Although you may not see it, young adults are getting their work published all the time. For example, this newspaper, the Academic Advocate, is where kids can write about topics that they want instead of having a graded prompt given to them in class. Not only is literature by teenagers getting published in the newspaper, but also into books as well. Christopher Paolini wrote Eragon at age fifteen, and then the sequel Eldest. His books became bestsellers! However, he is not alone: Nancy Yi Fan wrote Swordbird when she was 13.

These authors have gotten their ideas published in book form, but the list of teen writers doesn’t end. Taren McGray, a fellow Academic Advocate writer, writes poetry and stories in her spare time. I asked her a few questions about her writing:

So what is your favorite genre to write about? Fiction, because you can make up things and you don’t have to write all fact. I like fantasy, too.

Do you write with themes from your life? Sometimes, yeah.

When you write poetry, what do you use as inspiration? I use what’s going on around me and my imagination.

Do you usually like books, such as Eragon, by teen authors? Yeah, definitely.

So, even if you think your story stinks and feel like tossing it in the paper recycling, read it over, get someone else to read it. You could be the next best-selling author.