Helping Middle School Students Become Published Authors

Exploring publication is an important step for writers, but publication can take different shapes and the path to sharing stories and ideas in a global community continues to change as technology grows and changes. 

Encouraging Voice and Practice

As author Anne Lamott has pointed out, publication is not always the healthiest pinnacle for a writer. Publication is not an end in itself; becoming a strong writer is about processing emotions, sharing experiences, and reflecting on what makes us who we are. The craft of writing begins with appreciating the written word and recognizing that even young people have powerful stories to tell.

That being said, publication can also be an exciting accomplishment and a memorable moment in a student’s life.

Encourage your child to think about their daily lives and the honest, sometimes quirky events that make up their days. Their human observations and memories, vividly described and thoughtfully revised, can lead to writings that can be shared with the world.

Just like professional writers, middle school students can find a time that works best for them to write during the day, set goals, and develop routines that help them produce and refine their compositions.

Seeking Out (Safe) Opportunities

A number of websites exist that list opportunities for writers to link out to the wider world of sharing stories – exploring these spaces can be a wonderful way to work with your child and guide them through websites to find venues that are designed for young writers. Your involvement is important as a support and safety guard.

Publication spaces run the gamut from the welcoming and kid-friendly to the very adult-oriented. Being at the side of your child, helping them craft correspondence and seek appropriate opportunities through curated sources, is important.

Check out Stone Soup, New Moon Girls, and Teen Ink. 

For a additional opportunities that include new publications, Every Writer’s Resource and Poet’s & Writer’s can be helpful – but it is recommended that parents and family vet the resources on these sites and focus on those that market toward youth. Both include links to publication opportunities that are more mature.

Reframing Publication 

Some publication opportunities might exist in your local community, including more local/regional websites/print resources and publications that connect with groups and even religious denominations. Additionally, depending on the area you live in, there might be youth-focused events for poetry reading, writing workshops, and more.

Part of our reality also includes increasing access to a global audience with technology. You can help your child curate and design online publication spaces like blogs and vlogs, and consider social media and online privacy settings to ensure a safe and positive audience. Social media groups, for example, can be built with privacy settings and community guidelines.

Always encourage your child to work with you and think about the information they share online. If they would not want the information posted a wall in a public space, they likely do not want to share the same information online.

Sharing Writing in Contests

In addition to publishing in traditional and less traditional forms, contests can be positive spaces for young writers to earn recognition.

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) hosts the Promising Young Writers competition, focused on young writers who are 8^th graders. You can find out more about this opportunity at NCTE’s website.

Additionally, the John Locke Institute hosts an annual essay contest for young writers, including a junior category that features a range of topics. More information about this competition can be found at the Institute’s website.

Linking with a local library and following along with community events can sometimes open up regional contest opportunities, as well.

FAQ

Q: Should my child expect pay for publication?

A: While payment is certainly a goal, encourage your child to see publication as its own reward (and writing as its own reward). Many publications do not offer pay, or do so with perks like copies of the published work.

Q: How can my child be competitive when seeking publication?

A. Both resilience and attention to detail are important. Encourage your child to keep working, revising, and submitting their work to trustworthy venues – almost every writer can tell you stories about the number of rejections they experienced on the way to success. Also encourage your child to carefully consider the guidelines that publications and contests post. These are important to follow carefully.

Q: What if my child encounters harsh responses from some publication venues?

A: Spaces which are intended for younger writers should be focused on support; however, publications that can be found online might have editors who are not working from this lens. Encourage your child to consider constructive feedback – and to recognize when feedback is not as constructive. To be truly helpful, the writer (young or old) should be able to follow up and fashion a better product from an editorial review.

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