Resources for Teen and Tween Writers

PictureYvonne at the Burlington County Book Festival (NJ). Photo by Jon Braun.
​Welcome to my Resources for Teen and Tween Writers page! (Don't let the title fool you. Scroll down for useful information for writers of all ages.)

​I've collected interviews with editors who publish teens and young writers, magazines to send your writing, various contests, workshops, and classes, plus helpful craft books and blog posts. I hope you find these resources useful on your creative journey.

Writing workshops and classes

Interviews with editors who publish teens

Looking for places to send your work? Here are links to my interviews with editors who publish teen writers. Note: Always check the websites for current submission guidelines.
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Magazines that publish young writers

  • Adroit Journal: Publishes fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, art, and interviews & reviews, but check the specfic guidelines for each category. Pays $50 per contribution. They offer a summer mentorship program (with applications due in March.) Teens can also ask writing-related questions that are considered for their Dear Writer blog.
  • AGNI Journal: Boston University’s literary journal publishes writers of all ages, but has a mission to support emerging and new writers. Submissions for fiction, essays and poetry are open September through May ($3 fee).
  • And Gallons is open to creators from ages 13 to 22. They published their first online issue in Summer 2023, with their second issue submissions closing in August 2023. Check their guidelines for future openings.
  • The Alcott Youth Magazine is a "global magazine propelling young voices." Their contributors are "primarily young women from ages thirteen to twenty-two," and they publish a range of material including articles, essays, short stories, illustrations, cartoons, and photographs. See their guidelines for further details.
  • Apprentice Writer is published annually by the Writers Institute at Susquehanna University. They feature "the best writing and illustrations from entries we receive each year from secondary schools throughout the United States and abroad.” Typical submission dates are mid-September through mid-February. Material accepted includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, photography. Check their submission guidelines for more information.
  • Balloons Lit Journal publishes 1-2 issues a year of poetry, fiction and art/photography for readers 12+. Payment is a contributor copy. Submission guidelines are online. 
  • The Blissful Pursuit publishes work from students ages 8-22. See their website for themes and deadlines.
  • Blue Marble Review accepts poetry, nonfiction, fiction, and art year-round from 13-22 year olds. Paying market; check their submission guidelines for details.
  • Bridge: The Bluffton University Literary Journal publishes 14-24 year olds writing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, plays, graphic literature, and illustrated narratives. An annual collection; submissions accepted all year round. Their submission guidelines include excellent tips for getting accepted.
  • Cast of Wonders produces podcasts of young adult speculative short fiction. It's a paying market that usually opens to young writers during June. Check their schedule for details.
  • The Concord Review “remains the only quarterly journal in the world to publish the academic history papers of secondary students. We believe that the pursuit of academic excellence in secondary schools should be given the same attention as the pursuit of excellence in sports and other extracurricular activities, and we have found that many students do exemplary work in history.” Submissions are always open, but deadlines for specific issues are August 1 (Winter), November 1 (Spring), February 1 (Summer), May 1 (Fall).  
  • ​Crashtest is an online magazine run by students in Greenville, South Carolina that publishes the writings of other high schoolers (grades 9-12) twice a year. You can submit year-round by email, but response times may be longer during the summer months.  They publish poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction. Please see the website for complete details about sending them your work.​
  • ​The Echo. A literary magazine for teens by teens. Site includes excellent guidelines for submitting in general: How to Submit to a Literary Magazine.
  • Élan accepts "original fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, screenwriting, plays, and all kinds of art from students ages fourteen to eighteen in high school in locations internationally." Pays a contributor copy. Check the submission guidelines for more details.
  • elementia is a literary arts magazine published by the Johnson County Library in Kansas to "represent and uplift young adults." They publish original poetry, fiction, nonfiction, graphic stories, photography and illustrations. See their website for more details.
  • Ember: A Journal of Luminous Things. This is a paying market open to authors and poets age 10 and up. Sample poems and stories they've previously published can be accessed online. They provide feedback on submissions.
  • ENOUGH! Plays is an annual competition for ten-minute plays about confronting gun violence. Submissions are open to 13-19 year olds from February to mid-April. Six winners receive a $500 prize as well as having their play produced and published.
  • fingers comma toes is an online journal for children and young adults. They offer themed issues and an annual competition.
  • The Foredge Review is an online magazine publishing students aged 13-22 in poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction in issues released every two years. Submission guidelines are online. 
  • ​Germ is a "magazine for girls—high school and beyond—that celebrates beginnings, futures, and all the amazing and agonizing moments in-between." They publish a range of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art.
  • Girls Right the World Journal is an annual literary journal. Submissions are open to 14-21 year old girls, women, and gender-expansive writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as artists. Submissions open early September through end of December.
  • Hanging Loose Press Magazine. “Since 1968, every issue of Hanging Loose has included a special section dedicated to high school writing. We’re always looking for new writers, and we invite you to submit your work.” Two issues per year. Submissions for poetry and fiction short stories are open to all high school students.
  • Hot Dish Magazine is an annual journal of writing from 9th-12th graders in poetry, short fiction, and “The Hot Dish Challenge,” a yearly writing prompt. Managed by undergraduates at Buena Vista University. Submissions are accepted late October through December. 
  • Levitate is a literary and art magazine published each spring by the Chicago High School for the Arts. Submissions typically open November 1 and close at the end of February. Check their guidelines for further details.
