How do you think about them? This leads directly to the next frame. 2. EDIT FOR A 12-YEAR-OLD What’s the bestselling novel of the past three decades? 50 Shades of Grey. Which is written at a teenage/young adult level. What’s the bestselling novel series of the past three decades? Harry Potter. Which is written at a teenage/young adult level. Even though those books were written at the reading level of teen- age audiences, 80 percent of 50 Shades audience was adults, and 60 percent of the Harry Potter audience was adults. [The Young Adult designation actually is for adults who don’t want complex language, not actually for teens. Yes, people think it’s for teens, but that is not the majority of book buyers for YA fiction.] Why am I telling you this? What does fiction have to do with you? Because when you write for a smart, interested 12-year-old, it forces you to be clear and direct—which in turn makes your book MORE appealing to older audiences. I know this might seem far-fetched, but think about this: On the list of the 10 bestselling business books of the past 30 years, there are three very short and simple NOVELS. I’m not kidding: • Who Moved My Cheese? • The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team hOW TO EDiT yOUr BOOk · 163