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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
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
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