Young Authors Guide

This is guide where young authors (as defined by each publication) can find places to publish their writing. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but rather is a select list of children's and teen publications in print as well as online that have open submissions with guidelines, an editorial selection process, and a regular print cycle. Some publish only young authors, some publish all ages for children's and teen audiences. For more specific submission guidelines, visit the publication's website.

A Note to Authors: Any publication would expect you to have read their journal or website to know what kinds of works they seek to publish. Take time to become familiar by reading their content online or requesting a review copy. DO NOT just send your work without having read the publication. It's a mistake too often made by many writers and it annoys the publisher. Do not annoy publishers.

Subscriptions Matter: If you like a publication, subscribe to it, or ask your local/school librarian to subscribe.

The "NEW!" graphic indicates recently added or updated. Most recent update: August 19, 2008

Publications

(go to contests)

Allegheny Review

Only accepts submissions from currently enrolled undergraduates (which could include dual-enrolled high school students). This will link to their temporary web site - their way-cool site crashed. Stay tuned for updates.

Amazing Kids eZine

Writers ages 5-17 may submit poetry, stories, book reviews, movie reviews, music reviews, essays, articles, etc. Both fiction and non-fiction are welcome.

Claremont Review

A magazine that showcases inspiring young adult writers ages 13-19.

Cicada Magazine

For youth readers 14-21. All ages submissions.

The Concord Review

For exemplary history essays written by high students.

Creative Kids

Creative Kids magazine is the nation’s largest magazine by and for kids with games, stories, and opinions all by and for kids ages 8–14.

Frodo’s Notebook

Poetry, creative/personal essays, fiction, articles, visual art by youth 13-19. Also accepts adult submissions.

Girlspeak

Girlspeak is a pro-women web-based literary and visual art magazine that seeks to provide a platform for those who identify as female. We showcase original works by girls 12-22 for a wide-reaching readership. Girlspeak is a safe, diverse, tolerant and positive space. We aspire to enlighten our readers about self-love, healthy lifestyles, activism through art and awareness of the world around them.

Gumbo

A bi-monthly magazine addressing a variety of contemporary teen issues including social, political and global, as well as highlighting fashion, sports and entertainment news. A multicultural magazine by and for teenagers ages 13 to19. Submission by query only.

Hanging Loose Press

Hanging Loose welcomes high school submissions. "We feel a special responsibility to those young writers who look to us not only for possible publication but sometimes also for editorial advice, which we are always happy to give when asked. Our work as editors is of course time-consuming, but we feel a strong commitment to give as much time and attention as possible to the work we receive from high school age writers."

Kid-Cast

This site invites kids to create their own podcasts as well as allowing adults to post kid-appropriate casts (and no doubt, the kids helped with the process). Each podcast is "age-rated" and reviewed before being posted. Some of the casts are adults reading stories or "lessons" for kids, while others created by kids include discussions of discrimination, global warming, and book reviews.

Launch Pad

A bimonthly magazine dedicated to publishing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, book reviews, and artwork written and created by children ages 6-12. Debut Jan/Feb 2008.

Look Look Magazine

For writers, photographers and artists 14-30 years old.

The Louisville Review

"The Children's Corner" accepts submissions of previously unpublished poetry from students in grades K-12. Seeks writing that looks for fresh ways to recreate scenes and feelings. Honest emotion and original imagery are more important to a poem than rhyming and big topics—such as life, moralizing, and other abstractions. Parental signature must accompany submissions.

Lunarosity

An online magazine that includes poetry, fiction and personal essays by adults and young authors, which the publisher describes as "teens."

Magic Dragon

A quarterly publication, presents writing and art created by children in the elementary school grades in a magazine of quality four-color printing and graphic display.

Merlyn’s Pen

Accepts works of fiction and nonfiction on topics related to pop culture, media, advertising, and their impact on the lives of teens.

New Moon

Uniquely created by girls 8-14, contains fiction, poetry, artwork, science, articles about the lives of girls and women around the globe.

North Central Review

The North Central Review is one of only a handful of literary journals publishing exclusively the writings and works of undergraduate students. The North Central Review considers all genres, including short fiction, poetry, drama, creative nonfiction, and mixed genre pieces.

Prairie Margins

Prairie Margins is an undergraduate publication at Bowling Green State University. Our reading dates are between September and December. Accepts submissions of unpublished poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Currently taking e-mail submissions until February 11, 2008.

A River & Sound Review

If you are between the ages 14 and 21 and enjoy writing, please submit your poems, stories, or essays to be considered for reading at an upcoming live production. "Writers may submit up to three poems, or an essay or story up to 1,000 words in length. Selection of the work will be based on the literary merit of the submission and its appropriateness for our program. Due to our production schedule and limited staff, it may take us up to three months to notify you of our acceptance of your submission."

Scrap Paper Press Publishing

A student-run publishing company since 2003 for middle school/high school/college students publishing works in themed anthologies.

Skipping Stones

An international publication for readers 8-16 that celebrates ecological and cultural diversity and facilitates a meaningful exchange of ideas and experiences by publishing essays, stories, letters to the editor, riddles and proverbs, etc.

Speak Up!

A national, annual non-profit literary journal published in hard copy that provides a creative voice for young adults (ages 13-19 yrs.) through publication of their original fiction, non-fiction, poetry, plays, photography, and artwork. Website says they will resume publication in 2007 and to check back for updates on this status.

The Splinter Generation

A "temporary" site looking for works of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and reviews by those 15 - 35. Deadline for submission: May 15, 2008.

Stone Soup

Fiction, poetry, illustrated stories, illustrations by youth under 13.

