Today, many authors mentor emerging writers through critique groups and chat forums, but what about our youngest generation of aspiring writers? Shouldn’t we make an effort to encourage them? Thankfully, several print and ezine markets have sprung up for just that purpose.
Magic Dragon Magazine publishes stories and artwork for grade school children. Their mission statement says, “Our conviction is that encouraging children in the elementary grades to be unafraid to express their creative ideas will increase their chances of becoming adults unafraid to apply a creative approach to all aspects of their lives and work.” Many educators agree, reading and writing are the building blocks of a successful school career as well as the foundations needed to succeed in the multi-tasking world that lies ahead. Magic Dragon and similar magazines provide a new way to instill the love of literature in children.
But apart from the educational benefits, having a story or picture published can build self confidence. Can you remember the pride and excitement of your first publication? How much more exciting would that be for a child?
Appollo’s Lyre, a well-respected fiction magazine, has recently expanded to include Junior Muses. On this forum, kids can publish stories and get feedback from established writers. With school budgets being cut, arts programs are nearly a thing of the past. These forums are invaluable resources for kids who otherwise would have no outlet or feedback for their creativity.
Not every kid is going to be an author, but writing fiction isn’t the only way to get kids motivated about literature. Musing Our Children is a site for kids to post reviews of their favorite books. With resources for parents and teachers, this forum offers a new way for adults to encourage and interact with children.
My eight-year-old daughter recently wrote a review for Musing Our Children. Her excitement at seeing her words in print was infectious. She read her review at school and showed the website to all her friends. On her next report card, her teacher commented, “Genevieve continues to exhibit a positive attitude towards school. Towards the end of the marking period, she displayed great enthusiasm towards reading and writing. I think the on-line book review really sparked her motivation."
Of course, kids aren’t going to find these sites themselves. They need gentle nudges from parents and teachers. If you have a child in your life, consider introducing him or her to a world of creativity through the written word. When she sees her name in print, her eyes will come alive and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are setting her on a path for success.
Visit the Kids Publishing Links page to find places for kids to publish art, fiction, nonfiction, poetry and book reviews.
