Safe, Free Places for Junior Authors to Submit Their Writing (& some places on the Web to find encouragement and great advice)

Here are some great places to start sending your work. The links will take you to the magazine's writer's guidelines page.

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.

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.

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

Cyberkids
An e-zine that accepts stories, poetry and articles by young writers. Their target audience is ages 7-12.

Cyberteens
An e-zine (same company the publishes Cyberkids) that accepts submissions from young writers.

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

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.

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.

Junior Authors Short Story Contest
A BC-wide short story contest for ages 10-17. Created by Laura. Details on this website!

Junior Authors Call for Poetry
An ongoing call for young writers to send their best poem in for feedback and publication on this website.

Junior Authors Creative Writing Course
We cover short story writing, poetry and script writing, plus the writing process, getting published, and self-editing. Taught regularly by Laura.

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

Michael Wagner's Blog
Michael Wagner is a popular and successful Australian children's writer. He has great writing tips on his blog. It's worth reading.

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.

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

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

Stone Soup
An art and literary magazine by and for kids 9-13. The 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.

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

Wet Ink
A Canadian literary magazine that publishes poetry 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
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.