CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

1. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
#TeenWritersProject accepts submissions of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, memoirs, short plays and photo essays. All submissions must be in English and previously unpublished in print or online.

Submissions are accepted year-round and published four times a year in the Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. All genres are welcomed, with or without an agent, from anywhere in the world, and you can submit as often as you wish, and to multiple genres. Please submit multiple works from different genres separately, but multiple works from the same genre together. 
Prose, Poetry & Art
Whether you are a new writer or a novice, unpublished or previously published, we want to hear from you!
  • We accept simultaneous submissions but ask that you notify us immediately if a piece is accepted for publication elsewhere.
  • We will only accept previously published works that have been professionally published and with credit to the previous publication. (e.g., as previously published in...)
  • When submitting, please also include a headshot (shoulders and above) on a plain background. If you take a selfie, please do not have the phone, mirrors, seatbelts, tongues, puckered lips, nudity, or multiple people in the photo.
Journalism
#TeenWritersProject is always looking for new contributors! If you can write something smart, funny, interesting or provocative in literary, narrative, art, cultural, and social journalism, we want to hear from you! All submissions must be in English and previously unpublished in print or online.
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How to Pitch to #TWP
  • Please familiarize yourself with our publication before you pitch.
  • Queries should describe the content, structure, and tone of the proposed article.
  • Please be specific about what makes your idea unique and why you are the best writer to write about it.
  • A link to your blog or website with previously written articles.
  • We accept simultaneous submissions but ask that you notify us immediately if a piece is accepted for publication elsewhere.
  • We will only accept previously published works that have been professionally published and with credit to the previous publication. (e.g., as previously published in...)
  • Only after we accept your pitch should you submit a headshot (shoulders and above) on a plain background. If you take a selfie, please do not have the phone, mirrors, seatbelts, tongues, puckered lips, nudity, or multiple people in the photo.
  • Upon acceptance, we pay contributors $0.10/word for original pieces or $0.07/word for previously published pieces.
  • Kill fees: We pay a $10 kill fee for original works or a $5 kill fee for previously published works.
  • Send queries to: letswrite@teenwritersproject.org.
  • Subject line must say: Query.
  • Please allow 4-6 weeks response time.
2. WORD COUNT/ART AND SUCH
  • Prose (fiction and nonfiction): 1-2 pieces (not to exceed 2,000 words each)
  • Poetry: 1-3 poems
  • Drama: 1 Act (not to exceed 2,500 words)
  • Art: 1-3 pieces per issue
  • Journalism: Reviews (150-200 words), Listicles (250-500 words), Articles (600-800 words), Features (900-1,800 words)  
3. LANGUAGE, ETC.
Profanity: Allowed but not encouraged. Excessive profanity will be rejected.

Themes: All themes allowed including sexual assault, domestic violence, drug abuse and suicide as long as they are not romanticized. Works that are racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, audist, hateful or riddled with -isms and -phobias will not be published, unless transformative, but can be censored if excessive or ill-intentioned.

Explicit Content: Allowed (think romance, coming of age, first kisses, etc.), but we will not publish works that are overly sexual (erotic, pornographic, explicit descriptions of rape, beastiality, necrophilia), excessively violent, or unnecessarily gory.
4. TIMING
The review process can take up to eight (8) weeks. We will contact you once a decision has been reached. No need to bombard with email inquiries.
5. FILE TYPES
Writing: docx, Google Docs
Artwork: png, jpg
**Absolutely no screenshots**
6. RIGHTS
  • ​One Time First World Serial Rights. We reserve the right to publish your work prior to any other party throughout the world in our Lit Zine, whether in English or translated into a foreign language. Copyrights revert to the author immediately upon publication.
  • Second Serial (Reprint) Rights: We reserve the right to republish your work after the piece has already been published by another publication. Copyrights revert to the author immediately upon publication.
  • Subsidiary Rights. We reserve the right to anthologize your work at any time in a collection of works from our publication in whole or in part for domestic or foreign publication.
  • E-Rights. We reserve the right to publish, display and transmit your work in all digital and electronic media. 
  • Right of Refusal. We reserve the right to refuse to publish any content or reject any story pitches for any reason.
7. FINE PRINT
  • #TeenWritersProject is a nonpartisan organization. The publishing of certain topics does not equal our endorsement of any ideas, and while we do research writers before publishing, we are not responsible for their views or opinions, and our views and opinions are our own and not influenced by any parties or entities.
  • #TeenWritersProject does not align with any political party, and will never publish information or content about any known or covert hate groups.
  • No payment will be received for content, unless specifically stated for a contractual arrangement.
  • All content is subject to editing and/or rewrites, and if factual information is found to be erred after publication, we will publish a statement of retraction.