This study has some interesting information for writers of YA books and for others who have young characters in their fiction. It maps interesting character arcs with room for variation.

Cool at 13, Adrift at 23 – NYTimes.com

http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2014/06/23/cool-at-13-adrift-at-23/?h=PAQFnEVZm&s=1&enc=AZPhPpvSaQEMFN3ei64bbYNXpbN4N1NNfr9mXvcKQIyqVo_ek2nDTnZcLwIa_S7wPJ2UUzp1ySS8yqzp-dJoZ6r7EZV5bxJyH0gt9j3TXU65ZQ∣=fb-nytimes&WT.z_sma=HL_CA1_20140624&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1388552400000&bicmet=1420088400000&_r=2

Your characters need to talk. What happens when they put it off? How do you show them going through any of the negative reactions described here? How does their delay build dramatic tension?

3 Reasons You Should Have Difficult Conversations Now | Entrepreneur.com
http://m.entrepreneur.com/article/233580

Whether your main characters are adults, children or their pets, there’s not much story without relationships. Which of these skills do they have? Or lack?

The 3 Relationship Skills You Need to Practice | Psychology Today

http://m.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201401/the-3-relationship-skills-you-need-practice

Every now and then, it’s good to review what we know about craft. I found “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” by Thomas C. Foster on a summer reading list for high school students. When I went looking for it, I came across his “How to Read Novels Like a Professor,” which I bought. I haven’t finished it yet, but I like what I’ve read so far.

Here’s a synopsis of his “laws” for reading.

http://bookrhapsody.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/the-23-laws-of-reading-a-novel-how-to-read-novels-like-a-professor-by-thomas-c-foster/