Craft Talk
Essays by teens, for teens.

The nature of writing, and the nature of being young. When I think of young people writing, I return often to the movie “The...

When we think of dialogue, the first thing that comes to mind is most likely a form of verbal communication. Two or more people talking to one another, engaging in conversation. In other words, external dialogue. However, there is another type of dialogue that is often overlooked. Like introverted listeners getting overshadowed by extroverted speakers in our daily lives, internal dialogue is often lost to its loud counterpart: external dialogue. The truth is that you need bot

I had a conversation recently with someone on finding the voice, the underlying self beneath your sentences. Voice, as they described it, allowed for you to be distinct, and is something we must continuously seek: the rhythm, the cadence, the fingerprint that marks the work as yours. This point, in some ways, stands; you can hear that kind of fingerprint in many of the greats, the invisible confidence that comes from having written enough to stop flinching at your own tone. H

Reading is meant to be enjoyable. It is meant to be enlightening. It is meant to be insightful and educational, inspiring and captivating. What the art of reading is not meant to be is boring. It shouldn’t be strenuous or dull or exhausting—at least, not the creative kind. Many young writers tend to overuse advanced vocabulary in their pieces, convinced it elevates the story or poem and impresses their audience. Sometimes, it does work. Sometimes, an adjective that describes

One of the most enjoyable parts about writing a poem is the ability to play around with its shape. It’s a freedom you don’t tend to see...

Why should I write? There is no good answer but this: because you feel as though you have to. When people ask me how often they have to...

Wenshu Wang asks questions about how to subvert the typical rules of writing, and shows how breaking the coda of art-making ultimately results in a more interesting final product.

Guest teen writer Wenshu Wang, in this thoughtful, meditative craft essay, reflects on what it means to possess an identity in writing, if identity is linear and stable, and why an understanding of one's identity is especially essential in young writers.