Especially for Young Writers

A Teen's Guide to Getting Published by sisters Jessica and Danielle Dunn includes practical information on publishers, agents, journaling, and finding a space to let your imagination work. Additionally, The Young Writer's Guide to Getting Published by Kathy Henderson contains valuable information about writing, marketing, and getting published. Some of the submissions guidelines and contest descriptions and deadlines may be dated now, but if you're serious you can always double-check the web for up-to-date details.
The Young Writers Program sponsored by National Novel Writing Month is a "fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a novel by midnight, November 30." Although the focus is on quantity and not quality, the program encourages young writers to allow their imaginations to take over and give themselves permission to make mistakes while the first draft pours out of them. See the web site for rules and registration information. ·
Several children's magazines accept manuscripts from young writers. Before submitting, read a few issues of each magazine to make sure the tone of your article matches the tone of articles already published.
Highlightskids.com includes several writing exercises and contests. Click Express Yourself to read about the guidelines for sending your creative work to Highlights.
• Skipping Stones, an international multicultural magazine, accepts submissions from young writers. Check out their guidelines.
• Stone Soup publishes young writers, ages 13 and under. Visit their web site to read about their guidelines.
• Young Writer Magazine, published three times a year, accepts submissions from young writers up to 18 years of age. Be sure to read their guidelines.
• New Moon Magazine is written for girls by girls, ages 8-14. Visit the web site for more details.
Other resources include:
• The Young Writers Society which boasts 101 tips for writers, a young writers market guide, community forums, blogs, and other online writing resources.
• Learn about the life of a writer and how to get started as a writer through The Young Writers Clubhouse. This site also allows you to join an online critique group where you can share your writing and receive feedback on how to make it better.
• Reading Rainbow sponsors a writing contest for children in grades K-3. Check the web site for details and deadlines.