Young Writers Project (YWP), thank you for being a safe place for young writers. Thank you for your support, your sympathy, and your warmth, and thank you for being home and a guiding star to young writers across the country.

Creative writing of all forms is a type of art to be worshipped, cherished, heard. However, as the years have swept by, genres like poetry and short stories have fallen into the general perception of being fancy, nonsensical, and boring, somewhat in the same ways classical music has fallen out of popularity. 

However, YWP is a haven for young writers to express themselves through creative writing and photography, reviving these lost arts and connecting young writers across the country with others who have similar interests. 

The site has been a source of solace for many users, particularly during this year’s quarantine. YWP gives writers publishing opportunities. YWP gives writers across the country a place to connect. YWP gives writers a place to read and admire one another’s work. But, above all, YWP gives writers validation. Validation to claim the crowns of poets, the title of published writers. Validation to continue writing. Validation that empowers and encourages young people to reach beyond even their own expectations for themselves. 

As a result, many young writers, all the way from fourth to twelfth grade, go on YWP pretty much every day. After all, ‘tis addicting to smile at Treblemaker’s cheeky poems, sigh at Yellow Sweater’s magnificent prose, and gasp at laurenm’s gravity defying droplets of time. 

That’s not even beginning to discuss Tiny Writes, Alex Muck’s writing workshops, and the warm fuzzy joy that blooms in every user’s chest when someone compliments their work. There are works that’ll wrench your heart out, works that’ll make someone say, “Hey, that’s me!” and works that’ll leave someone smiling the rest of the day. 

Tiny Writes in itself is also just a thread of joy. From spontaneous haiku drops, fun user-made questionnaires, and the most thought provoking statements on the planet, anything is possible on Tiny Writes. Well, so long as it’s under five hundred characters. 

Then, we have eyesofiris’s podcast. This podcast is run by one of YWP’s fabulous community leaders, and interviews a featured user on the site every couple weeks on one of their works. In the duration of the podcast, Iris and the user discuss various techniques, inspiration, etc, and every episode is engaging from start to finish. 

And last, but certainly not least, Alex Muck’s monthly writing salons! Alex is a phenomenal host, and these salons never fail to leave participants with a bubbly smile and a sense of accomplishment. 

So, YWP. A phrase like “thank you” doesn’t seem to do this justice. So instead, here is a ginormous bowl of warm mashed potatoes ladened with all the gratitude “thank you” can’t quite capture. Happy Thanksgiving!