Tag: Reader Expectations

Ask the Author

Ask the Author: When does a novel become YA? Before you write it—or after?

Mandy Webster

Dear Mandy,

When do you decide if your novel is YA? Do you decide before you start writing or after you are done?

Answer: One of the questions writers ask constantly is whether a novel “counts” as Young Adult fiction. Sometimes the answer is obvious from page one. Other times, writers finish an entire manuscript before realizing they may have written for a different audience than they originally intended.

When does a novel become YA—and how much of that decision happens before you even write the first page? This graphic breaks down the key factors writers should consider, from voice and protagonist age to audience and market expectations, and why knowing who you’re writing for shapes every story choice you make.

The truth is that YA is both a category and a marketing designation, and those two things do not always align perfectly. At the most basic level, a Young Adult novel is written for teen readers, generally between the ages of twelve and eighteen. In publishing, though, that definition becomes much more flexible than people expect. A huge percentage of YA readers are adults, and many books with teen protagonists are actually shelved in adult fiction. That’s why YA is not determined by a single factor.

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Mother Is Watching by Karma Brown: A dystopian horror that turns pregnancy into a battleground

Mandy Webster

In Mother Is Watching by Karma Brown, releasing March 17, 2026, a routine art restoration spirals into a chilling exploration of surveillance, bodily autonomy, and the quiet horror of a society that thinks it knows what’s best for women. What begins as the story of a haunted painting becomes something far more insidious—a dystopian nightmare hiding beneath a gothic veneer.

Get your copy of Mother is Watching from my independent online bookstore today!

Mathilde “Tilly” Crewson, a thirty-nine-year-old art conservator and mother, is hired to restore The Mother, a fire-scarred painting rumored to be the lost fourth work of a female surgeon-turned-artist. Not long after the canvas arrives in her home, Tilly discovers she is unexpectedly pregnant. Then the insects come. The whispers. The visions of her long-dead mother. The line between psychological unraveling and supernatural intrusion blurs as the painting’s influence tightens around her.

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Writers on Writing

Reading a lot of books is a skill, not a personality trait

Mandy Webster

By the end of 2025, my social feeds were flooded with book-count roundups. Fifty books. Eighty-seven books. One hundred books, neatly stacked in Canva graphics and celebratory captions. Mixed in among them, especially on Threads, I kept seeing the same question pop up again and again: How are people able to read 100 books in a year?

Reading isn’t a race. It’s a skill you build, a habit you choose, and a joy that looks different for everyone.

The tone of the question always felt half-amazed, half-defeated—like asking how people finish marathons when you can barely make it around the block.

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Writers on Writing

Writing adult novels with a young adult point of view: Challenges, opportunities, and why it matters

Mandy Webster

There’s something uniquely compelling—and uniquely tricky—about writing an adult novel through the eyes of a young adult protagonist. You want the story to resonate with adult readers, but the voice will inevitably feel youthful, immediate, and shaped by the character’s limited experience. That tension can be powerful, but it can also trip up both writers and readers if it isn’t handled thoughtfully.

It’s difficult to write an adult novel when telling the story from a young adult point of view.

Take Casey Dunn’s The Wind Witch Murders, for example. The novel is marketed as adult fiction, but its protagonist, Raven, is young, searching, and emotionally raw. The book is written in first-person point of view, which makes it even more difficult to escape the natural YA headspace. Every detail, every observation, every emotional beat is filtered through Raven’s young adult perspective.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

Does your novel need a prologue?

Mandy Webster

A prologue is an introductory section of a literary work, typically placed before the main story begins. When deciding if your novel needs a prologue, it’s important to consider its purpose in the story. A prologue can effectively set the stage, offering readers essential background information or a glimpse into events that shape the main narrative. For genres like fantasy or historical fiction, prologues often introduce complex worlds, key events, or mythologies. However, some prologues may feel extraneous, delaying the start of the main story and potentially losing readers’ interest.

Prologues are often a necessary element in genres like fantasy or historical fiction, as they can make necessary introductions to complex worlds, key events, or mythologies without bogging down the main story.

To determine whether your novel needs a prologue, first ask yourself if the information could be seamlessly woven into the main chapters instead. Writing a prologue can be a useful tool for introducing key elements to a novel, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Following are the pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to include a prologue in your book.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

How to ensure the first chapter of your novel sets expectations for the rest of your story

Mandy Webster

The first chapter of a novel is crucial in establishing the groundwork for the entire story, as it introduces readers to the world they’re entering and signals what they can expect in terms of tone, genre, and pacing. A strong opening chapter does more than just hook the reader—it serves as a promise, subtly hinting at the main themes, character journeys, and conflicts that will shape the narrative.

Regardless of what is happening in your story, the first chapter should provide readers with a solid idea of where the novel is going to take them.

Writers must carefully consider what to reveal and how to convey the essence of the story from the start, crafting an introduction that not only captivates but also lays the framework for what lies ahead. By thoughtfully setting these expectations, the first chapter can draw readers in and keep them eagerly turning pages, primed for the twists, growth, and resolution that will come.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

How to successfully break chapter one promises

Mandy Webster

In novel writing, the first chapter serves as a foundation for the reader, setting up initial expectations about plot, tone, and character arcs. However, successful storytelling often involves deviating from these initial promises in a way that adds depth and intrigue to the narrative. Breaking “chapter one promises” requires a careful balance: if done skillfully, it can surprise and engage readers, adding layers of complexity and unexpected turns to the story.

Some promises are made to be broken.

When handled poorly, however, it risks confusing or disappointing the audience. Understanding how to effectively subvert early expectations—whether through plot twists, character development, or shifts in tone—allows a writer to create a dynamic and memorable reading experience that keeps audiences invested and eager to see where the story leads.

Here are some strategies for successfully breaking your chapter one promises without breaking your novel:

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

The pros and cons of breaking Chapter One promises

Mandy Webster

In storytelling, the opening chapter of a novel serves as a promise to the reader, establishing tone, genre, character dynamics, and key themes that shape their expectations for the rest of the narrative. Breaking these promises can occur when the story later diverges significantly from what was initially implied, often leading to confusion or disappointment. However, when done skillfully, breaking these early promises can also serve as a powerful tool for subverting reader expectations, adding layers of depth, or creating surprise twists that enhance the overall impact of the novel. The challenge lies in balancing misdirection with satisfying storytelling.

You should always carefully weigh the pros and cons before decide to break your chapter one promises.

Breaking chapter one promises in a novel can be a bold and creative storytelling technique that keeps readers engaged and surprised. By deviating from the initial expectations set in the first chapter, authors can introduce plot twists, deeper character developments, or genre shifts that challenge assumptions and create a more dynamic narrative. This unexpected shift can enhance the story’s complexity, making it more memorable and impactful.

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