The market for teen fiction in magazines these days is sparse. With everyone tightening their belts in the current economic hard times, many magazines have trimmed their page counts. Among the missing, are the fiction features that were few and far between in the first place. So if you’re looking to break into the teen marketplace, why not try your hand at non-fiction?

As a child, non-fiction meant, to me, the dreaded dose of evening news that my parents watched during the dinner hour, the stacks of books I was obligated to check out from the library each time a research paper was assigned, the dull, gray, newspaper, curled up on the front step each morning. Stale. Dry. Unappealing. But non-fiction doesn’t have to leave you yawning. Good non-fiction has heart. And if given half a chance, it can capture your writer’s interest in ways similar to writing fiction.

Use fictional scenarios to illustrate a point. I started a recent article about the power of words with two fictional scenarios, one in which a teen grieving the loss of his father is crushed by the careless words of a classmate, the other in which another student’s kindness gives him hope. This opening allowed me to connect with readers on an emotional level, showing them the impact words can have, the difference we can make in others lives, before offering step-by-step suggestions towards taming their own tongues. This approach satisfied both the fiction writer and non-fiction writer in me, as well as the editor who bought it its first time out.

Don’t fall for stereotypes. If you spend time with teens, then you know that they face big issues every day. Don’t trivialize their interests to dating, fashion, makeup and energy drinks. Their peers are being bullied to death. Their friends are sexting. Their classmates are having children of their own. They’re facing serous issues and they want to be taken seriously. Sure, Girls’ Life has articles on hairstyles, makeup and getting the guy, but in a recent issue, right alongside the more “fluffy” articles, was a special report on STDs and how to avoid becoming infected.

Offer help from the sidelines. We all feel helpless when watching news reports of a young person who felt so desperate that they thought their only way out was drugs, alcohol, or suicide. But you don’t have to be a detached silent witness. Even from the sidelines, you’re in the perfect position to take action. Pick up your pencil and reach out. When faced with weighty issues, it’s no wonder teens seek answers in the way of how-tos, advice columns, and personal experience pieces; writing that gives them tools to use from day to day. In a recent issue of SUSIE Magazine, an article titled “Helping a Friend Who’s Been Sexually Abused” presents eight ways for readers to encourage a friend and guide them toward healing. If you can throw readers a lifeline by sharing your own experiences or by doing research and presenting informed advice, not a lecture, but step-by-step actions they can take to handle a tricky situation that’s overwhelming them, then you can empower them, so that they won’t feel helpless anymore.

Offer motivation and inspiration. Young adults are interested in making a difference in the world. Motivate them by introducing them to someone who’s actively taking a stand, or instigating change by presenting a profile piece or an interview. Then empower readers to follow in their footsteps by giving them specific actions they can take to get started. Turn them on to charity work, environmental issues, or politics. Articles that inspire young adults to pursue their dreams and be an example to others are always sought after. The seeds you plant today could produce a harvest of change for our future.

Offer Reassurance. Insecurity is a big part of growing up. Reassure readers that it’s okay to be yourself. How much would it have mattered to you if someone told you it was okay to hang out at the library when everyone else was heading to the gym? Or that it’s okay to stay home for family movie night instead of hanging out with friends? As much as teens stress about fitting in, sometimes they need to hear that it’s okay to just be themselves.

Still stuck on fiction? Think of the elements you’ve incorporated into your fiction for teens, then pull out the issues and write an article. If you’ve got a YA story lurking in your files about a girl whose anxiety keeps her from going to camp or joining the school drama club, why not tackle those issues from a new perspective; an article on overcoming homesickness, an informative piece on anxiety disorder, a quiz that helps readers pinpoint the best after school activity for their personality type?

What have you got to lose? Give non-fiction writing a try. The demand is greater, the chances for sales higher and the rewards are eternal, knowing that your words could make a lasting impression in the lives of others.

Copyright 2011 Ruth Schiffman