Marketing Your Writing for Terrific Teenagers
by Glynis Belec

"Don't Preach! We don't publish anything that sounds like it is written from an adult point of view," an associate editor for a teen magazine recently advised.

Writing for the teenage market can be both challenging and inspiring but, like that editor advised, don't condescend. Nothing turns teens off more than overt or even implied preaching.

Teen magazines are especially interested in receiving first person, true stories about relationships, friendships, boy-girl break-ups and make-ups. They are also interested in more edgy "overcoming" stories on issues that affect their teen readers—cutting, Internet bullying and dating abuse.

Stories should have a good story hook. Readers want to be inspired, not just to read about a girl who is a do-gooder or a high achiever. Strive for a voice that doesn't conflict with the teen-talking-to-another-teen feel. Also, true stories may or may not have a faith element. Often teen magazines are inspirational, but not religious magazines.

The teen market, theoretically, means readers of 12-16 years although they can be from 10 to 15 years, depending upon the publication. When writing for teens remember that youth of today struggle with many issues.

Serious books, articles and stories dealing with more complex themes relatively unheard of in junior fiction a few years ago are of great interest for the teen market today—teen heroes who strive to understand themselves and others, the universe, ecology, abuse, God, parents, relationships, weapons in schools, poverty, divorce, grief and more. Check out the newspapers. What's in the news? Teens are dealing with it.

Celeste Perrino-Walker, Editor, Listen Magazine, tells me that they are currently accepting manuscripts. "Our needs vary depending on what we receive in submissions, but we can always use profiles on teens and organizations who are making a positive impact in their communities particularly in the areas of drug and alcohol prevention. Perrino-Walker says, "We recently made a switch from fiction to true stories so at the moment we are low on true stories."

Fun for Kidz Magazine contact person, Marilyn Edwards, invites potential writers to visit the magazine's website (funforkidz.com). A current themes list is available along with detailed guidelines for Fun for Kidz and their two other magazines—Boys Quest and Hopscotch.

Most of the teen markets I contacted stressed the need for the SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope.) Fun for Kidz also appreciates a cover letter and a word count.

Carol Duerkson from With Magazine cites lack of creativity and not following themes as outlined in their guidelines as one of the biggest mistakes writers make when sending manuscripts. With Magazine is a Mennonite/Brethren magazine and is described as a magazine for radical Christian youth. "We need good Christmas stories; true, powerful stories or fiction that reads as well as truth. Write a story from a teen's perspective."

Focus on the Family's Breakaway Magazine is currently accepting manuscripts. They particularly have a need for drama and real life stories that feature ordinary people in extraordinary positions or up against the odds. They want to hear about everyday Christian teen guys doing great things.

Andrea Gutierrez, former Editorial Assistant at Breakaway, noted Breakaway prefers completed manuscripts but queries are acceptable, too. When I asked Gutierrez her opinion on common mistakes writers make she pointed out that blatant preaching and poor research on articles and for stories remain an issue. Sally Stuart's Christian Writers' Market Guide under the market listing for Breakaway includes the following interesting tip: "Most open to non-typical, historical, and biblical fiction. Need strong lead. Brevity and levity a must. Have a teen guy or two read it. Make sure the language is up to date, but not overly hip."

The brevity and levity comment seems to be a common appeal to many editors of teen magazines I am discovering.

Editors may not always know exactly what it is they are looking for in an article or story but they are always on the lookout for the unique, the daring, the courageous. If writing for teens interests you, check out some of the details on the following markets:

1. Breakaway Magazine for Teen Boys

a) Guidelines: http://www.breakawaymag.com/writersguidelines.cfm

b) Preferred Method of Communication: e-mail or postal mail to:

Michael Ross, Editor
8605 Explorer Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO, US 80920

c) Current Needs: drama or real-life stories.

d) Queries or Completed Manuscript? Prefers completed manuscripts, but queries are acceptable, too

e) Guidelines and Sample copies: Free guidelines and copy for $1.50 (US) & 9x12 SASE

a) Contact: Carol Duerksen

b) Preferred Method of Communication postal mail with SASE to:

WITH Magazine
Box 347,
Newton, KS, US 67114

c) Current Needs: Request themes list

d) Queries or Completed Manuscript? Complete manuscripts

e) Guidelines and Sample copies: Available with large SASE with $1.50 US postage for sample issue

a) Guidelines: www.funforkidzmagazines.com

b) Contact: Marilyn Edwards

c) Preferred Method of Communication: regular mail to

Fun For Kidz
P.O. Box 227
Bluffton, OH 45817

d) Current Needs: Check out guidelinelines on the website www.funforkidz.com;

e) Queries or Completed Manuscript? Completed manuscript

f) Guidelines and Sample copies: Single copies are $5. Free guidelines and an open theme list

a) Guidelines: http://www.listenmagazine.org/article.php?id=17

b) Contact: Celeste Perrino-Walker, Editor

Listen Magazine
55 West Oak Ridge Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21740

c) Preferred Method of Communication: Here is some sage advice from Perrino-Walker regarding e-mail—

"I don't prefer it, but email is my choice. I would just caution writers to be careful about emailing excessively. I receive emails from writers wanting to know where their check is, just sending a note to say 'hi' and wondering if we have any particular needs, and emails just to say "thanks" for a response. Email quickly clutters up an inbox so I would say if it's not essential it's best left unsaid. And writers looking for work are better off not inquiring about needs, but presenting some ideas to show they have at least had the initiative to think of some possibilities on their own."

d) Current Needs: They are looking for profiles on teens. Right now their biggest need is for true stories about teens. Throughout the year their needs vary depending on what they receive in submissions.

e) Queries or Completed Manuscript? Perrino-Walker responded, "I prefer completed manuscripts. However, having been a professional writer myself, I know that it's more expedient (and less time consuming therefore more cost effective) for the writer to query. I accept either. With a query at least I can tell you if your idea is something we would publish.

f) Guidelines and Sample copies: If a writer sends a request and a check for $3 to Listen Magazine, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740 they will send a sample magazine with editorial guidelines attached.