  • The Louisville Review publishes poetry from kids in kindergarten through seniors in high school in their Cornerstone section. From the website: "We seek 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." They pay in copies and the guidelines are online. (Adults: They publish poetry and prose people over eighteen, too.)
  • The Lumiere Review is a quarterly literary magazine that publishes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as art from artists of all ages. Submissions are free and accepted twice a year: in mid-January and mid-July. The site includes some helpful general tips on submitting to publications.
  • Magic Dragon is a quarterly magazine that's been publishing writing and art from kids 12 years old and younger since 2005. See their guidelines for details.
  • The Milking Cat is an online teen comedy magazine that publishes comedic pieces.
  • The New York Times Learning Network offers student opinion questions during the school year for anyone 13 to 19 years old to submit answers to; they choose some for publication. "We are not looking for formal work here; instead, we encourage students to use these forums to hone their voices, ideas and opinions; show us their thinking; and participate in civil discussion about issues from politics to pop culture."
  • Paper Lanterns. Founded in 2020, this paying literary journal "for all things to do with Teen and Young Adult Literature" accepts short stories, flash fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art and photography from writers 13 and older. "Submissions can be on any topic. Our only criteria is that your submission is written for a teen and young adult audience." They also have internships for Ireland-based candidates. 
  • ​​Parallax Online “accepts work from high school students worldwide, and welcomes submissions in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and dramatic writing. Submissions must be in English.” Parallax is run and designed by high school students. Note: they are pausing submissions until September 2024. 
  • Press Pause Press says, "We love publishing young artists! Every volume includes at least one writer or artist under 18 . . . Any genre, any word count, anything goes, long as you’re under 18. Please note: All contributors 18 and under will need to have a guardian sign a permission form. Let us know in your cover letter if you are under 18."
  • Polyphony Lit: "Invites submissions of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction from high school students (or equivalent) worldwide. Our student editors provide feedback to all submissions, including the ones we do not accept for publication." The guidelines are available online. You can also apply to join their editorial staff.
  • Roxanne Gay's The Audacity Emerging Writers Series. Open to all ages, Gay’s The Audacity newsletter publishes “an emerging writer’s nonfiction (literary essay and memoir) twice a month.” Submissions are always open; published essays are paid $1,500.
  • Sandpiper Review is an annual literary magazine published by students at Stony Brook University, aiming to “showcase extraordinary work by undergraduates from coast to coast. As a magazine, we value curiosity, diversity, and artistic integrity.” Submissions in fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art are generally open from mid-September to the end of December.
  • Scribere: "An online litery journal, for youth (11-18) by youth." Submission guidelines online. "If we don't accept your piece, we'll give you feedback and invite you to revise and resubmit!"
  • Skipping Stones is a 30+ year old magazine for ages 7-17 which accepts writing from young people (and adults). See their guidelines for more information. 
  • ​​Stone Soup magazine is published every two months, and has been in print for the last forty years. Stories, poems, book reviews, and illustrations are contributed by students not yet in high school. Guidelines, as well as highlights from past issues, are available online. They also run contests.
  • Teen Ink is a literary magazine and website that features poetry (including song lyrics, sonnets and haikus), fiction, book reviews, hot topics in nonfiction, and art/photos. The site also provides two forums for teens -- a regular one for chatting and a writers' workshop for sharing creative work. Teens also provide reviews about colleges and summer programs. Sign-up is required for submissions (which they accept year-round) and participants must be 13 to 19 years old. To learn more, check their submission guidelines.
  • "Teen Voices" at Women's eNews publishes "reported pieces and first-person narratives produced by females, 13-19 years old. Articles are typically 600-800 words long and writers will be required to work with our editor before the articles are published. Teen journalists that are published in Teen Voices receive payment for their work." Check their guidelines online.
  • Travel Nitch Bedtime Stories. Travel writers in grades 7-12 are invited to submit a 700-1000 word fiction or nonfiction story about travel, to be produced as a podcast episode for younger children, and possibly published in print. Submissions are free and always open. 
  • Under the Madness is a new magazine "for teen writers—by teen writers. Under the Madness brings together student editors from across New Hampshire under the mentorship of the state poet laureate to focus on the experiences of teens from around the world." (You don't need to be from New Hampshire to submit.) They publish poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction from 13-19 year old writers. They also run contests.
  • #USvsHate (“us versus hate”) is about "embracing inclusion and justice for all in our diverse schools and society. Our messages insist publicly that all people are equally valuable." Anti-hate messages in any media (writing might include a poem, personal essay, letter to the editor, etc) are accepted from any US students twice annually with deadlines in early December and early April. 
  • ​The Weight is a literary blog "for high school students who may similarly find themselves in need of a creative outlet, about the pandemic or anything else. Everyone has something heavy to get off their chest." They publish a wide range of creative writing; their detailed submission guidelines are online. Check my blog for writing advice from editor-in-chief Matthew E. Henry.
  • Youth Communication Magazine is looking for high school writers aged 15-20. Students are hired for a semester and must commit to 4 hours a week for a semester. Writers paid $100 per published article. “Teen writers are mentored by full-time professional editors, learning memoir writing and journalism skills. The writing process is rigorous, involving many drafts, but with lots of support and guidance from an editor. As a group, we will participate in discussions and activities related to journalism and issues you care about.”

