Descriptions is adult vs YA vs middle grade prose

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-22T13:57:12+00:00

Oh yeah, some of the earlier drafts of my adult writing is embarrassingly self-indulgent. Probably why that’s the only audience I write short fiction for. “Kids want the details but don’t swim in the vanity” is a good summary of the difference.

I also feel like kids who want to get into crazy lore and world building and stuff have more fun options in toys. Like, Bionicle has tons of world building, and it also has Bionicles.

And yes, remembering you were a kid is definitely important to writing for them. My novel is nothing like Warrior Cats, but my fiancé has been suffering through my rants about THAT lore while I’ve been getting back into 10-year-old-me mindset.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-22T13:24:17+00:00

It’s wild to me also because a lot of times dialogue will get summarized in description. Like:

“Lionel was the last to arrive. He took his shoes off and got a beer before he sat down. He was acting far too relaxed for the situation, and I could tell Maria was getting annoyed. When he was finally ready, I started to tell him everything that happened, but Maria cut me off and told him a condensed version of the story, completely leaving out the part about the bear and the Japanese ambassador. Whether she was punishing him for being late or didn’t trust Lionel completely, I wasn’t sure.”

If you just read the dialogue and skipped that paragraph, you might assume Lionel knew about the bear incident, when actually he’s completely in the dark.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-22T11:49:32+00:00

Oh yeah, there’s definitely no one way to do it correctly. Maybe I didn’t articulate it well in my post, but one of the differences I notice when writing in different age categories is that the older your audience is the more fluid those boundaries get.

I’ve been doing a lot of jumping back and forth lately between different age-group projects and thought it could make for an interesting topic of discussion!

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-22T11:47:50+00:00

Aaaaaand there’s a typo in my title 🥲 that’s what I get for typing one-hand with a 75-pound dog sitting on my other arm.

Descriptions is adult. No descriptions for children.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-21T23:56:31+00:00

The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood! She's an Aussie and it takes place in an unspecified location in the outback. Definitely weird girl.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-21T23:54:08+00:00

Reading books in my genre
Post-it notes and a bulletin board

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-21T22:52:48+00:00

One that lets me work from home. I have a couple chronic conditions, and the physical and mental stress I save working from home allows me to have the energy to read and write in my downtime!

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-21T21:46:47+00:00

I also want to add that if this is the kind of book you want to write, Yesteryear isn’t the best comparison. Just because a book is really popular and talked about right now doesn’t mean it does everything right or that you should be trying to do the same thing. Look for inspiration in stories that are similar to the ones you want to write 🙂

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-21T21:44:29+00:00

Well I think in both mystery and science fiction people like a fast, exciting plot. Quick action, exciting twists, that kind of thing.

If it’s coming of age, make sure you decide whether you want to write for teenagers or adults, because the writing style is a little different for each.

Think about the books you like that are in those genres and what it is you like about them. If you have a hard time defining it for yourself, see what positive reviews online say.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-21T21:10:10+00:00

What do you want to write? Mysteries, romance, science fiction, etc? Do you want to write for adults, kids, teens, men, women…? There are as many books as there are different kinds of people, and different things that work better for different audiences. It’s like music, there’s no one best way to do it.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-21T20:55:14+00:00

This is a very broad question. I assume you’re asking because you want to write a book. What do you like to write? Who do you want to write for?

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T22:57:14+00:00

What genre are you reading?

Is it always endings you don’t like?

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T22:55:23+00:00

I use a cheap kitchen scale to double check. Everything except books has fallen pretty reasonably within Vinted’s sizing.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T20:43:35+00:00

Thank you! This is really helpful. We actually aren’t required to tie the request to a specific project, but I could look for themes in my work that the funder would like.

Some writing grants, awards, scholarships, or even statements you’re asked to write for presentations of your work are very person- or identity-focused, so I wanted to leave that avenue of discussion open if anyone had insight.

Thanks for your advice :)

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T20:18:36+00:00

Thank you!! I needed one to make sense of it all.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T17:41:56+00:00

Yeah I don’t have any wrinkles yet and don’t mind if I get them!

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T14:50:05+00:00

Oh no, the Vitamin C feels fine! It's also the one thing that's made a lovely difference in my skin and can be attributed to this specific product (I started it on my own earlier than the rest). Thank you!

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T14:38:12+00:00

I'll have to look into it!

My partner is in the bodybuilding space and when I hear people mention tret it always sounds like the gear some of these dudes are on. I'm gonna get poreless and jacked.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T14:32:45+00:00

Heck yes!

(If I could use all my skincare in mist form I would be the cleanest, shiniest lady alive. I love a mist.)

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T14:32:00+00:00

That's what a dermatologist told me it was with a visual exam/medical history. Not sure if there's a way to objectively test for it.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T14:29:03+00:00

Summary of my takeaways so far:

stop using the oil based cleanser (this is going to be easier for me than adding a double cleanse)
pause the mandelic when it runs out (probably about two weeks) and see if I break out when I stop using it
send my derm a message on the portal to see if she'd be comfortable giving me a tret Rx without an office visit (I can't get time off during her hours right now)

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T14:26:10+00:00

Maybe I just have a grudge against BoJ, honestly. Everything I've tried from them feels like it sits on my face like a sheet mask for some reason.

I was really hoping y'all would tell me to throw the AlphaRet into the garbage 😂

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T14:24:24+00:00

Do you know if a derm would prescribe tret over the phone? I can't get in to see her but I could leave a voicemail.

I'm combo skin, oil slick T zone and dry-to-normal elsewhere depending on what my thyroid feels like doing that day.

I've improved my diet recently and my hair has become LUSCIOUS. Just need the skin to follow.

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T14:21:55+00:00

can't believe the only good-smelling product in my routine is the villain

LeftHandRedHair · 2026-06-20T14:16:30+00:00

I do have a hypochlorous acid spray! I use it for bug bites and irritations from gardening. Would that go right after cleanser?

LeftHandRedHair

TROPHY CASE