How to Become a Teenage Writer

Write and publish.

Teen writers join forums, critique groups, clubs and writing classes. Opportunities to blog, submit work online or by mail, enter weekly or annual contests and even contact your favorite teen authors are simple. It takes drive, passion and the desire to see your name in print. Constantly read books, graphic novels, magazines or 'zines geared for or written by your peers. Study the myriad writing books available, and you will be on your way!

Things You'll Need

• • "Write Away!: A Friendly Guide for Teenage Writers" by Peter Stillman • "A Teen's Guide to Getting Published: Publishing for Profit, Recognition and Academic Success" by Jessica and Danielle Dunn • "The Young Writer's Guide to Getting Published," Writer's Digest Books • "To Be a Writer: A Guide for Young People Who Want To Write and Publish" by Barbara Seuling • "How to Write Irresistible Query Letters" by Lisa Collier Cool

Instructions

How to Become a Teenage Writer

1. Write every day in a journal about anything that comes readily to mind. Read books on writing such as "Write Away!: A Friendly Guide for Teenage Writers." Read articles and magazines written by teens. Look for "The Claremont Review" (www.theclaremontreview.ca) and "Pomegranate Words" (www.pomegranatewords.com/magazine/ ). Collect articles and stories of a particular genre. Check out Internet Public Library for Teens, Teen Space (www.ipl.org/div/teen/browse/rw0000/), which offers work by teen authors, blogs, reading lists, clubs and 'zines.

2. Join a writing club or group at the local library or high school to meet other teenage writers. Go to the Google directory, www.google.com/Top/Arts/Writers_Resources/Young_Writers/. It lists numerous writing clubs, such as the Teen Writer Coffee Club. Check out the Yahoo version, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/youngwriters/ (Young Writers). If there is not a local club, try regional. If you still cannot find one, start one yourself. Put up fliers on bulletin boards. Ask the local library or school to help spread the word.

3. Take part in teen writing forums and blogs. Surf www.teenagewriters.com/forum/, which has informative guides that channel teen writers within the literary world. Topics include "Introduce Yourself," "Training Camps," "Lyrics," "Novels," "Writing Help" and "Literary Discussion," to name a few. Another forum is the Young Writers Society (www.youngwriterssociety.com/index2.php), which discusses writing tips, writing activities and research. Http://youthvoices.wetpaint.com/ is a network that pairs teens with peers and adult mentors, who collaborate on myriad writing projects.

4. Compete in writing contests. Explore the Alliance for Young Artists andWriters (www.artandwriting.org), whose mission statement is "to identify, motivate and validate the next generation of artists and writers." The Dell Magazine Award (http://rickwilber.com/dellaward.htm) is presented annually to the best undergraduate writer in the science fiction and fantasy genre. Teen novel writers compete in National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org/), where participants must begin a novel at the beginning of a month and have it completed at the end.

5. Search for magazines and publishers for teens in your genre. Send for submission guidelines. Go online for current updates. Compose, edit and complete a work. Double-check grammar and syntax, and then send it out. Query the publisher. Keep a log of where and when you submit. Do not lose heart with rejections but resend the manuscript within the week to another publisher. Celebrate acceptances. Along with another adult and/or lawyer, read all contracts thoroughly.

Tips & Warnings

• Write daily even for a few minutes. Volunteer at a local or regional paper. Work on the school newspaper. Go to author visits at bookstores and libraries.

• Before signing paperwork, speak to an adult and/or lawyer. Take precautions when writing in forums or online groups.

Resources

• Alliance for Young Artists and Writers