You’ve written and revised your kids’s and YA stories greater than you possibly can count. Only your trusted circle has witnessed the magical way you weave words together to create fictional and nonfictional worlds for tiny humans—yet, everyone tells you more people have to read your kids’s and YA stories.
For many writers (or any artist), putting your work on the market isn’t a straightforward step to take, irrespective of how celebrated you’re.
But while it’s daunting to submit a story to a publication—hearing people’s opinions of your work, eek!—it’s also obligatory for excellent practice for all aspiring authors who eventually wish to determine learn how to get a literary agent.
Whether you write short stories, personal essays, poems, or stories for teenagers, there are tons of magazines that can help bring your story to life for the eager and excited eyes who can’t wait to dig into them.
Now, I warn you: These magazines pay to your stories, however the rates won’t keep the lights on in your home. Nevertheless it’s an important option to begin earning money to your work, which sooner or later will pay the bills.
Where to Submit Children’s Stories: 15 Suggestions
Where to Submit Children’s Stories
Before you submit a story, at all times familiarize yourself with the magazine to grasp the tone and kind of the writing it features.
You most likely know this already nevertheless it bears repeating: Plotting, story construction, character development and more are only as necessary in children’s and YA stories as they’re in adult fiction or other genres—the standards of success aren’t any different.
After you craft a children’s short story that’s able to be judged, listed below are 15 children’s magazines that wish to read your compelling submission.
1. Bumples
Founded in 1999, Bumples (for ages 6 to 10) and Bumple Buds (for ages 3 to five) each publish 4 issues per 12 months. If you must submit a story to this interactive online magazine, deal with mystery and adventure stories, in addition to fantasy, holiday, sports and animal stories.
For the three to five age group, submit a story of not more than 800 words; for the 6 to 10 age group, follow 2,000 words or less. As you write, keep this in mind: Bumples focuses on illustrated fiction, so the editors select stories and poems where they will animate the characters.
Read through the author’s guidelines to learn more—when your story is able to submit, email it to (email protected). Editors prefer Word format but in addition they accept PDFs.
Payment: $30 for stories; $20 for poems.
2. One Teen Story
Should you’re a young author—or in the event you know one—award-winning literary quarterly One Teen Story is the right place to submit an original story.
Publishing 4 issues per 12 months that every only contain one story, this magazine features the work of today’s best teen writers from ages 13 to 19. Submissions can fall into any genre of YA fiction (literary, fantasy, sci-fi, romance, horror and more), but they have to be well-written and between 2,000 and 4,500 words. Also, stories needs to be in regards to the teen experience in addition to have teens because the predominant characters.
Examples include stories that take care of coming-of-age issues, plus those of identity, friendship and family. Ensure you avoid excessive profanity, sex and drug use. To essentially get the vote of editors, write a story that is robust enough to face alone, fairly than an excerpt from a work-in-progress, for example.
One Teen Story Teen submissions are actually closed but are resulting from reopen in fall 2021.
Payment: $500 upon publication plus 25 copies of the magazine featuring your work.
3. Cricket Media
Cricket Media publishes 11 award-winning magazines for youngsters from six months to teens, in order that they have submission options for all types of writers of any experience level.
Across all its magazines, Cricket Media goals to publish the “finest quality writing and illustration for youngsters of all ages.” Its readers are interested by the world around them and revel in the artistic expression of those magazine’s crafty stories.
Its 4 literary magazines for youngsters as much as nine (Babybug®, Ladybug®, Spider® and Cricket®) welcome stories within the genres of illustrated poetry, fiction and literary nonfiction.
Writers with expertise in science, technology, culture and social studies have five nonfiction magazines (for ages 3-14) to undergo: Click®, Ask®, Muse®, Cobblestone™ and FACES™ World Cultures and Geography.
Since these stories require more subject-matter knowledge, writers must also submit a resume and a number of other writing samples. To learn more specifics about story length, desired (and undesired) story elements and more for every magazine, start with the general submission guidelines.
Also an illustrator? View the submission guidelines for artists to seek out out learn how to submit there, too.
Payment: For the literary magazines, $.25 per word for stories or articles; $3 per line for poems, or $25 max; $75 flat fee for activities and recipes. Rates for nonfiction magazines are negotiated.
4. U.S. Kids Magazines
Want to write down broadly about health and fitness for teenagers as much as 12 across the U.S.? Publisher of award-winning magazines Humpty Dumpty (ages 2-6) and Jack and Jill (ages 6-12), U.S. Kids Magazines seeks high-quality stories, articles and activities that display a healthy lifestyle.
Be humorous, playful and witty in a well-constructed story that starts at a basic reading comprehension level to support young readers—but additionally doesn’t neglect to sprinkle in advanced information. Editors also need a story that may “appeal to today’s children.” Meaning in the event you haven’t been around kids shortly, they suggest you doubly ensure your dialogue and characters are up-to-date and authentic.
