasy novels that feature interesting protagonists, swoon-worthy romances, and heartwarming friendships. Even if you don’t write fantasy or young adult fiction, here you’ll find writing tips that can apply to a variety of genres and audiences. If you’ve watched all three videos in this series, you deserve a cookie!
You can read a text version of this video on Medium: / how-to-write-young-adu...
Love my channel? Treat me to a cup of coffee at ko-fi.com/quotidianwriter.
Behind-the-scenes notes for this video: www.ko-fi.com/post/Behind-the...
My Published Stories and Poems: www.quotidianwriter.com/my-wr...
Twitter: / quotidianwriter
Title and End Music:
“Clockwork” by Vindsvept - • Fantasy Music - Vindsv...
Background Music by Vindsvept:
+ “Illuminate”
+ “Hideaway”
+ “Deliverance”
+ “Dryad’s Dream”
+ “Light the Bonfire”
+ “Keeper of the Forest”
+ “Mourning”
+ “Leaving the Dream”
+ “Winter’s Day”
SOURCES
“What Is Young Adult Fantasy?” by March McCarron: www.marchmccarron.com/what-is...
Introduction (0:00)
A Driven Protagonist (1:31)
Reader Pet Peeves (6:16)
Antagonists/Villains (9:43)
Contrasting Relationships (10:33)
Romantic Pairings (11:50)
Love Triangles and Instalove (14:59)
The Foundations of a Good Romance (16:06)
YA Fantasy Without Romance (19:54)
Meaningful Friendships (23:06)
Questions to Ask Yourself (28:21)

[@bigredcube91]

The way you said “Annoying or whiny” was hysterical 😂

[@BenAC75]

I almost spit my drink out when she said that.

[@MiaNena545]

You just made my day with that Terrible Writing Advice Love Triangle reference😂

[@qine6559]

I appreciate you and the content is super good. Stick to this and hopefully soon youtube will see what gem you are and promote your channel.

[@Legui1231]

Whatever you do, keep making videos

[@josuebello3419]

I Recently started watching your videos because I want to write a YA fantasy novel but I have never wrote a novel before. I’m currently in 11th grade and I plan to write a novel series before I finish high school. Your videos have really helped me think on my story to make it more interesting, so for that I’m really grateful. Ps: I have been inspired by many media such as anime, manga , and lights novels and I recommend light novels since your a reader

[@stiankallhovd7041]

Thank you for a well-thought video series on YA Fantasy. Have watched your other videos a number of times, and this one certainly meets the same level of quality. I imagine it must be a tremendous job gathering all the images and video sequences you put in, but it adds a lot to the overall experience! Just as you inspire us to keep writing, I hope all of us who leave you positive comments can inspire you to keep making writerly content. You're amazing at what you do and it makes a difference! Thank you very much, Diane!

[@QuotidianWriter]

Thank you so much, Stian!!! I truly appreciate your kind words. Keep writing! :)

[@stiankallhovd7041]

@@QuotidianWriter Will do, Diane!

[@EricHrahsel]

Thanks. I was really struggling with adding romance in my book. Now i know it is not mandatory.

[@QuotidianWriter]

Hi there, viewers! An adapted text version of this video is now available on Medium: quotidianwriter.medium.com/how-to-write-young-adult-fantasy-part-3-memorable-characters-8b4a1a5371a9 You can check out my behind-the-scenes notes for this video on my Ko-fi page! www.ko-fi.com/post/Behind-the-Scenes-Writing-Better-YA-Fantasy--Par-E1E524JBU

[@pyrographypete6640]

You've put together three very informative, visual and stunning videos that I found insightful and helpful - as always 😊 I'm writing a Dark Fantasy Trilogy, most of which is still in my head, growing daily - including the list of characters which currently stands at eight. Your last three KZbin videos has helped me immensely. Thanks. And your voice, accent and tone are amazing. I totally enjoy watching and listening to your uploads. Are you planning anything for NaNoWriMo this year? I'm attempting my first challenge this year and will be on the lookout for any tips and hints leading up to November.

[@QuotidianWriter]

I'm so glad that you've enjoyed my videos and found them useful! I would like to participate, but I might be too swamped with work this year. I don't make many NaNoWriMo-specific videos (although my Writer's Block video is catered toward that), but Alexa Donne always has excellent NaNo tips! :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5fQfYSdrJ1nlZI

[@Thenoobestgirl]

The Cruel Prince is such a great enemies to lovers book! 😍❤️

[@zsuzstr]

I'm not really into YA novels, but you make me want to give them another chance :) Also thank you for the amazing videos :) it could have been an enormous effort to cut these scenes and pictures, and browsing the best quotes from these books. :O

[@iceveinz8730]

This is really good, it helps a lot with actually figuring out how I should write my stories

[@AncientEnergyEyesOpen]

Thank you. I found u today, and have binged a bunch of your videos since. Ive been working on writing out my first story for 2 years. I took a year break so in all actuality probably 4 months. Watching your videos have sparked my heart back up. I love the story in my mind. Its been brewing for many years, but since I've never written anything before, I have a huge fear of rejection. I also watched your video that said write for rejection. That made me smile and keep watching your videos. Thanks again for helping me blow that ember back alive.

