25 literary journals and magazines that publish youth writers and artists

I can’t count the number of times I have seen someone put a call out looking for places where high school aged, young adult, and youth writers can send their work, so I finally pulled together a list that I hope will prove to be a supportive resource for the young people in your life—or for you, young person.

Here are 25 journals and lit mags that are publishing (almost exclusively) youth writing and visual art, many of which are youth-led.

I was published in a journal for high schoolers when I was 15 and it was really, really awesome. It’s amazing and empowering and important that these opportunities exist, and I hope this list proves to be a resource that enables more people to know about them.

There are so many more youth-centered and especially youth-run lit mags now than there where when I was a young writer. It’s worth celebrating.

Happy writing, happy submitting, happy publishing!

ad infinitum lit | “A literary and arts magazine by the youth, for the youth” accepting fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art.

Anemone Magazine | Youth-led, youth-centered. Accepting fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art from submitters age 11-25.

Apotheca Journal | A journal “seeking to encourage youth participation in the arts around the world”. Short stories, poetry, creative nonfiction, art, and photography accepted from submitters age 14-22.

Block Print | A Connecticut-based youth writing zine/project in collaboration with Writer’s Block Ink.

Blue Crystal Literary Magazine | A UK-based mag with a vision of supporting “young, fresh minds”. Accepting poetry, flash, short stories, visual art, and longer form works (plays, novellas).

Blue Marble Review | A quarterly online lit journal accepting poetry, fiction, personal essays, travel stories, opinion pieces, and visual art from submitters age 13-22.

Bluegills Literary Magazine | “A youth-run creative initiative aimed at developing a space for writers, poets and artists to share ideas and broaden their horizons.” Accepting poetry, essays, short stories, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction.

The Chai Magazine | “A youth-run creative magazine brewed with the spirit of storytelling, art, and expression.” Poetry, prose, and visual art accepted.

The Cloudscent Journal | A youth-run journal accepting creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and digital art from submitters age 12-25.

DePaul’s Blue Book: Best American High School Writing | An annual anthology of outstanding high school creative writing. A pretty cool thing to be published in.

The Echo Teen Art & Lit Mag | A “nonprofit literary magazine made by teens for teens” established in 2011 at a Tampa, Florida high school. Ages 13-19.

Élan | An international student literary magazine produced by high school students at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. Accepting submissions from age 14-18.

Ember: A Journal of Luminous Things | A literary journal accepting a wide age range with preference (and strong encouragement) given to submitters age 10-18. Payment provided!

The Incandescent Review | A teen-run “nonprofit magazine & blog dedicated to illuminating youth voices”. Accepting submissions from ages 13-24.

The Interlochen Review | An online review produced by the high school students at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Submissions of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, hybrid, music, songs, scripts, screenplays, interviews, and visual art open to high schoolers around the world.

Levitate | The Literary and Art Magazine of the Chicago High School for the Arts, accepting poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and visual art.

The Looking Glass Review | “By young creatives, for young creatives.” Accepting submissions from ages 12-20.

The Louisville Review | They have a section of their publication called Cornerstone that publishes writing from grades K-12.

Marmalade Lit | An international youth magazine publishing poetry, prose, and translation(!). Accepting submissions from ages 12-22.

No Teen Stands Alone | A literary magazine dedicated to teen mental health. Accepting poetry, short stories, personal essays, and visual art from grades 9-12 that relate to mental health.

Polyphony Lit | They’ve been around for over 20 years (I was published here when I was in high school). Tons of great resources here. Ages 14-18.

Raiya Magazine | Brand new, established in 2025. Also home to a blog and a digital art gallery called The Atrium.

Reading into Culture | A young UK- and Germany-based political left-wing literary magazine and podcast publishing creative writing, poetry, essays, and articles.

The Wanderlust Archives | A brand new “really informal youth zine”. Seems teen-centered.

Whirligig Magazine | Publishing work for and by kids age 7-11. They take fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, as well as puzzles, comic strips, coloring pages, and more!

I don’t ever want to gatekeep what I share in my Substack, but these postings do take time to compile—sometimes quite a bit of time—so I decided that this may be a good alternative: if you would like to “tip” me for any of the time it took to write this, if you felt moved or supported by it, you can buy me a coffee <3

I’ve also very recently turned on paid subscriptions because you people with your sweet, generous hearts were pledging paid memberships even though there is no paywall! So, a recurring $5 donation is also an option.