Writing contests

​Please verify all contest deadlines and details by visiting the sites directly.
  • Adroit Journal. An annual prize for two high school or undergraduate students in poetry and prose. Cash prize; $15 submission cost; deadline in December. Winners and runners up are published in the journal; commended submissions receive book prizes.
  • American Foreign Service Association National High School Essay Contest. An annual competition for a 1000-1500 word essay on issues facing the American Foreign Service, open to 9th-12th grade American students. No cost to submit; first and second place winners win cash prizes, and exceptional educational opportunities.
  • Bennington College Young Writer Awards. Annual contest with no entry fee open to 9th through 12th grade writers of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Open to submissions from early September through early November.
  • Bluefire $1000 for 1000 Words (The Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation). Contest for short fiction that must be *exactly* 1000 words. Typically runs from November 1st through February 1st. Open to students in grades 6-12. Winners receive cash prizes and/or publication. 
  • Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest. An annual contest about environmental issues open from September through the following June. Winners in two age categories (middle school and high school) across several creative disciplines (including spoken word/poetry and creative writing) receive cash prizes. No cost to enter; submissions open early September through early June the following year. 
  • Dear Poet Letter Writing Contest. An annual contest for National Poetry Month (April), featuring “a multimedia education project that invites young people in grades five through twelve to write letters in response to poems written and read by award-winning poets.” Entries close around April 20th. Winning letters will be published and receive a personal response from the celebrated poet.
  • EngineerGirl Writing Contest. “Every year, EngineerGirl hosts a contest dealing with engineering and its impact on our world.” No cost; opens September, by posting the year’s prompt, deadline late January. Winners in categories for elementary (grades 3-5), middle (grades 6-8), or high school (grades 9-12) receive a cash prize.
  • Goi Peace Foundation International Essay Contest for Young People. An annual essay contest on a prompt around “a culture of peace and sustainable development.” Submissions are 700 word creative or academic essays in English or French, or 1600 characters in Japanese; and open to anyone 25 years or younger, in two categories (up to 14 years old, and 15-25). Submissions are always open, the annual deadline is mid-June. Top 4 winners receive cash prizes. 
  • Hippocrates Young Poets Prize for Poetry and Medicine. An annual international award for an unpublished poem on a medical subject for 14-18 year olds. Submissions are due mid-February. £6 entry fee and a cash prize.​
  • Ice Lolly Review Campaign Writing Contest. An annual competition for 12-18 year olds writing poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction in response to a prompt. No entry fee; cash prizes and the opportunity for publication. Submissions open spring through mid-July. 
  • John Estey Student Writing Competition. An annual competition run by the American Writers Museum in three age categories: Elementary, Middle, and High School grades. Based on a prompt “as a first line, a last line, a jumping-off point, or inspiration” for a fiction or nonfiction story, poem, song, scene, short monologue or other form of writing up to 1,000 words. Submissions open late-April and close early-June. No cost to enter; cash prizes.
  • Kenyon Review contests. The Kenyon review hosts annual competitions for short fiction, short nonfiction, and poetry. Winners are published in the Kenyon Review and receive a scholarship to a Kenyon Review Wrtier’s Workshop. Submissions cost $24 and are open in November (for poetry), December (for nonfiction), or January (for fiction).
  • Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize. An annual prize that “recognizes outstanding poetry by student writers in the 11th grade in the U.S. or abroad.” No cost to enter; cash prizes and publication. Submissions from summer through end of November.
  • Literacy In Place Rural Teen Writing Contest. An annual competition where "we invite fictional, nonfictional, and lyric accounts of rural living that represent the many and diverse ways of being and living rural." Authors must be in grades 9-12 in the US. Submissions must be written to an annual theme and are typically open from July 1 through December 1. No entry fee.
  • Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest. An annual contest from the National Federation Of State Poetry Societies, Inc. For US students in two categories: Grade 6-8 (Junior Division) and Grades 9-12 (Senior Division). No entry fee; cash prizes.
  • Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest. An annual contest for 10th and 11th grade girls who are US citizens. Submissions are due by late October; no entry fee. Winners will be published, receive a cash prize, a scholarship to Hollins University, and free tuition and housing for the Hollins summer pre-college creative writing program.
  • NCTE Student Writing Awards. Awards for 8th grade and 11-12th grade writers responding to a prompt. Submissions open in fall and close in mid-February.
  • Nonesuch Humor Contest (The Mark Twain House). Submit original humorous essays and stories up to 7000 words. Typically runs mid-February through early July. Separate categories for adults and young writers. Cash prizes. Entry fee.
