Maybe you know writers who can just sit down and write every day with no problems, but we don’t! Most writers do lots of things to get their creative juices flowing, including taking writing courses, joining writing groups, reading books about writing, and using writing prompts for inspiration. Here are some of the wonderful books available that are particularly good for young writers. We have also given you some suggestions for different contests you can enter and magazine and book publishers that are interested in the writing of young adults. You’ll find everything you need to know, from contacts to websites to addresses!
The Elements of Style, 4th edition. William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White. Whiteplains, NY: Longman, 1999.
This classic grammar and style reference book, penned by a university professor in 1918, is still indispensable for many writers today. It includes tips on how to write well and lists of commonly misused and misspelled words.
Getting the Knack: 20 Poetry Writing Exercises. Stephen Dunning and William Stafford. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, 1992.
These two authors are very respected contemporary poets, and their book describes fun and interesting forms of poetry, like pantoums and acrostics, as well as wonderful techniques and prompts that can be used for other kinds of writing besides poetry.
Grammar Girl: grammar.quickanddirtytips.com
Mignon Fogarty explains grammar in a fun, easily understandable way. Whether you want to look up a particular rule or just browse the archives for tips to improve your writing, this site is a must-visit.
Grammar Smart: A Guide to Perfect Usage, 2nd edition. Jeff Soloway, ed. New York: Princeton Review Publishing, 2001.
All writers need and deserve a good grammar handbook.
Live Writing: Breathing Life into Your Words. Ralph Fletcher. New York: Avon Books, 1999.
Fletcher gives practical tips and suggestions that fit all kinds of writers, at all kinds of stages of their writing lives.
MIT OpenCourseWare: ocw.mit.edu
This Massachusetts Institute of Technology program allows anyone to download course materials and exercices for many college subjects, including writing courses. If you’re looking for more advanced exercises or just want a taste of what college writing classes might be like, this website is a good way to find out.
The Place My Words Are Looking For: What Poets Say About and Through Their Work. Paul B. Janeczko, ed. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1990.
Thirty-nine of our leading poets share their poetry as well as their thoughts, inspirations, anecdotes, and memories. The poems are beautifully crafted, clear, and on a variety of subjects for all kinds of young adult readers. Each poet writes a few paragraphs about his or her writing and about what life is like for a writer—a unique source of ideas about writing by real writers.
From Weekly Reader Corporation this monthly magazine is for young readers and writers in grades 6–10. It has stories, plays, and poems, plus articles about writers and writing. The magazine encourages readers to send in their writing for possible publication and sponsors annual writing contests (word@weeklyreader.com).
Scope: scholastic.com
A monthly magazine for readers and writers in grades 6–9. It includes articles on current events and movies, followed by interesting writing prompts and opportunities to send your writing to contests in the magazine. Contact Scholastic Inc., 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999 or scopemag@scholastic.com.
Sleeping on the Wing: An Anthology of Modern Poetry with Essays on Reading and Writing. Kenneth Koch and Kate Farrell. New York: Vintage Books, 1982.
An excellent collection of famous poets and their poems. You will learn how the poets got their ideas and about their techniques. Best of all, the book includes prompts for writing poems or stories based on some of the famous pieces.
The Teachers and Writers Handbook of Poetic Forms, 2nd edition. Ron Padgett, ed. New York: Teachers & Writers, 2000.
Lists poetic forms alphabetically and includes a clear definition and description of each, plus poets who write in that form and sample poems.
Writers Inc: A Student Handbook for Writing and Learning. Patrick Sebranek, Dave Kemper, and Vernel Meyer. Wilmington, MA: Great Source Education Group, 2011.
This easy-to-use and very comprehensive book has short, clear definitions and explanations for all areas of writing, including grammar and usage, plus standard formats and content for different forms of writing. This is a book a writer can use in middle school, high school, college, and beyond.
A Writer’s Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You. Ralph Fletcher. New York: Avon Books, 1996.
This guide will show you exactly how to keep a writer’s notebook, the most important tool a writer can have.
Writing Smart, 2nd edition. Marcia Lerner. New York: Princeton Review Publishing, 2001.
This is a basic guide to writing that you can use as a reference for various forms and formats, as well as methods for citations, bibliography, and so on.
Writing to Deadline: The Journalist at Work. Donald M. Murray. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2000.
