Children and teens who enjoy writing stories, essays, poems, or articles can take their hobby a step further and submit their work for publication. And while not all publications pay kid writers for getting published, they will earn a byline, credits, and valuable publishing experience.
The best part is, there are plenty of publications that accept writing by kids. Here are a few places to look, along with tips and suggestions for making the submission process – and the goal of becoming a young published author – more successful.
Magazines That Accept Writing by Kids
Magazines written by children and teens or that include students' writing are a good place for kids to submit their work – especially magazines that have been around for awhile and have a good reputation and large circulations, like Stone Soup, Skipping Stones, Creative Kids, and New Moon Girls.
Some magazines, including Stone Soup, pay for writing by kids; others provide contributor copies only. Still other magazines offer different incentives. For example, Time for Kids magazine gives its selected reporters a Time for Kids Reporter t-shirt, press credential, reimbursement for pre-approved travel expenses, and unique writing assignments.
Online Publishers for Kids Writing
Besides print magazines, many websites publish writing by kids. Among the popular places to publish kids writing, including stories, book reviews, and poetry, are KidPub.com, Launch Pad, and Kids on the Net. Teens can publish book reviews and writing on TeenLit.com.
For more online kids publishing sites, check with teachers or educators or consult a student writing listing, such as the National Writing Project’s Collection of Online Writing Opportunities. Make sure a website is current and still accepting writing by kids before submitting work, though.
Other Places for Kids to Get Published
Besides print magazines and websites, there are a number of other places for young aspiring authors to submit their writing, including contests and anthologies. Creative Communication, for example, runs poetry and essay contests three times a year, with winning entries earning a $50 savings bond plus publication in an anthology. (Note that many online and print magazines, like Cricket, also run periodic contests for young authors, in addition to accepting submissions from kids.)
Children and teens who are interested in entering a writing contest or getting their writing published in an anthology can check with their teachers for help and suggestions. Some teachers submit work of their students as a collective effort. Kids can also submit their writing independently, or with the help of a parent, to a variety of other places, including:
- Local newspapers that print writing by kids
- School newspapers and magazines
- Student Literary Journals
- Church newsletters
- Print-on-demand publishers
Tips for Becoming a Young Published Author
Getting published as a young person is a great accomplishment and one that will open up more opportunities for future publication. But the road to publication isn’t easy. Writing is a competitive field, even for kids. And editors can afford to be choosy about what gets published and what doesn’t.
Even so, kids can improve their chances of becoming a published writer or author by making sure their writing is the best it can be. That includes using good spelling, punctuation, and grammar; taking the time to edit and revise; having an experienced writer or teacher critique their work; and following the publisher’s submission guidelines closely.
Another important tip for becoming a published author, no matter what the age, is persistence. Often editors reject a piece because it isn’t what they’re looking for. Kids can improve their rejected writing by following an editor’s comments, rewriting, and resubmitting. Eventually, good writing finds a home.
Kids might also want to consider attending author events, like book talks and signings or a young author’s conference led by published authors. Author events inspire kid writers and provide them with valuable information on ways to get published. Kids can find out more about author events through their schools, libraries, and local book stores.
It’s never too early to get published. Fortunately, kids today have many options for submitting their writing. And whether a publication pays or not, the thrill of becoming a published author is often the best reward of all for kids – and worth the hard work and persistence it takes to get there.
Susie Yakowicz - Susie Yakowicz is a Minnesota freelance writer whose work has appeared in dozens of publications for children and adults.
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