My creative writing class at Yale is a workshop that requires you to read and critique class member’s creative pieces. This class is truly exciting for me as I have never been in a classroom environment that encourages free, untamed, uncensored creative writing (with the exception of the occasional creative on-demand assignments in my AP English Language class). We have been reading dozens of short stories both student-produced and from renowned authors. Each day, my eyes open just a tiny bit more to the immense world of fiction writing. A common theme in the first cluster of our readings has been gloom, promiscuity, and shame. I love those things just as much as the next person (um.. not so much) but I attempted to turn seemingly depressing prompts into opportunities to make a joke. It really gets your mind going to imagine a conflicting ending to a given prompt.For example, a prompt is: “He has carried aches and pains throughout his days for years. A type of pain that squeezes out his energy and love. This pain is…”You are immediately forced to think of an equally gloomy ending to this story. Yet, you can turn it around and create something unexpected and unique. I suggest you guys to try it. Post your prompts and replies here and see how people respond!
Wow! I am so happy to be your Fiction/Poetry aficionado and blog moderator. I will be posting advice and news pertaining to the poetry and fiction world weekly and responding to all of your questions and ideas. First, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Brittany and I am a junior now senior in high school in South Florida. I have been writing for most of life, beginning with early story scribbles and pseudo-novels in composition notebooks. I love cats, cupcakes, and cultures (not of pathogens, but world cultures. haha). I juggle my life of poetry and school with running my non-profit foundation, A Spring of Hope, www.aspringofhope.org, which, right next to creative writing, is my world. Other than that, I strive to be funny and the best person I can be. Let’s get on with the show…Being a young writer is fairly frustrating. It seems as though the world is unfit for us inexperienced and blooming young authors. Yet, there are hundreds-if not millions- of opportunities for our talents to get recognized and our work to get published. Of course you know of the wonderful publication, Teen Ink, which published my creative non-fiction earlier this year. I encourage all of you to submit your fiction and poetry to Teen Ink. The people who run the publication are so kind and welcoming. Teen Ink is certainly a wonderful place for teens to get their work out there. In addition to Teen Ink, you should check out this website, http://www.newpages.com/npguides/young_authors_guide.htm. It lists dozens of publications that welcome teens. Do not be shy, even if you are unsure of your work. If you love your work, you owe it to it that you try to bring it to the world! Getting published as a teenager can be such a rewarding and beneficial experience. You can learn the process of getting published far before college and your professional writing career begins. Here are a few things you should do after scouting for publications…
1. Write a Cover Letter: A cover letter is a brief biographical statement usually consisting of “Dear Editor, I am a student [other thing you might want to say]. I am submitting [title of work] to be considered for publication. Thank you for your time, [Name]” I learned from a past journalism teacher that cover letters cannot help you, but they certainly can hurt you. Do not try to explain your work or give too much information about yourself. The more concise it is, the better. When submitting your work to a publication, include the cover letter with your work.
2. Purchase the Publication or Look at Archives of the Published Work: It is important you know what sort of work the journal publishes. If you feel that your work really fits their normal batch, the editors will probably prefer your work over another work that seems out of place next to their selected works.
3. Don’t Get Let Down: Some publications are particular and you may receive “rejection” letters from a publication in the mail. Don’t be discouraged. I have gotten the letters, and they are not fun, but I realized that I have many (many) years ahead of me to improve my writing and get published elsewhere. Remember that you took the initiative to get published, and it is time to get back on the horse again.
Good luck submitting!
My creative writing class at Yale is a workshop that requires you to read and critique class member’s creative pieces. This class is truly exciting for me as I have never been in a classroom environment that encourages free, untamed, uncensored creative writing (with the exception of the occasional creative on-demand assignments in my AP English Language class). We have been reading dozens of short stories both student-produced and from renowned authors. Each day, my eyes open just a tiny bit more to the immense world of fiction writing. A common theme in the first cluster of our readings has been gloom, promiscuity, and shame. I love those things just as much as the next person (um.. not so much) but I attempted to turn seemingly depressing prompts into opportunities to make a joke. It really gets your mind going to imagine a conflicting ending to a given prompt.For example, a prompt is: “He has carried aches and pains throughout his days for years. A type of pain that squeezes out his energy and love. This pain is…”You are immediately forced to think of an equally gloomy ending to this story. Yet, you can turn it around and create something unexpected and unique. I suggest you guys to try it. Post your prompts and replies here and see how people respond!