If you are interested in nonfiction writing, this is the book for you. This books lets you into the real life of the journalist.
Writing toward Home: Tales and Lessons to Find Your Way. Georgia Heard. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Boynton/Cook, 1995.
Over fifty-five different and fascinating writing prompts. By the time you finish reading just one of these prompts, you’ll be itching to write.
Writing with Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process. Peter Elbow. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981.
Elbow is a famous writing teacher who gives readers lists of great writing topics and ideas for expanding their writing after they’ve gotten started.
Writing Your Own Plays: Creating, Adapting, Improvising. Carol Korty. New York: Players Press, 2000.
This book gives you practical tips and helpful examples to improve your playwriting skills.
Yoga for the Brain: Daily Writing Stretches That Keep Minds Flexible and Strong. Dawn DiPrince and Cheryl Miller Thurston. Fort Collins, CO: Cottonwood Press, Inc., 2006.
This contains 365 interesting writing prompts for teens, one for every day of the year.
Kid Magazine Writers: kidmagwriters.com
Aimed at helping both teens and adults writing for children’s magazines, this website keeps a thorough, up-to-date list of kid magazines that accept submissions, plus links to their guidelines.
2012 Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market. Adria Haley, ed. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer’s Digest Books, 2011.
2012 Poet’s Market. Robert Lee Brewer, ed. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer’s Digest Books, 2011.
2012 Writer’s Market. Robert Lee Brewer, ed. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer’s Digest Books, 2011.
These directories are updated and issued in a new volume each year and are available at public libraries and bookstores. Used by serious writers to locate all kinds of publishers and submission information, they contain thousands of listings of publishers, contests, and awards, as well as complete submission and contact information. Writer’s Market also publishes a monthly magazine. In addition, the creators’ website (writersdigest.com) has forums, blogs, writing tips and prompts, contests, and guidelines to getting published.
“Get Your Students’ Work Published.” Horace Mann Educators Corporation. Reach Every Child, http://reacheverychild.com/feature/kids_publish.html.
Although this site was made for teachers who want to help their students get published, you can help yourself to this list of magazines and websites that publish writing by kids and teens.
Go Public! Encouraging Student Writers to Publish. Susanne Rubenstein. Urbana, IL: NCTE, 1998.
Although Go Public! is intended for middle and high school teachers, it is a handy reference guide to publishing opportunities, especially the chapters titled “The Market and Contest Lists” and “Electronic Submissions.” Visit ncte.org.
Screenwriting for Teens: The 100 Principles of Screenwriting Every Budding Writer Must Know. Christina Hamlett. Studio City, CA: Michael Wiese Productions, 2006.
Aimed at those who aspire to write their own films, this guide includes the basics of screenwriting, the business side of the process, mental exercises, writing exercises, and a recommended reading (and viewing) list.
A Teen’s Guide to Getting Published, 2nd edition. Jessica Dunn and Danielle Dunn. Waco, TX: Prufrock Press, Inc., 2006.
Written by two authors who were first published as teens, this book offers an introduction to the business of writing, as well as lists of print and online publishers that accept the work of young writers. There is also information about contests and writers’ camps.
You’ve gotta be in it to win it! Send your writing to a few of these places to see yourself in print. Magazines will send you a free copy if you are published in a printed issue. The hardcover anthologies will send you information on how to purchase a copy of the book, but the anthologies listed here do not obligate you to purchase the book in order to be included in the book.
Magazines and e-zines
The Apprentice Writer (grades 9–12). Short stories, personal experience essays, profiles, poems, and photo essays are all published in this annual. It is distributed to schools in the middle Atlantic states. Contact: Writers Institute Director, Susquehanna University, 610 University Avenue, Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164. Web: susqu.edu.
Bookworm (grades 5–8). Bookworm magazine publishes the stories, poems, essays, and artwork of kids ages six through fifteen. It is edited by Sophie McKibben, who founded the magazine in 2004 when she was in sixth grade and noticed that there weren’t a lot of places for kids to get their work into print. Bookworm comes out four times a year and has featured the writing and art of kids from all over the United States and, so far, five foreign countries. Bookworm is always on the lookout for writers and artists. You can submit your work electronically to bookworm.mag@gmail.com.
Cicada (ages 14–21). This magazine comes out six times a year and features fiction and book reviews for young adults. Stories from readers are welcome. Contact: Submissions Editor, Cicada, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601. Web: cicadamag.com.
