Writing and audience are intertwined. Yet too often student writing never leaves the classroom. When writing is read only by students' teachers and/or peers, they don't benefit from real-world reception and impact. Elevating student voice beyond the classroom can be invigorating, and by writing more publicly, students learn how to tune each piece to its readers. Publishing student writing and letting it be received and discussed by authentic audiences provides students with valuable feedback. They also get the pride of knowing that what they've produced is being enjoyed. We've curated some of the best sites for student publishing. These platforms give students a real-world outlet for their writing as well as opportunities to engage with the writing of students from all over the globe. Some sites let students participate in positive communities and discussions, others task students with sharing their stories or projects, and some even have junior reporter or media creator programs. No matter the tool, each motivates students and provides them with authentic, interest-driven opportunities to connect with real readers.
YA review site gives students a real-world, although ad-driven, outlet
Bottom Line: LitPick is a decent place for YA lovers to discover and discuss books, but the site is in need of a refresh and features a lot of promotion/ads.
Wildly engaging contest turns students into novelists in 30 days
Bottom Line: A thoughtful adaptation of the famous and fun grown-up novel writing contest, NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program is brimming with advice and encouragement as well as classroom support.
Civic discussion site encourages media literacy and deep thinking
Bottom Line: This platform features excellent videos students will enjoy discussing, but teachers will need to prep students to make quality contributions.
Play or design text adventures, but creation can get technical
Bottom Line: Text adventures can be a blast to play and make, but the Quest game-making tool, while offering some decent support, can be tough to use effectively without coding experience.
Global community helps young writers write, revise, think, and grow
Bottom Line: With interest-based writing prompts and thoughtful feedback from peers and pros, this is a great tool for writing for authentic audiences.
