Speculative fiction lets us build wild, wondrous worlds—but no matter how strange the setting, teen characters should still feel real. In Jake the Time Jumper, Jake may be navigating ancient ruins and glitching time rifts, but he’s still a 15-year-old grappling with fear, guilt, and impossible choices.
So how do you write authentic teens in surreal landscapes?
Start with voice. Teens filter everything—danger, awe, even grief—through humor, sarcasm, or stubborn defiance. Let their dialogue...