Writing & Research Tools
FHS Writing & Research Resources
In addition to the other pages in this section, you may find some resources to support you in your writing and research tasks below.
Teen Writing Platforms
Write the World
This is a site committed to the improvement of the writing of high school students via a global online community and guided interactive process. Young writers are encouraged to find their voices in writing, polish their editing, and publish on an international platform. Write the World also aids students in developing tools that will aid them in writing and communication for success in school, career, and life. It is geared toward high school use for poetry slams and writing competitions. (AASL, 2017)
Wattpad
The largest online reading platform, Wattpad is considered the YouTube of writing because it allows authors to share their work with the world. Well-known writers such as Margaret Atwood and Cory Doctorow even post their work here. Teens can find and follow their favorite authors and release their own works as serial novels. Access to an audience in the millions — the site has 25 million members, and that number is always growing — has led to big-name book deals for successful Wattpad authors.
Teen Ink
Supported by the nonprofit Young Authors Foundation, Teen Ink is the twenty-five-year veteran in the fostering-teen-writers game. The magazine, book series, and website are devoted entirely to writing, art, and photos by teens. It’s also a go-to for teens interested in writing and publishing nonfiction essays and articles as well as poetry.
Teen Ink has no staff writers; they depend completely on students to send writing, art, and photos. There is no charge to submit or be published. All submissions will be considered for publication in Teen Ink’s print magazine and website. Go to http://www.teenink.com/submit#submitworkTabs
One Teen Story
Each issue in this nonprofit’s monthly magazine features one short story about the teen experience, usually from a known young adult author. Teens drawn to the short story form can also submit their work for consideration in an annual issue that features a story written by a teen for teens.
NaNoWriMo
Short for National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo is an awesome thirty-day adventure for any writer, but teens might be especially inclined to join. In November, would-be novelists the world over attempt to write a 50,000-word (or more, if they can do it) book in thirty days. For teens with pressing homework demands, the Young Writers Program might be a better fit, as it allows authors to set their own word-count goal to meet before the month is out.
Tumblr
The blogging platform is of course a wonderful place for self-expression, but it also doubles as a go-to for young literary enthusiasts, bookworms, and those in need of some writing motivation. Some to check out: The Writer’s Helpers (for advice on everything from grammar to plot), Writing Prompts (writing prompts presented in visual ways by a ninth-grade teacher), and John Green’s Tumblr (the Tumblr account of YA author John Green, which is fun and inspiring).