The Claremont Review (ages 13–19). A literary journal targeted for young adult writers in North America. Fiction, poetry, and short plays are judged according to maturity of content and evidence of meticulous editing. Contact: The Claremont Review, 4980 Wesley Road, Victoria, BC, Canada V8Y 1Y9. Web: theclaremontreview.ca.
Creative Kids (ages 8–14). An opportunity for children to share their creative and expressive work in a publication that is read by thousands of readers. Contact: Submissions Editor, Creative Kids, P.O. Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813. Web: http://prufrock.com/client/client_pages/prufrock_jm_createkids.cfm.
Cricket (ages 6–16). A different contest is announced in each month’s issue. Genres vary: poetry, short story, nonfiction, art. Contact: Submissions Editor, Cricket, 70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601. Web: cricketmag.com.
Cyberteens (age 19 and younger). Teen writers and artists are featured on this e-zine. Stories, articles, poems, opinion pieces, and reviews of software, books, and music are all found on the site. Email: editor@cyberteens.com, web: cyberteens.com.
Girls’ Life (girls ages 10–15). This bimonthly magazine is available in libraries and stores and accepts all kinds of articles written by girls. Contact: Editor, Girls’ Life Magazine, 4529 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214. Email: letters@girlslife.com, web: girlslife.com
KidSpirit Magazine. This online magazine publishes articles, reviews, poetry, and artwork by teens. Contact: KidSpirit Online, 77 State Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Email: info@kidspiritonline.com, web: kidspiritonline.com
Literary Cavalcade (grades 9–12). Features articles and stories about contemporary literature, as well as showcase student writing. Contact: Scholastic Inc., 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Web: scholastic.com/writeit.
New Moon Girls (girls ages 8–14). This bimonthly magazine is edited by and for girls and accepts letters, poems, stories, drawings, and jokes written by girls. Contact: NMGM, P.O. Box 161287, Duluth, MN 55816. Phone: 218-728-5507, email: submissions@newmoon.com, web: newmoon.com.
Pine Tree Poetry (grades 6–12). This is a very nice hard-cover anthology of student poetry published once a year. Web: pinetreepoetry.com.
Polyphony H. S. This student-run national literary magazine for high school writers publishes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Contact: Polyphony H.S., 1514 Elmwood Avenue, Suite 2, Evanston, IL 60201. Email: info@polyphonyhs.com, web: polyphonyhs.com.
Scholastic Scope (ages 12–19). Each issue includes an essay written by a kid about “the book that had a big effect on you.” It also has a regular “Yes/No” column debating both sides of controversial topics, and contests based on writing prompts that appear after articles. Readers are encouraged to send in opinions for publication in later issues. Contact: Scholastic Scope, 555 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999. Email: scopemag@scholastic.com, web: scholastic.com.
Skipping Stones (ages 8–16). This magazine welcomes articles on different cultures as well as fiction written by young authors. Contact: Managing Editor, Skipping Stones, P.O. Box 3939, Eugene, OR 97403-0939. Email: editor@skippingstones.org, web: skippingstones.org.
Speak Up Press (ages 13–19). This online teen literary journal features fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by teens. They also accept book-length young adult nonfiction submissions. Speak Up Press is guided by an advisory board of teens who help decide on content. Email: submit@speakuppress.org, web: speakuppress.org.
Sports Illustrated for Kids (ages 8–14). This monthly magazine uses opinion pieces written by young authors. Contact: Letters, Sports Illustrated for Kids, email: kidletters@sikids.com, web: sikids.com.
Stone Soup (ages 8–13). Poetry, book reviews, artwork, and stories from contributors under the age of 14 are found in each issue of this magazine. Contact: Stone Soup Submissions Dept., P.O. Box 83, Santa Cruz, CA 95063. Email: editor@stonesoup.com, web: stonesoup.com.
Teen Ink (grades 7–12). Teen Ink publishes fiction, poetry, nonfiction, reviews, and interviews in their monthly newsprint magazine, quarterly poetry magazine, and on their website Teen Ink RAW—the largest site for young writers in the world. Send submissions to Teen Ink, P.O. Box 30, Newton, MA 02461. Email: editor@teenink.com, web: teenink.com.
