Here at Tell Tell we love working with young poets. There’s nothing quite like seeing through the eyes of children and teens, whose ideals and ability to notice and exult small details are inspiring and refreshing. We recently coached a high school student who had written a piece in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation. We helped her develop and revise her poem AND publish it in a national journal!
It’s also summer, which means we just received our annual copy of the Rattle Young Poets Anthology—our favorite issue of the year. And it is brimming with gorgeous poems from kids of all ages. If you know a young writer, you might suggest Rattle’s Anthology, or peep our round-up of journals and magazines that consider work from young adults, teens, and children. (And pssst . . . The Adroit has a blog just for teens! Check it out!).
Plus, don’t forget to check out Tell Tell’s submission course for extra support in getting your work out into the world!
Achene: International Nature Journal for Young Adults
This nature-inspired publication is affiliate with Tiny Seed, featured in our “Nature Journals” blog. They accept work from poets between the ages of 12 and 18 with the goal of inspiring the next generation of conservationists.
The Adroit has a long history of supporting young writers. In fact, Peter LaBerge, then a high school sophomore, founded the journal in 2010. In addition to regular submissions, this online publication also hosts the annual Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose, a special contest for secondary and undergraduate students.
AGNI publishes online and in print, and they are on a mission to bring the reader into “the living moment, not as a tourist but as an engaged participant. And—as means and method—to champion writers who engage the world in and around them.” Submissions are open from September 1 to May 31.
On hiatus
Established in 2014, BLJ is run by a team of teachers and is free and accessible to all online. Based in Hong Kong, this biannual publication accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, art, and photography geared toward readers 12 and older.
The Caterpillar is a magazine of poems, stories, and art for children. It is the younger sibling of The Moth, an art & literature magazine for grown-ups. The Caterpillar is for kids between the ages of 7 and 11, though grown-ups are bound to like it, too. It appears four times a year, in March, June, September and December. They accept submissions from writers age 16 and older.
Cicada is a literary journal with a focus on writing that is generative, nuanced, experimental, and inclusive. We encourage submissions from anyone, anywhere, and are especially drawn to transnational perspectives, traditionally marginalized voices, and the global narrative. Cicada publishes year-round and on a rolling basis. The digital journal publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and international literature in translation.
On hiatus
Ember is a journal of “luminous things,” and one of their foundational goals is to foster the next generation of great writers by providing them with excellent reading material now. They seek submissions from authors and poets age 10 and up.
On hiatus
On hiatus
On hiatus
The Louisville Review’s goal is to import the best writing to local readers, to export the best local writers to a national readership, and to juxtapose the work of established writers with new writers. Each poem and story submitted to TLR is judged entirely on its own merit whether the author is already nationally known or previously unpublished.
Magic Dragon invites writers 12 years old and younger to submit poetry, stories, and art. The online publication has been published quarterly since 2005. Their mission is to encourage creative thinking and expression in young children and to support the arts in education. It is published by the Association for Encouragement of Children’s Creativity, a nonprofit organization.
Navigating the Maze: International Teen Poetry Anthology
Navigating the Maze is an annual anthology featuring poems, art, and photography from teens around the world. It is published annually by Adonis Designs Press in partnership with Springfield Poets and Writers, a nonprofit literary organization in Illinois. They accept submissions year-round with a late February deadline.
Founded in 2006 by M. Bartley Seigel and Roxane Gay, PANK Magazine is a literary publication fostering access to innovative poetry and prose, publishing the brightest and most promising writers for the most adventurous readers. The journal is now edited by Jessica Fischoff and Chris Campanioni, and they are currently accepting submissions for Future Fridays, a weekly feature of work from writers 18 years old and younger.
The Paper Crane seeks to display a new form of artistic expression that celebrates the nuance in life: the joyful, the twisted, and the bittersweet. They urge young creatives to never surrender their passions, and they welcome every voice. They accept submissions on a rolling basis from all artists under 20 years of age.
Polyphony Lit is a truly generous global online literary platform for high school students. They invite secondary students worldwide to submit creative writing, join their editorial staff, write blog posts, take workshops, and grow into leadership roles. Because developing young writers is central to their mission, their editors provide feedback on every submission.
Rattle magazine values the experience of childhood and reveres the magical early years of language development, when life is full of wonder, imagination, and linguistic experimentation. In 2013, they began publishing an annual anthology of young poets. The books are available in print, and all the poems appear as daily content on Rattle’s website on Saturdays throughout the year.
On hiatius
Stone Soup is a literary magazine and website 100% written and illustrated by kids through age 13. Now in its 48th year, Stone Soup has been inspiring children to read, write, and create their own artworks for publication in the magazine since 1973. The publication is available online and in print, which delight young writers.
Teen Ink is a website and national teen magazine devoted entirely to teenage writing, art, photos, and forums. For over 31 years, Teen Ink has offered teens the opportunity to publish their creative work and opinions on issues that affect their lives, everything from love and family to school, current events, and self-esteem. Hundreds of thousands of students, aged 13–19, have submitted their work to the publication, and they have published more than 55,000 teens since 1989.
Writing Zone Magazine is a new, online-only literary magazine publishing creative writing by children ages 7–12. Their goal is to provide an outlet for young people to express themselves through writing and to offer an opportunity to read works from other children in their age group. And if any young writers you know need a little inspiration, the site also posts a weekly writing prompt. There is no fee to submit or subscribe because Writing Zone wants to encourage the pursuit of strong, imaginative creative writing and to share the inspiration of young minds to the online public.
YWP is a community of young people who create and connect online at youngwritersproject.org through words, photos, and art. Since Young Writers Project started in 2006, more than 120,000 young people have participated. The website features a daily creative work, a book club, and daily challenges. Most contributors are between 13 and 18 (those who are 12 years of age may join with parental permission), and most are from YWP’s home state of Vermont, but they welcome young people from everywhere to join them.
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