WHERE CAN A YOUNG WRITER GET PUBLISHED? 

places to get published and writing contests below!

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 my subject, 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, 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 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.

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The Web English Teacher lists three links--one to publish high school students' work, an interactive site to produce student books, and a site to publish online.

COBBLESTONE AND CRICKET MAGAZINES
are looking for student work. Click on "for kids" for guidelines.

MERLYN'S PEN
Annual writing contest "for teens who love to read." Click on "you write".

NEW MOON PUBLISHING
New Moon Girl Media's mission is to help girls, ages 8 to 15, discover their unique voices and express them in the world in ways that matter.  We fulfill our mission by keeping girls at our center. Through active girl involvement and participation in all our business decisions, we provide respectful, creative, energetic and safe communities where girls explore, discover, create, grow and share their voices to make a positive difference in their lives and in the world.

STONE SOUP
Stone Soup welcomes submissions by young people through age 13!

TEEN INK
Magazine written by teens.

The Web English Teacher lists three links--one to publish high school students' work, an interactive site to produce student books, and a site to publish online.

Writing Contests

Free Verse Project - Teens will like this contest, hosted by the Academy of American Poets, which challenges participants to "write lines from a favorite poem on a sandy beach, assemble twigs on a hillside, or chalk the sidewalk," then take a photo "before it disappears."

Girl Zone - a variety of writing contests are listed here.

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 due in  February. 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
The Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Award is an annual series of awards to encourage poets to explore and illuminate positive visions of peace and the human spirit. The Poetry Awards include three age categories: Adult, Youth 13-18, and Youth 12 & Under. The deadline for submissions is July 1st.

KENYON REVIEW POETRY PRIZE FOR YOUNG WRITERS
The deadline is December to enter the 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.

Kids Bookshelf accepts short stories and poems written by those 17 and under.

Frodo's Notebook is an online journal of "teens, literature and the arts"  Further, "Frodo's Notebook is always looking for well-crafted poems, creative essays, and short stories by teens age 13-19 from all around the world.  They have excellent writing advice for serious writers.
 
Author Anastasia Suen's page on where can kids get published: http://www.asuen.com/faq.publish.kids.html

Other ways to get published
 
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
- Write letters to your local newspaper