Where to submit your stories for kids and young adults

It’s no wonder that children’s books are often included in lists for the most beloved books of all time. Childhood is where many of us learn to love reading and eventually discover that we want to make stories of our own and become writers. Maybe you want to inspire the next generation of writers? Here are some places that are looking for submissions aimed at kids and young adults.

Currently, none require fees and accept simultaneous submissions. As always, read their guidelines carefully and take a look at previous issues to make sure your work is a good fit.

For more great places to submit as well as our best tips on getting published, check out our other lists and resources.

Note: We are a creative writing school and compile these lists for the benefit of our students. Please don’t send us your publishing queries or submissions :). Click on the green links to go to the publication’s website and look for their submissions page.

The Caterpillar, published by our friends over at The Moth, is a quarterly print magazine full of poems, stories and art created by adults for children between the ages of 7 and 11(ish). Send them your flash fiction and up to 6 poems. Allow 4 months for a response.

The Concrete Desert Review is a literary magazine and podcast that is currently looking for stories or poetry for kids between 4 to 10 to be read on their podcast. Send them your stories of up to 1,500 words or up to 5 poems per submission. Audio submissions are also allowed if you wish to be the voice reading your work.

Crow Toes Quarterly is looking for “playfully dark”, intelligent, humorous, descriptive literature written for children ages 8 – 13. This Canadian magazine accepts stories up to 3000 words and poetry (up to 5 poems) for themed issues, published in print and electronically. They pay between CA$25 to 50 for stories depending on length and CA$20 for poems. Allow four months for a response.

Spaceports & Spidersilk is a print magazine for readers from 8 to 80. Their aim is to encourage young readers and are geared more towards science fiction and fantasy stories. Fiction can be up to 5,000 words and poems can be up to 25 lines.

BALLOONS Lit. Journal is a biannual electronic journal of poetry and fiction for young readers from around 12 years onwards. Send them your fiction of up to 2000 words or 3 to 5 poems.

Cricket Media creates 9 magazines for children between 6 months and 14 years. They are open to submissions for fiction and non-fiction and submission guidelines vary by magazine and age group. They do have different themes throughout the year, so be sure to check for information for the magazine that is for the age group you write for. They offer pro payment rates.

Voyage is a weekly online journal aimed at young adults. They publish fiction and narrative nonfiction of up to 6000 words. They also hold periodic contests, such as their first chapter contest. Send in the first chapter of your YA novel until 18 July 2021. First prize is US$3000 and a consult with a literary agent.

Youth Imagination Magazine is a monthly online magazine featuring work by teenaged and adult authors. They’re open to most genres and particularly welcome work that speaks to teen issues such as bullying, drugs, romance, school, and parental and teacher issues and/or that showcases the grit and character of YA protagonists. Submit your stories of between 200 – 20,000 words. They offer token payment.