  • One Teen Story. An annual fiction contest of 2000-4500 word fiction, “One Teen Story gives teen writers a chance to be edited, published, and paid for their work. The contest is free and open to all writers ages 13-19.” Submissions are open mid-September to late November. Three annual winners receive $500 and an opportunity to work with an editor ahead of publication.
  • Penguin Random House Creative Writing College Tuition Awards. An annual competition for high school seniors aged 21 or under. Winners in six categories (memoir, poetry, spoken word, drama/fiction, NYC resident, and anti-book banning) receive $10,000 towards college tuition in an accredited 2- or 4-year program. Only 1000 submissions are accepted; submissions open in October.  
  • Profiles in Courage Essay Contest. An annual creative essay contest of 700-1000 words “that demonstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage.” Open to US high school students in grades 9-12. Submissions open early September to mid-January. No fee; cash prizes. See Helpful Tips for Writing Your Essay for more information.
  • ​Rider University Annual High School Writing Contest. An annual competition for 9th-12th grade writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Teachers submit on the student writer’s behalf between September and late-December. Category winners receive a cash prize; finalists are considered for publication in the Rider University literary magazine.
  • Ringling College of Art + Design Storytellers of Tomorrow Contest. “It’s an exciting time to be a writer, thanks to the increasing number of narrative possibilities that new technologies and media offer.” An annual contest for high school students writing literary, genre or creative nonfiction stories up to 2000 words or micro-role playing games up to 600 words. Submissions are open mid-October through mid-January; no entry fee; cash and merchandise prizes. 
  • River of Words. An annual contest of poetry (in English and Spanish) and art on environmental themes open to K-12 students aged 5-19. There are several age-range and style-based winning categories (e.g. haiku, “on writing,” etc). Free entry; submissions due late February.
  • Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Annual regional and national awards for US students 13 and older in grades 7-12 for writing and traditional arts. Most regional award submissions are open mid-September through mid-January. Submissions cost $10-$30. Some cash and tuition prizes.
  • Storyworks Ongoing Writing Contestst. Ongoing writing contests throughout the year for US students in grade 2-8. Entries must be fiction stories 800-3000 words long responding to one of three prompts. No fee; gift card prizes.
  • Ten-Minute Play Contest. An annual contest for 11th grade playwrights. Submissions are open January to April, or until 250 entries have been received. No fee; cash prizes. ​
  • A Voice for Animals. An annual prose, photography and/or video essay contest has categories for 14-15 year olds and 16-18 year olds. Deadlines are typically in May; entries will respond to a specific prompt and word count. "The contest is supported by a partnership between the Animal Welfare Institute and the Humane Education Network with additional support from the Palo Alto Humane Society." No fee to enter; cash prizes.
  • VSA Playwright Discovery Program. An annual script-writing competition for students aged 14-19 with a disability. “Writers are encouraged to craft short (10 minute) works from their own experiences and observations through the creation of fictional characters and settings, writing realistically, metaphorically or abstractly about any topic, including the disability experience.” No entry fee; winners receive mentoring and script development opportunities through the Kennedy Center. Deadline early January. 
  • Write the World. “Each month, Write the World holds a new competition developed around a particular idea or genre of writing, such as poetry, fantasy, sports journalism, or flash fiction.” Free entry; editorial feedback on drafts; $100 prize for monthly winner, $50 each for two monthly runners-up. All three winners are published on the Write the World website, with judge commentary.
  • Writeopia Lab Worldwide Plays Festival. “An annual Off-Broadway festival of one-act plays written by playwrights ages 6 to 18 and produced, designed, directed, and acted by New York City theater professionals.” Submissions must respond to a prompt; no entry fee. 
  • Young Playwrights Festival. An annual contest run by the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Connecticut for middle school and high school students aged 12-18. Submissions are free, and open for a few weeks in January. Winners are “invited to spend a weekend at the O'Neill with a dedicated creative team—director, dramaturg, and actors—to help them develop their short plays, as well as a script-in-hand public reading of their new play.”
  • YoungArts. An annual national award program that recognizes and supports 15-18 year old US students in literary, visual, and performing arts. Submissions open in June. No cost; a variety of prizes.
  • Youth Communication Magazine Teen Writing Contest. “Every three months, we will highlight five recent [Youth Comm Magazine] articles and ask readers to write a response to the author of a story. Tell them how you related to their story, what lessons you learned, or other ways the story impacted you.” Letters should be 300 words, from students aged 14-19. No entry fee; cash prizes and publication of the letter on the YouthComm website.
  • YouthPLAYS New Voices One Act Playwriting Competition. An annual competition for playwrights aged 19 and under. Submissions are accepted January through late-March; no application fee. Cash prizes and publication/representation for the winning script. 

