For several summers, I ran a week-long writing camp for kids in grades 4-8. It was as enjoyable for me as it was for the kids. The kids were so enthused about the stories and poems they wrote.
But at the end of the week, there was the inevitable question, either from a participant or a parent: “How can kids get publlished?” Let’s face it. There are only a handful of kids — mostly teens, young adults, and the offspring of well-known adult authors — who ever get their books published. Most people — including yours truly — don’t sell a book until they’re adults.
But that doesn’t mean that adult authors spent their childhoods twiddling their thumbs and counting the years until they could publish a book. More than likely, they were writing stories, poems, and spending a lot of time reading. Practice, practice, practice. That’s the key to becoming an adept writer who is more likely to get his or her work published.
However, there isn’t any reason why kids who are interested in becoming authors can’t start learning about the submission process — and even submit their stories and poems. It can be hard to find resources for kids interested in getting published, including markets for their work.
Fortunately, with the growth of online publications, there are more places where young writers can submit their work. Here’s a link I found that lists forty resources: http://educationportal.com/articles/40_of_the_Best_Websites_for_Young_Writers.html–
If I come across other resources for young authors, I’ll pass them along. And if you know of a good resource, please feel free to share the information in the comment section, or email me via the contact button.
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