8 Top Tips for Submitting a Feature
Got an idea for a feature article? Want to share your views on Teen & YA Literature? We’d love to hear from you – so get in touch!
We’ve put together some tips to help you put your feature together:
- Proposals are accepted! We would be delighted to work with you to make sure the finished piece is the best essay it can be, and to make sure it fits into the style of the journal
- If you do want to send a completed essay, great! Just remember we don’t accept academic essays
- The essays section basically means “non-fiction”. We just want to hear about your thoughts and observations without a fictional narrative (for that, check out our creative writing submissions!)
- What we are looking for from teen writers: anything that interests you! This journal is for and by you. Talk about your love for arts, sports, change you want to see, your experiences. If you feel passionate enough to write about it, we want to read it!
- What we want from adult writers: anything that would be an interest to a teen audience. It can be observations on trends in YA lit, an exploration of new art/sports/science/etc for teens, highlighting a platform that is of interest to young folks – ANYTHING for a TEEN AUDIENCE
- Familiarise yourself with what we’ve already published to get an idea of what we like. For teens, essays on their love for ballet, learning to read Jane Austen, the role of nostalgia. For adults, the representation of mental health in YA lit, career paths for book lovers, etc
- When writing a proposal to submit to us, it should be approx 500 words (but that’s a very loose guideline). In the proposal, highlight what you want to do, how you will do it, and what support you’d need from Paper Lanterns to make it work (access to resources, contacts, etc)
- If in doubt, ask! Email us at paperlanternsjournal@gmail.com with any questions.
Happy writing – we can’t wait to read your ideas!
For submissions guidelines, click here
Midnight’s Twins is a debut novel and the first in a trilogy. With strong characters and amazing world building I was hooked from the beginning and can’t wait for the next in the series! The detail of the world building is impeccable. I was fully immersed and invested throughout. The relationship between twins, Ollie and Fern, is fraught with tension and I found myself going back and forth between who I supported. Between tense battles, friendships are being built and so there is a hint of coming of age about this story.
The Stone Balancer is an incredible YA book filled with twists and turns. You’ll feel so hooked onto every word that you won’t be able to put it down! If you enjoy murder mysteries this is 100% the perfect book for you. This book is filled with emotion; fear, anger and joy! It’s very well written, the characters are believable, the story never drags as you’re pulled into Fin’s world. The relationships between the characters feel fully believable and the story is very
Brian Conaghan’s writing is sparse and economical, full of short sentences which often drop pronouns, really getting to the point. The characters feel well developed, even as they sometimes only grunt at each other as is often the case between Maggie and Mum. This is not to say that they dislike each other, rather that both are dealing with their own demons.
For all historical fiction fanatics this read is fun and exciting and it is a brilliant page-turner for readers wanting to learn a little more about life in Shakespeare’s England. Possibly, Mary Hoffman sometimes sacrificed character development and plot intricacies for a more educational approach. In this way, this is the perfect read for anyone fascinated by the early modern period, with an exciting supernatural twist. However, there were times when some seemingly important details were left unexplained and unexplored as a result.
The plot and sub-plots are well-structured and as I was as surprised as Nico, Jade, and, Amber when the truths were finally unveiled. Chapters which take place in the present moment are followed by chapters which relate the event taking place during World War II. Following the two storylines is easy and they complement each other. 
The touching verse novel explores complex family relationships, and themes of identity and loneliness. Both Allison and Marla struggle with finding and accepting themselves as they are, but as their bond grows it becomes obvious that understanding, patience, and dancing are the key to a healthy, supportive relationship. Few people take her idle talk seriously, but Marla’s honest words enable Allison to realise her self-worth and in return Marla is rewarded with a genuine friend, and the patience a woman struggling with dementia deserves. Winner of the Honour Award for Fiction in the KPMG Ireland Children’s Books Awards 2020, Toffee is lyrical and compelling, with Crossan’s style beautifully balancing trauma and frustration, with heart-warming moments and glimpses of humour.