Teen Ink

Publishing categories: Art; Poetry; Fiction; Sports; Opinion; Community Service; Nonfiction (including Pride and Prejudice, Travel and Culture, Environment, You and Your Health, What Matters, Heroes, Cars, Jobs and Money); Reviews (books, movies, music, colleges, TV, web sites, video games, summer programs); College Essays and Articles; and Interviews. For ages 13-19.

Teen Voices Online

For girls between the ages of 13-19: writing, art, and essays of personal activism.

What If?

Canada’s creative magazine for teens under 19 publishing fiction, poetry, editorial/opinion, art and photography.

Wire Tap

Publishes news reports, features, investigative stories, personal voices, op-eds, reviews and interviews by all ages with priority given to 16- to 28-year-old youth and young adult writers.

The Writer’s Slate

The Writers' Slate online publishes original poetry and prose from students enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade. It also publishes pedagogical or creative writing by teachers.

YO!

Youth Outlook publishes report writing, poetry, personal narrative, comics and art in its monthly magazine, as well as on the YouthOutlook.org website. For youth 14-25 in the Bay Area.

Young People's Press

A free service that accepts non-fiction submissions from youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24. The work can be a feature story, opinion piece, first-person story or profile of a youth making a difference.

Contests

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This is a very select list of contests from reputable sources. Many contests charge entry-only fees, but I have sought out only those contests which mean to recognize and encourage young writers, not profit from them.

*Please avoid contests that tell you you've won, and then want you to purchase expensive copies of the book in which you have been published. These types of "scam" contests publish hundreds, even thousands of entrants and profit greatly from the book sales. These contests take advantage of young adult writers and inexperienced writers of all ages.

Charlie Hughes, formerly of Wind Publications, has a great site that gives advice about how to submit your work for publication and how to avoid contest scams. Please educate yourself by reading it: Submitting Your Literary Work for Publication.

Deadline Dates

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

October Deadline

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Girls Gone Great

Essay Scholarship Contest

Deadline: October 15, 2008

Whidbey Island Writers Association

Whidbey Writers Workshop Short Form Student Choice Award

Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Prose Poetry, and Children/ Young Adults

Deadline: Monthly

November Deadline

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Broken Bridge

Grades 9-12

Deadline: September 1 - November 15

Winner receives $500 and full scholarship to the Broken Bridge Summer Workshop

Hollins University

Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest For High School Sophomore and Junior Girls

Deadline: November 15 (annual)

Yale University

Yale Series of Younger Poets

Deadline: Postmark October 1 - November 15, 2008

For writers under the age of 40 who have not published a book of poetry.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)

"Freedom in Academia" essay contest for high school students

Awards: 5k and 2.5k college scholarships

Deadline: November 20, 2008

December Deadline

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The Atlantic

Student Writing Contest

Poetry, fiction, and personal or journalistic essays

Deadline: Postmark December 1, 2008

Ages: College Undergraduate and Graduate

Smith College

High School Prize

An annual prize for sophomore & junior girls in Massachusetts.
New deadline not yet posted, but you can read the 2008 winners on their site and check back for updates.

Moment Magazine

Publish-A-Kid

Deadline: December 8, 2008

Ages: 9-13

Moment Magazine

You Can Change the World Contest

Deadline: December 15, 2008

Grades: 9-12

Rider University

Annual High School Writing Contest

Essay, Fiction, Poetry

Deadline: Postmark December 14, 2007

*Not updated yet, but check back.

January Deadline

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John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

February Deadline

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CanWrite! Conference Story Contest

"So you think you can write?"

Canadian Authors Association

All-ages, US and Canada

Deadline: February 28, 2008

March Deadline

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Stony Brook

State University of New York

Short Fiction Prize

Only undergraduates enrolled full-time in American and Canadian universities and colleges for the academic year 2007-2008 are eligible for the prize.

Deadline: Postmark March 1, 2008

The Nation

The Roosevelt Institution

New Deal Essay Contest for College Students

Deadline: March 2, 2008

Claremont Review

Annual Poetry and Fiction Contests

Ages 13-19

Deadline: Postmark March 15, 2009

*They do charge for submission, but the fee pays for a one-year subscription to the magazine.

Marginalia

College Contest

Open only to FT college students

Deadline: August 15, 2007 - March 15, 2008

Washington University

The Howard Nemerov Creative Writing Awards

This fiction and poetry competition is open to juniors and seniors currently enrolled in high school.

Deadline: Postmark March 15, 2008

Princeton University

The Leonard Milberg '53 Secondary School Poetry Prize

11th grade students 2007-08 academic year

Deadline: Postmark March 21, 2008

New York Times

Modern Love College Essay Contest

Deadline: March 31, 2008

Press 53

Writers ages 13-17 may submit 1 story up to 5000 words or 3 poems.

They offer a reduced reading fee for YAs ($5 per entry).

Deadline: Postmark March 31, 2008

Sarah Mook Memorial Poetry Contest

K-12

Deadline: March 31, 2008

Ed. Note: This contest does not require a fee, but does ask for donations, which are given in Sarah's Memory to St. Joseph's Indian School, Chamberlain, South Dakota. I contacted the school, and they verified receiving donations via this contest.

Southern Illinois University

Charles Johnson Student Fiction Award

Open to all undergraduate and graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled full- or part-time in a U.S. college or university. No entry fee.

Deadline: Postmark in March 2008

April Deadline

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A Shameless Anthology

Published by Tightrope Books

For teen girls

Deadline: April 18, 2008

Save the Whales

Poetry Book Contest

13 and younger

Deadline: April 30, 2008

May Deadline

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Merlyn’s Pen

Down to the Sea with Paper & Pen

Deadline: March 1 - May 1, 2008

Ages: 13 - 17 yrs on June 15, 2008

The winner earns a full scholarship, and up to $300 in travel, to attend the Merlyn's Pen writing & sailing adventure this June: Down to the Sea with Paper & Pen.