By Alexandra Rae
At two I read more than I talked; at twelve I knew I wanted to hold the pen which created the stories I loved to read; at twenty-two I dare to call myself a writer. Simultaneously faced with a love for the craft and my hometown’s predilection away from the arts, my journey towards writing as a career more than a hobby could not have been possible without the community I’ve built – and the resources I’ve found because of it. If I could have read an article detailing resources for young writers in high school, I would have realized I could call myself a writer at any age. I want to share what I use as a writer & artist to make the process of creating not only easier but ultimately more rewarding. It’s the season of giving: and this, young writer, I give to you.
The Young Writer’s Initiative
I may be biased because I used to work with this organization as a Content Writer, but The Young Writer’s Initiative (@tywiorg on Instagram) is one of the best nonprofits geared towards writers in middle school, high school, and college. Their range of services reflect how they are “dedicated to educating, servicing, and inspiring young writers and artists” – from alpha & beta reading to summer camp workshops. Whether you’re looking for an extra pair of eyes to provide revision notes for your work or are interested in pursuing volunteer hours as a member of this organization, TYWI has every resource a young writer could need. You can check out their website here!
Community of Literary Magazine Presses
The Community of Literary Magazine Presses (aka CLMP) is an organization of small publishers whose work is centered on print & digital books, magazines, online publications, zines and chapbooks. I discovered CLMP about two years ago when I learned there was a significant difference between traditional and independent publishing (my heart still resonates with the latter) and decided to follow them even more closely with the closing of Small Press Distribution this past year. This organization offers resources to publishers and readers alike: workshops; databases of publishing contacts; consultants (for publishers); small press & magazine fairs; current literary magazine news; and a directory of independent publishers (for readers & writers). I’ve discovered a great deal of small presses and literary magazines to support through CLMP, including the incredible company I am currently interning for, Brink Literary! This organization is ideal for the writer looking to find ways to support the community they want to engage with by reading literary mags and finding small presses to buy from instead of corporations.
I know this may come off as cliche, or like I’m trying to sell you some corporate version of a writer’s life, but LinkedIn has allowed me to connect with a wide range of professionals in the career path I am pursuing (yay publishing!), both younger and more experienced. You can think of LinkedIn as your professional profile, highlighting accomplishments, milestones, and career updates. It is also a great place to promote yourself and ask questions when you want to make a career pivot or simply learn more about a field you’re interested in. Feel free to connect with me here if you want to chat about writing or tell me about some of your recent accomplishments!
Submittable
Submittable is essentially the holy grail for literary magazines looking for submissions to new issues. This is the platform most literary magazines and writing websites use for open calls to new issues and contests, as the submission process is streamlined through their website and/or app. After you create an account and submit through their platform, Submittable keeps track of your submissions by title of submission, organization, opportunity call, date submitted, and status of submission (submitted/in progress/declined/accepted). They also keep a running list of opportunities to submit to under their Discover tab. Half of the reason why I submit to certain opportunities is because Submittable is their platform of choice, so I will vouch for them every time!
Poets & Writers
Besides their magazine published six times a year (which I always read in between class on campus), the Poets & Writers website is a goldmine for young artists. They provide lists of publications for writers to submit to, places to promote your writing, workshops geared towards building community, online classes, writing prompts, and subscription offers. Check it out for yourself to start building your community in whichever way suits you best.
Zines
One of the best things about using social media for my career is discovering how other artists interpret the craft of writing. I discovered the online zine (self-made/self-published magazine) community and fell in love with the diversity of creations. Using magazine cutouts, rhinestones, E6000, ribbon and poetry, zine-makers were able to make art that spoke on political activism, body stereotypes, what having a Brat Summer really means, Spotify Wrapped, and favorite books. Zines reminded me of what was possible through the craft of writing, and now I even take to (poorly) attempting to make my own when I’m in a creative rut. If you want to see how a true zine talent does it, check out Bre’s page!
Third Places
Libraries, coffee shops, bookstores, museums, parks: all places in which I go to expecting nothing and leave with everything. Third places – or places where informal life happens, where community and sociability are prioritized over work or domestic duties – have saved my mental health and writing career in more ways than one. If I needed to get out of the house without spending money, I went to a third place. If I needed to write but my brain wouldn’t let me write, I went to a third place. If I craved being in the presence of other humans, I went to a third place. Looking into the community centers and third places where you live may just be the key you need to continue creating even when your home environment prohibits you from doing so.
As I get older and become more of an experienced writer rather than a young writer (a terrifying thought to me!), this list will grow. For now, these are the resources I recommend for any young writer looking to put themselves out there. The first step is always the scariest. Sometimes, this means submitting to a poetry contest you don’t think you’ll win. Other times, this means choosing the right headshot for your LinkedIn profile. Each step takes you closer to becoming the writer you want to be. This is your sign. Step; run; fly; write.
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