Teen writing communities

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"BreakBread Literacy project creates a community where youth grow as writers and creators, acquire expertise in publishing, and develop skills that make them competitive for internships, collegiate writing programs, and the publishing industry." Their initiatives include BreakBread Magazine: groundbreaking new work from young creatives under age 25, BreakBread Creative Classroom: Free creative writing workshops for young creatives, and BreakBread Literary Apprentices: Publishing internships for artists, writers & editors. Visit their website for more details. 
Girls Write Now logo
Girls Write Now: "Serving a culturally and educationally diverse community of girls and gender non-conforming youth (mentees) — 90% of color, 90% high need, 75% immigrant or first generation, and 25% LGBTQ+/gender non-conforming—Girls Write Now mentors underserved young women to find their voices through the power of writing and community."
Go Teen Writers logo
Go Teen Writers "exists to provide encouragement, instruction, and community for teen writers.” Run by Stephanie Morrill and Jill Williamson, it also features a private facebook page and resources about writing. Jill says, “We provide a consistent environment where teens can learn and ask questions. We post consistently, hold a variety of contests, and have guest bloggers who are professional authors, editors, or literary agents. We also provide a community for teens to meet other writers and form support and critique groups.” For more info and advice, read my interview with Stephanie and Jill.
Teen Ink logo
Teen Ink features poetry (including song lyrics, sonnets and haikus), fiction, book reviews (including a review of Pandemic), hot topics in nonfiction, and art/photos from students ages 13-19. The site also provides two forums for teens--a regular one for chatting and a writers' workshop for sharing creative work.
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Young Writers Project (YWP) is a "creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists, ages 13-18. We're based in Burlington, VT, and we welcome young creators from anywhere!" They feature daily reads, weekly creative challenges, workshops, and opportunities for publication.​

Craft books and other resources for teens and young writers

Resources for writers of all ages (adults -- that includes you!)

Industry organizations