Thread: YA Novel

Is it good to start a YA novel with a tragedy?Or is it better to start with a happy start?I need advice.

I think it depends on the story you're writing and what is going to work best with your plot. In my opinion, one of the many differences between a YA and a children's story is that teenagers/young adults can cope with deeper, more intricate plotlines and to a certain degree obviously, more mature content and issues (character deaths, mild violence etc). so a tragedy at the beginning of a YA story would be acceptable if written right.
Just go with what you want. I don't think it matters really what option you choose as long as the novel is well written and the plot is interesting but that's just my thoughts on the matter.

I agree.
Just because you write for younger readers doesn't limit how to start a book.

I would avoid those first four immortal cliche' words though-"Once upon a time"

There is really no limit, IMO, to what you can write about, just how you write it.

Is it really YA or teen? There's a difference.

If it's the former, then I'd say tragedy is generally not the best way to start off. YA stuff is supposed to be rather generally happy (not universal, I know, but go into the YA section at your local library and see how many books there are that look dark- it won't be too many, not counting the freaking Animorphs stuff), while teen lends itself to far darker themes and tones.