WHERE CAN A YOUNG WRITER GET PUBLISHED?

 I really appreciate your feedback! Please let me know about sites to add to this page

or if any of these sites no longer exist.  aprilwayland@aol.com

The most important thing I ever did as a writer was live in the downstairs bedroom of our new house when I was 13.  This isolated me from the rest of the family, allowed me to keep bohemian hours…and to write.

So, my advice is to isolate.  Get miserable.  And grab a pen (or a keyboard.) 

Other advice about writing poetry?  Read the work of X.J. Kennedy.  Also, if I am stuck and can't figure out how or what to write, I type out a poem I like and then, inserting the subject I want to write about, I imitate, as closely as possible, the rhythm, the rhyme scheme and the style.  This exercise has gotten me out of many tight spots!

On submitting a manuscript or poem

 Terry Dunnahoo, who I call the Johnny Appleseed of children’s book writers in Southern California, taught this: when you are submitting your writing via snailmail (some publishers won't accept online submissions), address two envelopes: one to the publisher you are sending to now, and one to the next publisher.  Then, if/when the manuscript is rejected, it won’t land—clunk—on your desk.  You may feel depressed and unable to move, but that next envelope with your work in it will have the energy to fly off to the next publisher almost on its own.

And one more thing: this is a rocky road, this writing road.  It really is.  You may decide that the rejection is more than you can handle...and that's okay to decide.  But take a look at this link first.  It's helped me in tough times.  Perhaps it will help you.

Magazines and Printed Media!

BEYOND WORDS PUBLISHING, INC.
20827 N.W. Cornell Road Suite 500
Hillsboro, OR 97124    www.beyondword.com
Tel: (503) 284-9673 Fax: (503) 531-8773

Beyond Words publishes non-fiction advice books and holds various writing contests. Their Girl Power Series began with Girls Know Best, written entirely by girls. Boys Know It All was written by guys--with everything from how to catch slimy creatures to winning in sports and dealing with sisters. So, You Wanna Be A Rock Star? give advice on forming your own band and features 18 Kid Bands that are performing and following their dreams. [My niece, Julia Halprin Jackson, has chapters in two of their books: Girls Know Best 2 and Girls Know Best 3.  Check out the web site for submission guidelines, etc.

MERLYN'S PEN
P.O. Box 910
East Greenwich, RI 02818
(800) 247-2027   http://www.merlynspen.org
National magazine of student writing grades 6-12, "for teens who love to read."

NEW MOON PUBLISHING
P.O. Box 3620
Duluth, MN 55803-3520
(218) 728-5507     www.newmoon.org
For girls (8-14 years) interested in submitting articles for publication.  Check out their web site or send self-addressed stamped envelope for writer’s guidelines.

STONE SOUP
P.O. Box 83
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
(800) 447-4569     http://www.stonesoup.com
Magazine by young writers and artists. Age limit: 13. Must enclose SASE for reply.

THE WRITING CONFERENCE, INC.
P.O. Box 27288
Overland Park, KS 66225
(913) 681-8894     www.writingconference.com
Their journal, called The Writers' Slate, publishes the work of students K-12.
They also have a writing contest.  See their web site or send a self-addressed stamped envelope for rules and entry form.  Deadline for writing contest is first week of January. nb TEENINK& PO Box 30, Newton, MA 02461 - (617) 964-6800 - editor@teenink.com Teen Ink is a monthly print magazine, a website, and a book series, all written by teens for teens.  Check it out.

Writing Contests!

Girl Zone - select from a variety of writing contests

 Kiwi Box - a fun site with writing contests and lots more

Swackhamer Peace Essay Contest http://www.wagingpeace.org/new/programs/awardscontests/swackhamer/index.htm
Open to high school students worldwide applicants to this annual contest are invited to write an essay on an annual topic of peace and world security. Three prizes totaling $3,000 are awarded to the best essays.

Poetry Contests!

RIVER OF WORDS INTERNATIONAL POETRY & ART CONTEST
Each year, in affiliation with the Library of Congress Center for the Book, River of Words conducts a free international poetry and art contest for youth on the theme of watersheds. The contest is designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of their local watersheds, and to express, through poetry and art, what they discover.  Entries must be postmarked by February 15, and must be received by February 22. Grand prize: round trip transportation from the winner's nearest major airport to Washington, D.C. for the winner and one parent or guardian.  (Please see River of Words website for full details of contest and submission address.)

The Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Awards                      http://www.wagingpeace.org/menu/programs/awards-&-contests/bmk-contest/index.htm  (this page link is strange...once on the page, go to "programs" and then "awards & contests")   This annual series of awards was created to encourage poets to explore and illuminate positive visions of peace and the human spirit. Open to people worldwide, winners are awarded prizes totaling $1,400 in three age categories.

2005 KENYON REVIEW POETRY PRIZE FOR YOUNG WRITERS
The deadline is December 15, 2004 to enter the 2005 Kenyon Review Poetry Prize for Young Writers.  Open to high school sophomores and juniors, the winner of this contest will see their work published in KR and receive a full scholarship to next summer’s Young Writers workshop. Only one poem per student accepted.  No entry fee. Entries must be submitted online. For details visit The Kenyon Review

Getting Published on the Web!

Blue Jean Online - Blue Jean Online is devoted to publishing what young women are thinking, saying, and doing. Here your creative work can be published for a worldwide audience of over 1,000,000 visitors from 95 countries! Blue Jean Online will accept your writings, artwork, photography, comics, crafts, and animations for publication.

Kids Bookshelf Bringing kids and books together - Visit their home page for lots of book-related information or go directly to their poetry or short story submission pages.

Year-Round Peace Heroes Contest http://www.wagingpeace.org/new/programs/awardscontests/yeararoundcontest/index.htm    
The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation is seeking biographical essays on Peace Heros from the 20th Century. All ages are encouraged to participate, and they will publish the best essays on their web site.

TeenInk

Now in it's fourteenth year, Teen Ink is a monthly print magazine, a website, and a book series, all written by teens for teens.  Check it out.

TeenLit.com  Note: Teenlit.com hasn't been updated since 11/03...it still has some good information & links.

...and look up "young authors" or "young writers" or "web publishing"...
 

Author Marvin Terban recommends:

"…a book entitled MAGAZINES FOR KIDS AND TEENS. The publisher is International Reading Association. (www.reading.org)
The editor is Donald R. Stoll.  ISBN: 0-87207-243-6.
The book costs $15.95 list, and can be ordered toll-free at

1-800-336-7323. The list (of magazines that publish student work) begins on page 113."

Included on this list are many of the above-mentioned magazines, as well as:
HOW ON EARTH!
IN 2 PRINT
TG MAGAZINE: VOICES OF TODAY'S GENERATION
360 DEGREE MAGAZINE, 21ST CENTURY-TEEN VIEWS
THE VIRGINIA WRITING
YOUNG VOICES
 

Author Kathleen Krull says:

"Check out the CHILDREN’S WRITERS AND ILLUSTRATORS MARKET.
Ask your librarian for this reference book.  It lists contests and publications that accept work from students."

Kathleen also suggests:
- If you read a good book, post a book review of it on Amazon.com (anyone can do this)
- Write letters to your local newspaper!