Teen Voices (girls ages 12–19). This magazine is published quarterly by a multicultural volunteer group of teens and young adult women, and contains writing by and for young women to “provide an intelligent alternative to glitzy, gossipy, fashion-oriented publications that too often exploit the insecurities of their young audiences.” Female readers are encouraged to submit all forms of writing. Contact: Teen Voices, P.O. Box 120-027, Boston, MA 02112-0027. Phone: 617-426-5505, email: teenvoices@teenvoices.com, web: teenvoices.com.
Word. The official blog of READ magazine, Word offers young writers opportunities to get published, make connections with books and authors, get writing tips, participate in ongoing interactive stories, and read “musings and ramblings and cool links.” Web: readandwriting.com.
Write It! This is Scholastic’s website for young writers. Publish your work, chat with fellow writers, build your own portfolio, and join a master class with featured writers. Web: scholastic.com/writeit.
The Writers’ Slate. This online magazine publishes poetry and prose from students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Email: KristenWorthington@writingconference.com, web: writingconference.com.
Writing Contests
READ Magazine Poetry Contest (formerly the Ann Arlys Bowler Poetry Contest). This prestigious annual poetry contest awards cash and gift certificate prizes. Winners are nationally published in READ magazine and on the website. December 31 deadline. Web: weeklyreader.com.
Baker’s Plays High School Playwriting Competition. This contest runs every year and is designed to showcase the work of high school playwrights. Deadline April 30. Visit bakersplays.com for contest rules and entry form. Contact: High School Playwriting Contest, Baker’s Plays, 45 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10010.
Claudia Ann Seaman Awards for Young Writers. Open to all students in grades nine through twelve, these awards aim to nurture the writing community and enable young writers to reach a wider audience. Deadline April 15. Submit poems, short stories, or essays through either polyphonyhs.com or teenreads.com. For information and guidelines, go to http://polyphonyhs.com/the-claudia-ann-seaman-awards-for-young-writers.
Creative Communication (grades 6–12). This organization hosts annual contests for poetry and short essays. Winners are published in their hardcover anthologies. Web: poeticpower.com.
Letters About Literature Contest (grades 4–12). This annual national contest is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. “Write a letter to an author—living or dead—explaining how the author’s words changed the way you view the world . . . or yourself.” December 10 deadline. Web: lettersaboutliterature.org.
Kay Snow Writing Awards. This annual contest features an award for students eighteen and younger. Deadline April. Visit willamettewriters.com for additional information and guidelines. Contact: Willamette Writers, 2108 Buck Street, West Linn, OR 97068.
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Promising Young Writers Program. Ask your teacher about being nominated to participate in this prestigious program for students in grades eight and eleven. Students must submit a sample of their writing, plus write an essay on a topic selected by NCTE. Deadline February. Contact: NCTE Promising Young Writers Program, 1111 W. Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL 61801-1096. Phone: 217-328-3870, email: pyw@ncte.org, web: ncte.org.
Scholastic Writing Awards. This is the contest for young writers and artists! Students in grades seven through twelve can enter short stories, essays, dramatic scripts, poetry, science fiction, fantasy, humor, or writing portfolios. Deadlines vary by region. Register online at artandwriting.org.
Weekly Reader (ages 7–12). This magazine encourages readers to send in writing of all genres for potential publication. It also sponsors several writing contests each year. Visit http://weeklyreader.com/wr/9 for a listing of current contests or http://www.weeklyreader.com/wr/253 for more kids and teens info.
The Writing Conference, Inc. Writing Contest. The Writing Conference, Inc. sponsors writing contests for elementary, junior high/middle, and high school students. Submissions may be poems, narratives, or essays, based on a different topic each year. Deadline January. Visit http://writingconference.com/contest.htm for guidelines and an entry form. Contact: The Writing Conference, Inc., P.O. Box 664, Ottawa, Kansas 66067-0664.
Young Voices (grades K–12). This short story contest gives students a prompt and then awards prizes for the best entries in each age category. Check their website for a list of submission rules. Contact: The Young Voices Foundation, 17141 Magic Mountain Drive, Round Hill, VA 20141. Email: info@youngvoicesfoundation.org, web: youngvoicesfoundation.org.
