Writing Lessons from LitUP

LitUP is one of my favorite book festivals of the year. It’s all about bringing young adult authors and aspiring teen writers together. Mid-Continent Public Library has truly created something magical (and free). This year’s lineup included Angeline Boulley, author of The Firekeeper’s Daughter; Ngozi Ukazu graphic novelist of Check Please; Jenni Howell, author of Boys With Sharp Teeth; Byron Graves, author of Rez Ball; Swati Teerdhala, author of The Tiger At Midnight; and myself (internally fangirl screaming!!!), as well as a cosplayer and a podcaster!

I took pages of notes, and here are a few highlights I keep thinking about, but first, my favorite picture of the night (the presenters together!!)

Now the writing advice…

What Dark Academia Actually Is

Boys with Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell was one of my favorite reads this year, so I was so excited to hear her give a talk on what dark academia truly is (and how we’ve all been using this term incorrectly). I won’t give away everything today, but this was my favorite takeaway: The school is the heartbeat; it’s both the love interest and the antagonist to your protagonist, and your protagonist desperately (obsessively) wants something from the knowledge the institution is trying to keep from them. Students choose to suffer together for this knowledge. This is dark academia’s core. Without it, you have a book set on a campus, not necessarily dark academia.  

Honor the Dedication. Finish things.

At the panel, an aspiring writer asked the authors how they see a project through once the initial spark fades. That’s when I heard the best advice: Honor the spark by finishing. Jenni Howell said that she always writes the dedication at the top that she can return to during those dark times. The dedication doesn’t necessarily have to be a person, it can be a 1-2 sentence thesis statement on why you want to write this book and what’s so important. What is it saying? For instance, she wrote Boys With Sharp Teeth because she felt strongly that the term “dark academia” is used incorrectly, and she wanted a true dark academia book on the YA shelves. Also, the act of finishing often clarifies what the work is actually about (and keeps that guiding star in sight).

Finally, you can fail, but you are not a failure. 

So many authors have ups and downs in their journeys, and every journey looks different. Learn from every story you write and keep going. You don’t need a writing degree. You only need the courage to follow the dream.

If you went to LitUP, what was your biggest takeaway? Drop it in the comments.

~SAT

Click here to Read Books for Free

If you found me from LitUP, you can start both of my young adult series for free!