Jack and Jill accepts full fiction manuscripts of as much as 800 words and nonfiction as much as 700 words. Humpty Dumpty, then again, wants fiction shorts of 450 words or less, crafts of as much as 250 words, poetry as much as 12 lines, plus short mini-stories of 70-125 words.
Find details about mailing in your transcript within the submission guidelines, plus what form of stories editors are especially all for across accepted genres.
Payment: $25 and up for Jack and Jill magazine fiction and nonfiction stories; $25 and up for Humpty Dumpty poems, $30 and up for fiction stories, and $40 and up for crafts.
5. Hunger Mountain
Graduate students of Vermont College of Advantageous Arts’ Writing and Publishing program created Hunger Mountain magazine, which strives to amplify traditionally silenced voices and increase representation in literature.
Besides writing that explores, questions and challenges, editors also favor stories that display what it’s attempting to do for others and the world. “We’re here to champion writing that upsets systems of power and dominance,” explains the submission guidelines. “Our magazine isn’t going to destroy the cis-heteronormative, white-supremacist, ableist patriarchy, but we’re going to try.”
Above all, Hunger Mountain seeks work that’s self-aware and avoids the danger of harm. But don’t be afraid to be humorous, and even to surprise editors with romance (that isn’t cheesy), limericks or poems within the varieties of ghazal and golden shovel.
Your YA or children’s story submission needs to be now not than 8,000 words.
Submissions are open until December 1, 2023.
Payment: $50 for prose and $25 for poetry.
6. Ember: A Journal of Luminous Things
Ember challenges you to write a story that targets readers who’re 10-18, whether it’s poetry (three to 100 lines), a brief story or creative non-fiction (as much as 12,000 words), or flash fiction (not more than 1,500 words).
Editors seek “excellent, polished writing” that creates a fascinating story—one with no profanity, vulgarity, sex or violence. Plus, keep this in mind: “Submissions with the very best probability of acceptance might be meaningful on some level to each older and younger readers without being condescending.”
What’s neat about this magazine is it offers feedback in your story when you’ve submitted it, even when it hasn’t been chosen for publishing. (Although, it’s optional.)
Payment: $.02 per word, or $20 per work, whichever is more.
7. Spaceports and Spidersilk
Most of all, this print magazine created by speculative fiction-focused Hiraeth Publishing wants your story to have one element: adventure.
Published 3 times per 12 months in February, June and October, Spaceports & Spidersilk wants fantasy, sci-fi and shadow stories (“spooky, but not terrifying”) aimed toward readers ages 8-14. It prefers stories with young protagonists, plus people who don’t harp on an overarching lesson. As a substitute, editors want a very good story that “entertains and connects with emotions.”
Submit genre stories between 1,000 and three,000 words, flash fiction that’s lower than 1,000 words, essays as much as 800 words and poetry with not more than 25 lines. Whatever you submit, make sure to follow the magazine’s cardinal rules: No swearing, sex, drugs or sexist language.
Take a look at the writer guidelines to learn learn how to submit.
Payment: $6 for every accepted story; $3 for flash fiction.
8. Solid of Wonders
Enthusiastic about writing YA sci-fi or fantasy? Cast of Wonders is the leading voice in young adult speculative short fiction, and it wants stories that “evoke a way of wonder, have deep emotional resonance and have something unreal about them.”
Stories needs to be not more than 6,000 words in length and aimed toward teens from 12-17. Because the Solid of Wonders podcast sometimes presents stories in audio format, your submission must pack a punch: strong pacing, well-defined characters, compelling dialogue and more.
Editors want fiction that makes them think; nevertheless, they’ll reject stories with graphic depictions of sexual assault, cannibalism or non-consensual sex and/or drug use.
Submit your thrilling story to the address present in the writer guidelines.
Payment: $.08 per word for original fiction of any length and a $20 flat rate for flash fiction.
9. Fun For Kidz
Created for teenagers ages 6 to 13—although the 8-10 range is the precise goal—Fun For Kidz magazine publishes six issues per 12 months and focuses on the attitude that every one children deserve the best to be a baby for so long as possible.
That’s why it publishes timeless topics like pets, nature, hobbies, science, games, sports, careers, and the rest which may capture a younger audience.
To be published on this magazine, submit a fiction or nonfiction story as much as 650 words with full of life writing and includes an activity that’s each healthful and weird. Be at liberty to submit a couple of story, but make sure to note it in your manuscript. Plus, here’s a pro-tip: to strengthen your probability of selection, attach several high-resolution photos along with your submission.
Fun For Kidz now not accepts email submissions, so read the submission guidelines to learn where to mail your story.
Payment: A minimum of $.05 per word for fiction and nonfiction, plus $5 per high-resolution photo; $10 per poem or puzzle.
10. Balloons Lit. Journal
Accepting of submissions year-round, Balloons Lit. Journal (BLJ) desires to publish quality, unconventional stories for youngsters ages 12 and up from writers of any age.
In its biannual issues, BLJ welcomes three to 5 pieces of poetry in any style and fiction stories as much as 2,000 words. Nonetheless, “Should you even have implausible art and/or photographic work” submit that, too, for extra brownie points. In accordance with the submission guidelines, the editors love nice surprises.
