That said, with the exception of a handful of books written by teenage authors, most YA literature is written by adults. So, if we really want to get an authentic perspective on what teens are experiencing right now, shouldn’t we be reading stories written by them? Fortunately, there are plenty of teen-authored literary journals that provide a steady stream of young adult voices throughout the year. I first discovered the world of literary journals that showcase only teen writers when I became a board member of #TeenWritersProject, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing an inclusive platform for fostering creativity and innovation for high school-aged writers. One of my responsibilities is serving as an editor of the #TeenWritersProject Quarterly Lit Zine. Through that work, I’ve come to more fully appreciate why all of us should be reading teen-authored literary journals. To get a little more perspective, I talked to #TeenWritersProject founder delmetria millener about how she thinks teen-authored literary journals impact both teens and adults. millener founded #TeenWritersProject Quarterly Lit Zine because she recognized that teenagers are the best “documentarists of our times,” but needed a storytelling space of their own — away from the noise of adult voices — that would “allow them to be their honest, in-your-face selves.” She has seen this platform help teen writers to cultivate disciplined writing habits and gain the confidence to look for agents and seek additional opportunities to publish their work. One of the most important parts of millener’s vision was to include teenagers on the editorial staff. “I’ve always thought it upside-down that other teen creatives like teen musicians could work part-time in the church choir or join a band,” she told me, “but teen writers had to work in fast food or retail.” She wants to not only show aspiring writers that there are viable career options in the publishing industry, but also give them the opportunity to learn about and explore these kinds of opportunities now — before all the responsibilities of adulthood catch up to them and encroach on their time. While #TeenWritersProject Quarterly Lit Zine regularly reaches and inspires teenage readers, millener believes that we adults can learn a lot about the rising generation by reading teen-authored literary journals. “Teens are sending messages through their writing about the state of their mental and emotional health, metaphorically, analogously, and poetically.” She believes teens want nothing more than to reach adults through their writing, and she encourages us to take a moment to listen to them — an opportunity she and I seize regularly. In fact, we’ve often discussed how these teens’ stories leave us feeling a powerful range of emotions — moved to tears, brought to laughter, and everything in between. So, whether you’re a teenage writer looking to submit, a teenage reader searching for work by your peers, or an adult who wants to learn about and support the next generation of writers, check out these teen-authored literary journals that exclusively showcase work by young people between the ages of 13 and 19. By reading teen-authored literary journals, you’re not only getting an opportunity to laugh, cry, listen, and remember, but you’re also supporting the very voices who are continuing the legacy of meaningful, well-told stories we bookworms can’t live without. To find more literary journal suggestions, including online publications featuring works by writers of all ages, literary magazines published by libraries, and more, check out Book Riot’s literary magazine archive.
