Thu 28 March 2024
In the Media
Publishing
Digital Reading
Young Writers in the News
Reports
Books & Reading
Goings On
You are here: Home > Blog > Writing About Death and Bereavement in YA Fiction
Writing About Death and Bereavement in YA Fiction
“Grief doesn’t conform to a script, or a set of rules.” The quote above is from my debut novel, Minty, a ghost story told from the point of view of the ghost

It’s a tale of a fourteen-year-old girl trapped in limbo and compelled to watch the devastation her death wreaks on those she has left behind. Integral to the plot is how each of the characters copes with bereavement, and how the protagonist helps them find closure. So far, so depressing. Except it isn't, or not according to the reviews, which is a relief as that’s exactly what I spent so long trying to achieve!

Before the book was published I, like most authors, hoped it would be well received. So far it has been, but it’s what the reviewers say about the way it deals with death and grief that has given me the greatest satisfaction. I had endeavoured to craft an honest and delicate story that would move the reader as much as it did me, and what I discovered in the process is that there is a way to write about the pain of loss and grieving without thoroughly depressing a young adult readership.

So, what advice can I offer to help you draft your own story about death and bereavement? Just as there are no rules on how to grieve, there are also none when it comes to writing about such a sensitive issue. However, what I can give you are a few tips on how I went about it myself. Click here to carry on reading. 

Source: Writers & Artists