WELCOME TEACHERS!
We hope you find everything you need right here!
OUR FREE, ONLINE COMMUNITY IS FOR YOUTH, AGES 12-18, FROM ANYWHERE
USING THE YWP SITE: Many of our young writers and artists tell us they first learned about Young Writers Project from their teachers. Thank you, teachers! We deeply appreciate it when you introduce students to the joys and rewards of YWP, our free, supportive, online community of teen creators.
TEACHERS DO NOT REQUIRE A YWP ACCOUNT: Teachers no longer need an account on our website to use YWP’s creative resources, challenges, and project ideas. YWP is free for teachers to use for inspiration and lesson planning. You can also view the most recent writing and visual art posts, and explore all the site’s features without an account. Our online accounts are intended for the YWP community – our teen writers and visual artists.
*New to YWP this year: Students of all ages using school accounts, networks, devices, or on school time must have a parental permission form completed to ensure their school is in compliance with the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act. We respectfully ask that teachers collect and retain the permission forms. YWP has not, in the past, required permission forms from students in the 13-18 age range, and we apologize if this regulation causes inconvenience.
FOR ALL YOUTH WHO ARE AGES 13-18: Youth in this age group are always welcome to join the YWP community by signing up for an account with their own personal email, rather than a school email, and submitting their writing and visual art independently. No parental permission form is required in this case. The site is intended specifically for their age group.
SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES: We have found the most successful outcomes for young people – and the overall YWP community – happen when the individual chooses to join YWP on their own terms. They’re more likely to benefit from YWP and connect with other young writers and artists in the community if it’s their decision to participate. As a member of this creative, online community, they will have their own blogs and access to interactive forums, contests, and publication opportunities. We are grateful to teachers who tell their students about YWP!
FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE 12 or TURNING 12 THIS SCHOOL YEAR: These students may open their own accounts on youngwritersproject.org, with parental permission. We ask that teachers administer and manage the parental permission forms.
FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS: Students who are 11 and younger for the duration of the current school year cannot open their own YWP accounts. However, teachers may submit writing and visual art on their behalf to give the students a chance to experience the affirmation of being published. Their work will be considered for publication in YWP’s monthly digital magazine, The Voice, our annual anthology, and with our Vermont media partners – VTDigger.org, the Rutland Herald, and the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus. Their submissions will not appear in the Writing and Visual Art sections of the website, which is designated for youth ages 12 to 18, but it will be reviewed by YWP staff for publication purposes. YWP will get in touch with teachers to let them know when their students’ work is being published.
HOW TO SUBMIT ON STUDENTS' BEHALF: Go to the Teachers’ Submission Form. Please complete a separate content form for each student. The form includes space to paste in writing or upload photos. Please provide complete and accurate information. This allows our staff to identify the author or artist for publication in our digital magazine, anthology, and with our media partners.
PERMISSION FORM: Even if teachers are posting work on their students' behalf, students must have a parent or guardian approve their participation with YWP. *New to YWP this year: Students of all ages using school accounts, networks, devices, or on school time must have a parental permission form completed to ensure their school is in compliance with the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Teachers are asked to manage and keep these forms. Thank you!
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR STUDENTS
CHALLENGES: You will find all our writing and visual art challenges in one central “Challenges” page: Weekly Challenges, Opinion & Commentary, Great Artists, and Great Poets. Students with YWP accounts can click “Respond” on any challenge and their submission will link to that challenge. They’re also free to post “freestyle” writing or visual art that is not attached to a challenge by clicking the "Create" button. Teachers may download a PDF of the Weekly Challenges list for Sept-Dec 2023 here.
CONTESTS: Encourage students, ages 12-18, to submit writing and visual art to our current Fall Contest. They must have YWP accounts to enter the contest (sign up is free). Cash prizes and publication. Deadline: Oct. 15, 2023.
PUBLICATIONS: Every year, YWP publishes hundreds of pieces of exceptional writing and visual art in our annual anthology; our monthly digital magazine, The Voice; and with our Vermont media partners, VTDigger.org, Rutland Herald, and Barre-Montpelier Times Argus.
ACCESSIBILITY: YWP strives to be accessible to any young writer or artist who wants to join us, and we have made improvements to the accessibility and usability of our website, including:
- Clear and contrast-free typeface, fonts, and colors;
- Alternative text and easier navigation for users who have vision impairment;
- Easier site navigation from menu button, three horizontal lines, top left.
Please let us know if you have problems or questions about the accessibility features. Contact Susan Reid, YWP executive director: sreid@youngwritersproject.org
HELPFUL SITE LINKS:
CONTACT US
Email works best! Contact Susan Reid, YWP executive director: sreid@youngwritersproject.org; (802) 324-9538