While there may be many local opportunities for young writers to share their work in your community, sometimes a newspaper or newsletter just isn't the best fit. If your work is more creative—such as a short story or poetry—it might be best to cast a wider net for publishing opportunities by looking at more traditional publishing sources. Study the slides below to learn what counts as a traditional publishing source.
One great avenue for your creative writing is in a literary magazine. These periodicals, or magazines published at regular intervals, usually publish short stories, poetry, and essays. However, many also include book reviews, profiles of authors, and interviews of writers and readers. A small literary magazine, or one with a smaller circulation of readers, is often called a journal.
It's important to know that many magazines and journals have a specific genre focus. If, for example, you write science fiction, think of submitting to Strange Horizons or The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. If you have a particular interest or hobby, such as fashion or model planes, spend some time reading magazines that feature your interests. Doing your research for publishing opportunities is a great way to learn more about your craft and make sure your story has just the right audience.
Many magazines, journals, and websites sponsor writing contests aimed at new writers or focused on a particular genre. Many also have themed publications that change frequently and accept any genre of work, as long as it fits the theme. Your teacher is probably a good resource for such contests. Some respectable student writing contests are The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, YoungArts' National Arts Competition, and The Critical Pass Review Junior Poet's Contest. Doing a quick web search for those titles should give you more information.
If you don't write creatively or enjoy that type of writing, don't despair. There are dozens and dozens of publishing avenues for you to explore. Your best bet is to search online for your particular interest or hobby or search for a magazine that you enjoy reading. Because there are so many publishing opportunities for young people, it's just not possible to list them all. When searching online for options, keep these tips in mind:
Beware any magazine or contest that charges a submission fee, or fee to only send in your work. While many of these publishers are legitimate, some just want your money.
Always read the submission guidelines. These can usually be found on their own link on a publisher's website. These often tell you a word count requirement, an upcoming theme or contest, or online submission link.
Use smart search words. Always put student with any searches you do. This should provide a better crop of results as well as eliminating unsafe or inappropriate websites.
Read the comments. Almost all webpages, online magazines and newspapers, and contests have comment pages where writers and readers can post comments or reviews. Spend some time reading these to make sure the site is reputable.
How do traditional publishing sources differ from newspapers?
