[Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash]
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How do I get started?
A: If you are between 13 and 18 years of age, sign up for an account, fill out all the little info boxes so we know you're real, not a bot, and so we can contact you about publication, events, etc. Pick a username that you would like to see as your anonymous nom de plume, something other than your real name. If you are 12 years of age, you are welcome to join YWP but you will need parental permission for your account to be approved. Teachers may also open accounts and submit work. on behalf of students younger than 12 and those who do not have their own YWP accounts. Once your account is approved, you can begin submitting posts to your own blog, write to the challenges or go your own way and write anything you like, submit photos, art, video, audio. You can also comment on other writers' and artists' work and chat with them on Tiny Writes and in the YWP Book Club. It's a community, and it's really fun!
Q: My question isn't listed here. What do I do?
A. Try Site Help.
Q: I still have questions. Who do I contact?
A. Susan Reid, YWP executive director, (username Reid on the site), by private message; or email [email protected]; or phone (802) 324-9538. We're located at the Karma Bird House, 47 Maple St., Suite 216, Burlington, VT 05401.
Q: Does YWP have rules?
A: Just one, but it's important: Respect. YWP depends on all users to help maintain this site as a community of respect and creativity. Because of the respect YWP users show each other every day, this site is a model of civility. It is respect that lifts YWP above. Occasionally, very rarely, YWP administrators step in to remind users of:
YWP's EDITORIAL DISCRETION POLICY: Young Writers Project strives to create a safe, respectful, positive space for young writers and artists. We encourage free expression, however as a matter of policy and common publishing practice, we exercise editorial discretion and reserve the right to remove from the website any material we deem inappropriate. Such material would include but not be limited to content that encourages intolerance, violence, self-harm and cruelty, and any language that is threatening, bullying or uncivil.
Q: What if users ignore the policy?
A: As part of joining Young Writers Project, users agree to the following statement which is included in the signup form: "We have one simple rule for behavior on this site: Be respectful. That applies to all of your posts and interactions on this site. We trust you. Be safe. Continue to make this site an exemplar of civil expression on the web."
All young people from anywhere are welcome to take part in YWP. We encourage, within the bounds of respect and civility, the active exchange of ideas and viewpoints. Posts that stray from the basic tenet of respect will be removed from the site. The writer's account may be suspended temporarily, or permanently, at YWP's discretion. But above all, we trust you to keep YWP a respectful, positive place!
Q: Who manages the site?
A: Susan Reid, YWP executive director, Anna Forsythe, publications coordinator, and William Anderson, editor/administrator, and YWP mentors, volunteers, and community leaders.
Q: What is YWP's mission?
A: YWP's mission is to inspire, mentor, publish, and promote young writers and artists.
Q: Who are the YWP Mentors?
A: YWP Mentors are young writers and artists who are invited to take on this role because of their positive impact on YWP, the site, and their peers. They set the positive tone on the site, comment on writing and art submitted to the site, suggest website improvements, create writing challenges and new projects for YWP! See more here.
Q: What happens when I graduate from high school?
A: STAY! Or at least we hope you will stay on the site, sharing work, giving people comments, sharing your audio and images. We ask only that you contact us and we will make you a YWP ALUMNI. This will allow you to work more closely with users. Some YWP Alumni become paid advisors with us.
Q: How does my work get chosen to be featured or published elsewhere?
A: YWP staff read every single post on this site. That's a lot. We are looking for posts that have energy and are "fresh" -- meaning they have a new idea or perspective or approach. We don't like clichés. We are looking, too, for a strong voice, that is, that you are confident and strong in your writing, that you understand what it is you are trying to say. We are looking for clarity and power. We are looking for posts that move us, make us think, make us wonder.
The same process that is involved in the selection of written work for publication or Daily Read is involved in selection of photos and art for publication and feature on the front page. We feature a NEW piece of art and a NEW Daily Read on the front page of the site every weekday. NOTE: If you have a photo or a piece of scanned art you think is really good, ALSO upload a high-resolution copy via the ATTACHMENT field near the bottom of your blog form.
For all users we highlight work here:
- Daily Read: Each day we highlight one new piece of writing on the front page of this site. We also feature a new photo or piece of art at the top.
- The Voice: Our premiere monthly digital magazine.
- Annual Anthology! A beautiful printed book of the best writing, art and photography -- every year! Get your copy of the latest here! YWP reviews about 10,000 submissions each year, and from those, selects a small number for the anthology -- 75-80 pieces of writing, and 25-30 pieces of art.
Q: This is Young WRITERS Project. Can I also submit photos and art?
A: YES, PLEASE! This is a community that emphasizes words AND images. And images often can add a new dimension to your post. So by all means share a photo that you think works with your piece and you don't have to be too literal about it. Check out The Voice for examples of photos and words that pair well.
- YWP's blog
- Sprout
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