Safe, Free Places for Young Writers to Send Their Work

Teachers, please email your questions and new links to info@agentstory.net

Questions about Copyright?
Visit the Canadian Intellectual Property Office website.

A cautionary note about writing contests...
If you are going to pay $ to enter a contest, ask yourself these questions. What do I get for my money? Do I get a subscription to a magazine? Do I get personalized feedback on my entry?

If the answer is no, think twice about entering. You can spend that a money on a book about writing, a writing course or one-on-one coaching. Remember that editors will read your work for free and there are contests out there that are free to enter like Laura's Junior Authors Short Story Contest. Also, be aware that many writing contests are linked to vanity or pay-to-publish companies. They may like your story or poem and then expect you to pay to buy a copy of an anthology (a collection of the "winner's" work).

It's hard to break into print. It takes patience, determination and a lot of research to find the right market for your type of writing. But, if you keep at it, you have a good chance of selling a piece of writing one day. And, it won't cost you a dime, aside from postage and an envelope.

MARKETS

The Claremont Review
Looking for poetry, short stories and short plays by young writers (ages 13-19).

Dragonfly
Do you like writing on science themes? Are you between grade 3 and grade 9? Then you might want to check out this e-zine.

Frodo's Notebook
A non-profit quarterly literary magazine. Accepts work by writers age 13-19.

Girlspeak
The annual e-zine publishes a variety of work , fiction and non-fiction for grils ages 12-22.

Hanging Loose Press
This long-time New York literary journal publishes short stories and fiction written by high school students in a special section of their magazine.

Kaleidoscope
A literary magazine that explores the experience of disability. They are especially interested in submissions by writers with a disability. Teen through adult.

KidsWWwrite
An e-zine run out fo the Kalamalka Institute for Working Writers which is affiliated with the English Department of Okanagan College. The accept stories or poems by kids 16 and under.

Launch Pad
A new online magazine devoted to publishing fiction and non-fiction by kids ages 6-12.

My Walk With Jesus
This Christian magazine accepts articles, poems and stories of all lengths from adults and kids.

New Moon
A magazine edited by and for girls 8-14.

Sad Magazine
A Vancouver-based literary magazine that supports the city's diverse culture and young artists. They are looking for submissions from young writers and poets in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.

Skipping Stones
An international multicultural magazine for kids 6-18.

Stone Soup
"The New Yorker of the 8-13 set." An art and literary magazine by and for kids 9-13. They have a page of their web site where you can read stories written by kids who have been published in this magazine more than once.

Wet Ink
A Canadian literary magazine that publishes fiction by teens 13-19 years old who live in Canada.

Young Christian Writers
Looking for short stories, essays and book reviews by Christian students ages 12-18.

Youngpoets.ca
A website sponsored by the Canada Arts Council that has all kinds of resources for kids who love to write poetry.

Young Writer
A UK magazine looking for prose or poetry, fiction or non-fiction by writers 18 and under.

Youth-Ink BC
A news magazine by youth for youth in Burnaby, BC that accepts non-fiction articles, jokes, book and movie reviews from high school students. Perfect for budding journalists.

What If? Magazine
Publishes fiction and non-fiction by Canadian kids 19 years and under.

CONTESTS

ACT Now! Playwriting Competition - free to enter
This year's playwriting contest deadline is March 31, 2010. Winning plays will be performed across Canada. Ages 14-18 (Junior) and 19-26 (Senior).

Canadian Aboriginal Writing Challenge
There is a 14-18 age category. This year's deadline is March 31, 2010.

Great Canadian Questions Essay Competition
Canadian students 21 and under are encouraged to submit a 1,500 word essay on one of six Canadian History topics. This year's deadline is June 30, 2010.

Gumboot Books Writing Contest for Youth
This is a Vancouver publisher that is looking for winning stories to publish in an anthology of stories by young writers. Ages 10-18.

Junior Authors Short Story Contest
A BC-wide short story contest for ages 10-17. Stories up to 1,000 words. New incentive category for 6-9 year olds! This year's deadline is August 15, 2010.

Royal Commonwealth Society: Essay Competition
Open to students 18 and under.

Surrey School District Short Fiction Writing Contest
For students in grades 8-12 in Surrey only.
Deadline March 31 each year.

RESOURCES

Ask the Storyteller
Laura answers your questions on writing and storytelling. A great resource for kids and adults, students and teachers.