[@QuotidianWriter]

I'm so glad to hear you've been writing! Keep going! :)

[@TheMusicscotty]

These really are so well written and edited. Well done.

[@edenmckinley3472]

Totally agree on the character relationships! Character relationships, romantic or otherwise, are so fun but so difficult to write, and they are above all my favorite thing to read. I think the test of a good romantic relationship is if the two people can still love each other in a platonic way and still be entertaining and heartwarming.

[@gothicwriter9897]

My favourite YA fantasy character must be Neville Longbottom. What a character arc between book 1 and book 7.

[@rociomiranda5684]

Great content in all three videos. I am an older person who loves reading fantasy for all ages. I am also trying to go back to writing after many years. Your channel is an inspiration for me.

[@nathanbuckingham8796]

These are incredible videos. Fantastic job. They deserve many, many more views.

[@lindadiggen9973]

Great information! I will be changing some things in my rewrite after watching this video. Thank you for the information!

[@lasuperagus]

Amazing video as always! I was just thinking about characters relationships when you uploaded it. Thank you! =D

[@EvualLavea]

Yay, thanks for your vids... The best and most emphatic tips on the platform...

[@reemaw4133]

Thank you for making such amazing, informative and helpful videos. Keep up the good work. You are an inspiration.

[@Jonnycosmic]

Thank you for these videos...excellent breakdown of the genre.

[@robinsprung207]

Great video as always!

[@archanakankani4655]

Thanks a zillion

[@hectorps653]

Great and amazing as always! So many good points and examples, I really just come back to your videos to make sure I’m on the right track with my writing. Yes, finally I gathered the guts to start writing thanks to your advice. Sorry for the late watch, I’ve been busy this past week. I’m still waiting for your JK Rowling video take on Stephen King hahah. Keep the amazing work! I don’t know if you speak Spanish but if you do I’d love to get reviewed by you if I ever have the chance to get published. :)

[@hectorps653]

HAHAHA also, I can’t with your “annoying or whiny” 😂 was it actually you? If it was, brownie points for amazingness. If not brownie points for amazingness and creativity❤️😂

[@QuotidianWriter]

Thank you so much for your kind words, Hector! So glad to hear you're writing! I still need to read about ten more Stephen King novels before I feel confident enough to tackle that video. I took five years of Spanish in school, but unfortunately, I remember very little of it, as much as I love the language. And yes, that was my "Valley Girl" accent, haha! Who knows, maybe that's my true voice, and the rest is all a lie... Keep writing! :)

[@lggc262]

Thankyou 😍.... You are Amazing....love from india...

[@royrieder2113]

Diane Calahan, you are the best!

[@gavasiarobinssson5108]

Why do I nod knowingly at all this but find it so difficult to practice?

[@jiru1015]

It is worth it. Yeh!

[@greenergrass4060]

Stop the riot, the Queen has uploaded again!

[@greenvash]

Love your videos! Also have you read "light novels" the are the Japanese equivalent of YA novels.

[@QuotidianWriter]

I've heard of them (like with the basis for the "Sword Art Online" anime adaptation), but I've yet to read one! Let me know if there are any you'd recommend. :)

[@greenvash]

@@QuotidianWriter I'd recommend Re:Zero Starting Life in a New World. It's really good. There are a lot of Isekai (in another world) light novels, but Re:Zero is one of the few that takes the tropes and turns them on their head. I didn't realize until it was pointed out to me that each story arc focuses on the main character dealing with a deadly sin. Like Pride vs Humility. It's a fun read although a lot of sad things happen in it. The main character feels strange at first but later on they explain why he acts that way and he has a lot of growth & character development.

[@cjpreach]

I proposed to my wife six days after we met. Not QUITE L.A.F.S.

[@uriel4973]

I want to write a good book

[@theodaxpeters4892]

Andrew and Aaron Minyard from the All For The Game trilogy, great twin brothers who were separated at birth that eventually find their way back to each other and have a lot of Trauma™

[@fitznchipz5090]

first i think

[@bensilvers2241]

The Mary stues have to be side characters and total badass chads who only show up once in a while

[@rogofos]

I really dislike "enemies to lovers" trope because 1 - they are often abusive (often glorifying abuse or not even acknowledging it) 2 - they often rely on hetero-normative trope of "a girl and a boy appear in the same scene, thereby they *must* end up together and have 30 kids in the epilogue" not to say it can't be done good, but, more often than not, it isn't

[@sindarpeacheyeisacommie8688]

If you want better YA lit, get rid of the communist/SJW gatekeepers who blacklist any and all non-PC authors daring to write politically unapproved manuscripts.