Submitting Written Work

• Writing may be edited and we reserve the right to publish our edited version without your prior approval. We may choose not to print your name on sensitive personal articles, and in rare cases we may change names to protect individuals’ identities.

• Most written pieces contain fewer than 2,500 words. (Novels, however, can be from 2,500 to 100,000 words.)

• Be sure to also read our general guidelines before you submit.

• Plagiarism. Teen Ink has a no-tolerance policy for plagiarism. We check the originality of all work through WriteCheck.

• Artificial Intelligence. AI-generated writing will not be accepted on Teen Ink. All submissions must be created by you, not an algorithm.
  
  
• Do not include last names, names of schools and names of cities/towns in your submission.

• Plagiarism. TeenInk has a no-tolerance policy for plagiarism. We check the originality of all published work through WriteCheck.

• If you experience difficulties pasting your article, make sure your browser is updated, or try using a different web browser.

If you have any questions about submitting written work, e-mail us at editor@teenink.com.

Submitting Art and Photos

• Submit only your original work. Do not submit a version of someone else’s work or a drawing of a copyrighted character (like Spider-Man, Wolverine, or anime characters).

• Artificial Intelligence. AI-generated artwork will not be accepted on Teen Ink. All submissions must be created by you, not an algorithm.

• Be sure to also read our general guidelines before you submit.

If you have any questions about submitting artwork or photos, e-mail us at editor@teenink.com.

Submitting Book Reviews

• State the title and author of the book. Mention if this book is a sequel or part of a series. Remember that book titles are always italicized!

• Give a brief summary of the book. The best book reviews don’t explain the entire plot or give away any spoilers (i.e., don’t tell your reader how the book ends). Instead, give a brief summary of the plot and focus on other important aspects of the book (theme, characters, writing style, genre, etc.). Use short quotes as examples.

• The bulk of the review should tell the reader what you liked or disliked about the book. Offer specific details. For example: “I loved the main character, Stella, because she was spunky and defied the stereotypes typically placed on female teens.” Or, “The author’s use of imagery was so masterful, I felt like I was deep in the African jungle along with the characters.” Or, “The dialogue between the mother and son wasn’t believable. This made it hard for me to invest in the characters and care about what happened to them.”

• Recommend (or don’t recommend) the book to certain readers. Is the book more suitable to older teens? Would sci-fi fans be interested in this book? It’s helpful for readers to think about books in the context of other books or genres. For example, you could write: “Readers who devoured the Harry Potter series will love the magic in this book too.” Or, “Due to the gory fight scenes between the Vikings, this book is better suited for more mature teens.”

• Remember that it’s okay to have a strong opinion! Avoid starting sentences with “I think,” I believe,” or “in my opinion.” You are writing a review, so it’s already evident that you’re sharing your opinion. Be confident, have fun, and know that others want to hear what you have to say!

• Include a short, concluding paragraph. that summarizes the main points of your review as well as your overall opinion of the book.

• Don’t forget to proofread before submitting!

• Have fun! We hope reviewing books brings you joy. If you ever find yourself feeling burned out or frustrated, take a break. Don’t think of writing a review as an assignment; imagine you are writing to a best friend who loves to read as much as you do!

  Categorize your submission accordingly!

  Type of Work: Article

  Section: Reviews

  Type of Review: Book Review (books that have already been published), Advanced Reader Copy (pre-published book)

If you have any questions about submitting book reviews, e-mail us at editor@teenink.com.

Submitting Art and Photos

• Submit only your original work. Do not submit a version of someone else’s work or a drawing of a copyrighted character (like Spider-Man, Wolverine, or anime characters).

• Be sure to also read our general guidelines before you submit.

If you have any questions about submitting book reviews, e-mail us at editor@teenink.com.

Submitting Videos

• Videos should be no longer than six minutes.

• At this time, we are only accepting videos that have already been uploaded to YouTube.

• Videos must be original contributions. No copyrighted material.

• You must be 13 to 19 years old to submit videos to TeenInk.com.

If you have any questions about submitting videos, e-mail us at editor@teenink.com.

Frequently Asked Questions About Submissions

How will I know if I get published?

If you are published on TeenInk.com, you’ll receive an e-mail with a link to your work. If your work is published in our print magazine, you’ll receive another e-mail and we will mail you a free copy of the issue containing your work.

Who decides what gets published?

Our professional editorial staff reviews thousands of submissions each year. Every submission is read by at least one editor, and we pick the best of the best for each section of Teen Ink’s print magazine.

I submitted something a few months ago, but it hasn’t been published in your print magazine. Should I do anything?

Because of the number of submissions we receive each year, we can only print a fraction of them in our magazine. Of course, submitting more of your work increases your chances of getting published in our print magazine, so we encourage you to send us as many articles as you can!

Are some kinds of submissions more likely to get published in your print magazine?

We look for a variety of work by authors and artists from around the country (and across the world). Some sections, like Reviews, Environment, Letters to the Editor, and Community Service, have considerably fewer submissions, so there is less competition to get published. Poetry has the most submissions. Most published pieces have fewer than 2,500 words.

We have a team that looks at every single submission and makes collective decisions about what is published. The decision is not up to one person alone. At a high level, here are a few things we look out for as we determine which submissions are the most appropriate for our publication.

• Quality of writing/art. Teen Ink is different than blogs and other social media platforms where teens can post with poor grammar, incomplete sentences, etc. We publish quality writing...and we get thousands of beautifully written submissions each month. Teens become better readers and writers when they explore Teen Ink. Teachers trust that our content can be used in their curriculum as examples of good writing...and students feel incredibly proud to be selected for Teen Ink because their writing does have to meet a certain standard.

• Voice. Our content is created by teens for teens....so articles and art should appeal to a teen audience. We love publishing diverse teen perspectives. We publish stories and art by teens from the U.S., China, Pakistan, Nepal, Canada, Mexico, Columbia, Australia...just to name a few! It's amazing how diverse these perspectives can be and yet these teens all share something in common: they are figuring out their identities and their place in the world. They are developing resilience as they face the challenges of adolescence, and having a community where teens are able to share these experiences can be a crucial tool in navigating this time in their lives.

• Clarity, Timeliness of topic/issues, and Creativity are also things that factor into our decision-making. Just so you know, you will be notified if your work has been published in our magazine. In the meantime, we hope you feel proud that your work is being showcased on teenink.com. Share the good news with friends, teachers, and family ... and keep submitting!

What are Teen Ink’s editorial categories? Do I have to pick a category?

Yes. Please take a look at the sections and subsections listed on this site. When you submit, you will be asked to select a category.

What kind of artwork can I submit?

You can submit high quality photographs, scans, or digital copies of any kind of artwork, including oil and watercolor paintings, sculpture, collage, and computer graphics.

What if I cannot paste my article in the box provided?

Please try upgrading to the latest version of Internet Explorer or using a different web browser.

Who will see my work if it is published?

Hundreds of thousands of teens, teachers, and libraries across the country and around the world receive Teen Ink magazine. And, of course, anyone could see your writing and artwork on TeenInk.com.