When deciding which piece to submit, ensure your story, irrespective of how complex and philosophical, can enlighten and amaze young minds. BLJ isn’t a theme-based journal, so deal with penning a submission that’s surprising, humorous, daring, unique, layered, educational and more.
Include a canopy letter with a temporary bio introducing yourself and your background. All submissions to BLJ should be emailed to (email protected).
Payment: One print copy.
11. Smarty Pants
Smarty Pants Magazine for Kids is a publication that “strives to thrill, educate and entertain children from every walk-of-life.”
There’s no specified age range within the submission guidelines, but writers should submit a children’s story that’s kid-friendly, violence-free, fun and clever and as much as 800 words. In case your story’s theme is seasonal, remember to submit your story three months before the occasion.
When you’ve edited and perfected your kids’s story, email (email protected) and paste it within the body of the e-mail or a Word or Google Doc.
Payment: $15 for brief stories.
12. The School Magazine
Australia’s The School Magazine publishes short stories, articles, plays, poems and activities which have literary and academic merit for teenagers between 8 and 12. Undergo any of its magazines: Countdown, Blast Off, Orbit or Touchdown.
Its writer guidelines say readers “respond well to texts that delight, intrigue, challenge and encourage them.” Since The School Magazine’s target market is exploring their identities and craves insights into the world around them, you’ll do well with a story that reflects the multicultural, diverse society the magazines attempt to exhibit.
Irrespective of in the event you submit a fiction story, poetry, an article or a play, writing needs to be energetic and suspenseful with credible characters. Word counts for accepted categories range from 800 to 2,000 words—make sure to use those words on a fresh angle fairly than a preachy theme.
To submit, scroll up on the contribute page, then click “Contribute” and fill out the generated fields.
Payment: The School Magazine pays on publication, plus a repeat fee if a bit is reused in a print version of the magazine.
13. Clubhouse
Focus on the Family Clubhouse magazine (Clubhouse for brief) reaches greater than 80,000 young readers and fogeys around the globe—all of who turn to the magazine to read adventurous and humorous stories that provide “Scriptural or moral insight.”
For teenagers ages 8-12, write fiction (500 to 2,000 words) or nonfiction (400-500 or 800-1,000 words) fast-paced stories which can be exciting yet healthful, plus fresh and inventive and have well-developed characters the identical age because the magazine’s target market.
Your fiction stories needs to be descriptive and fascinating, or unique and interesting for nonfiction stories, articles and other materials. Should you submit a nonfiction article, remember it will need to have a Christian angle, though not an overbearing one. As for fiction stories, “they needs to be built on a foundation of Christian beliefs and family values.”
Read the submission guidelines to learn the form of stories Clubhouse seeks, like mystery or sci-fi, and what’s going to get you axed from the shortlist.
Payment: Between $.15 and $.25 per word; $200 and up for feature-length fiction stories; $150 and up for nonfiction pieces.
14. Zizzle
“We search for stories that can surprise, move and amuse each young and older imaginative minds,” writes Zizzle Literary magazine’s submission guidelines. An anthology book series that brings parents and children together to foster a love of reading, Zizzle publishes literary fiction that fascinates kids from age 12 and up.
Your fiction story must have a powerful voice and dive deep into themes of meaning and morality that evolve naturally. While Zizzle editors embrace “fresh perspectives on the nuanced joys and tensions in kids’ day by day lives and imaginations,” they welcome untraditional storytelling plus tastefully humorous stories.
Flash fiction children’s stories needs to be 500 to 1,200 words and a couple of,000 to 4,500 words for brief stories. Before you submit, note Zizzle requires a $3 submission fee.
Payment: $100 for flash stories; $250 for brief stories.
Note: Once we checked Zizzle for updates, their website was down so it’s unclear in the event that they’re still around.
15. Youth Imagination
On the twenty first of every month, Silver Pen Publishing publishes a brand new series with children’s and YA stories from these genres: fiction, modern, urban or classical fantasy, sci-fi, slipstream, literary, action-adventure and suspense.
Should you’re a lengthy author, you’ll love this word-limit: 20,000! For the short story category, submit a story of 1,000 to eight,000 words; not more than 999 for flash fiction. To make the cut, write a well-written story, and deal with technique, voice, characterization and language — that can all play a component within the editors’ decision to simply accept and publish your story.
“Amaze us along with your writing, use of language, sense of story, and memorable characters,” writes the guidelines. The form of story they won’t be amazed by, nevertheless, is fan fiction, or one which possesses cliche elements.
Submit your story via Submittable.
Payment: $15 per story.
Note: Youth Imagination closed to submissions in December 2022 and didn’t re-open in 2023.
We wish you the very best as you submit your kids’s and YA stories! It would feel uncomfortable at first—or at all times—nevertheless it’s all a part of the journey of being a greater, stronger author.
That is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to make sure they’re useful for our readers.
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