Book Publishers
Beyond Words Publishing, Inc. The company that published this book has also published hundreds of kid authors. With declared values that include “creativity and aesthetics nourish the soul” and “living your passion is vital,” this publisher truly believes in getting young writers into print. They publish only nonfiction by young writers. Contact: Beyond Words Publishing, 20827 NW Cornell Road, Suite 500, Hillsboro, OR 97124-9808. Phone: 800-284-9673, email: submissions@beyondword.com, web: beyondword.com.
Creative With Words Publications. This company publishes anthologies of fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages. Each anthology is based on a theme and includes material from young writers. Contact: Creative With Words Publications, P.O. Box 223226, Carmel, CA 93922. Web: creativewithwords.tripod.com.
May Davenport Publishers. This company publishes fiction for grades kindergarten through twelve. It is especially interested in material for young adult readers. Contact: May Davenport Publishers, 26313 Purissima Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022. Web: maydavenportpublishers.com.
Twenty-four-year-old Nicholas Feitel began developing his writing skills in elementary, middle, and high school before going on to attend NYU’s film production program.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I began to write at an early age. I taught myself how to write the alphabet before the class learned, spurred on by the idea that my newly received glasses meant I would have to be a smart guy, a writer. I started writing poetry and personal stories, egged on by my mom mostly. I never really stopped writing after I began.
What do you like to write the most and why?
I like to write what some people call personal fiction or creative nonfiction, stories from my life or stories that reflect how I feel. My goal usually in writing is to reach such a specific place in my life or in a story that it becomes universally relatable: a way of both gaining control of an unwieldy life and trying to forge connections between me and the illusory world of the reader beyond my writing.
What are your goals for your writing future?
No idea. I just feel lucky enough to do what it is (whatever that is) that I’m doing right now. To just be able to tell the stories I want to tell. My college training is in screenwriting, so I guess I’d like to do more of that.
What was your first published piece (and format) and how did you feel?
Ha. My first published piece was a poem I wrote about Martin Luther King when I was about eight. It was published in a children’s magazine. I remember feeling very strange about the whole ordeal, and no one in the elementary-school world of New York City really caring, except for, of course, my mom and grandma. And maybe my dad.
Where else have you been published?
Gay City News as a film/arts/theater critic for about four years. A great job writing in a strange circumstance, as I do not identify as gay, though I feel like the terms we use to describe our sexuality are very limited compared to the reality of it. It felt great to be a hack critic getting paid next to nothing and getting to pitch movies I wanted to review to the very small staff of a community newspaper. I was also a contributing editor for FilmLinc and now on Bethenny Frankel’s site, writing food blogs. Also, occasionally, I write on Bravo’s site, about dating, which I find fun.
Do you write full-time, and, if not, would you like to? What would be your dream job?
I don’t and don’t know if I’m ready to. My dream job? I don’t know. I feel like I’m at the point in my life where I haven’t experienced enough to know what or who I want to be. I’m more about enjoying the now and trying to make fewer terrible decisions that screw up my life. I figure I’ll figure it out eventually—that or cop out like everyone else and go to law school.
What advice would you give to a young writer?
I think the most important thing, generally, is to love what you’re doing. Writing is one of those things like acting or being a clown or a musician that people don’t get into unless they have some sort of insane compulsion to do it. Find what it is in your writing you love, work that, strengthen that strength. That’s your voice. And whatever craft you learn will build on it, like that creepy eye on top of a pyramid on the back of a one-dollar bill.
Do you think reading helps your writing?
Absolutely, though I don’t do enough of it. But there’s certainly no way I’d ever be where I am now if I hadn’t read obsessively as a child and young adult, thinking books were my only friends. In that immersion into literature, both sad and wonderful, your world and mind are expanded, and you’re filled with the knowledge of so many others—their experiences, their influences. It makes you stronger. That’s a nice way of putting it, but basically it’s just the plot of The Giver.
What are your favorite reads?
I only read The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine regularly, for publications. I have really taken lately though to a website called Instapaper, which lets you save articles, read them later, and “like” them, and a companion site called Give Me Something to Read, which is a frequently updated collection of articles liked on Instapaper. I find it a more interesting way to check out nonfiction.
As for books? Some I’ve liked are Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, Holes by Louis Sachar, and The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.
Name some of the authors who have inspired you and why.
Calvin Trillin, because of the way he writes about food, or any other subject, enmeshed in his life and perspective. Madeleine L’Engle, for expanding the minds of youth.
