A Project of co-Poet Laureates Jacalyn Eyvonne, Kathleen Herrmann & VTA

Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters Youth Poetry Letters

Unlock Your Imagination

Join the Youth Poetry Letters Anthology

Volume 1, Vallejo, California Students

Volume 2, International

Unlock Your Imagination

Join the Youth Poetry Letters Anthology

Volume 1, Vallejo, California Students

Volume 2, International

Jacalyn Eyvonne & Kathleen Herrmann Vallejo Teaching artists

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

The Youth Poetry Letter Project

is seeking letters written by young people Ages 7-18 to someone or something important to you for publication in our

Youth Poetry Letter Anthologies - Volume 1 and Volume 2.

You Do Not Have To

Be A Professional Writer

Topics can be a person, such as a family member, teacher, friend, neighbor, or coach. It can b

The Youth Poetry Letter Project

is seeking letters written by young people Ages 7-18 to someone or something important to you for publication in our

Youth Poetry Letter Anthologies - Volume 1 and Volume 2.

You Do Not Have To

Be A Professional Writer

Topics can be a person, such as a family member, teacher, friend, neighbor, or coach. It can be an animal, like a pet, the hummingbird that flitted by, the bee that stung them, or the lizard basking in the sun.

It can be an object, like a cell phone, bike, scooter, sports uniform, the car of your dreams, the playground, homemade cookies, or your least favorite food. It can be about the world you live in

(oceans, animal habitats, clean air, your plans, or the night sky.)

Maybe you feel thankful, appreciative, concerned, loving, frustrated, amazed, curious, puzzled, or excited. These are just a few ideas.There is no particular theme. submit your letters for consideration in our upcoming anthologies.

Vallejo Teaching Artists, VTA - Volume 1

Poet- Laureates Jacalyn Eyvonne & Kathleen Herrmann welcome the sponsorship of Vallejo Teaching Artists.

VTA is a nonprofit organization that provides safe and supportive spaces for the youth of Vallejo to develop and share their artistic craft, to express their creative voice with confidence, and to influence the landscape of social justice.

https://vallejoteachingartists.org/

Volume 2 - Open to up to 21 years from around the globe. This is our International Volume.

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What should you consider when writing your poetry letter?

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

Your poetry letter can be whatever you want it to be: whimsical, humorous, serious, emotional, or insightful. It can rhyme, have short or long lines, and be free-flow or conversational. You can write complete sentences or short phrases. The most important thing is that we hear your voice.

Whether you write to a friend, family member, ima

Whether you write to a friend, family member, imaginary person, or object, please show us what you feel and think. You do not have to use a person’s real name, but if you

include a name, use ONLY the first name, such as Dear Jessica or Dear Leo.

Do NOT include the last name of the person you are writing to. You may use Dear Mom or Dear Dad. However, not all letters have to begin with ‘Dear.’

If you are writing to an inanimate object like a cell phone, consider writing a clever salutation or title, such as “I Spend Too Much Time with You.”

Tell a story that helps readers understand why it is important. Above all, use your imagination. No one else will imagine things quite the way you do!

Ask yourself the following questions:

Does my poetry letter tell a story?

What is the purpose of my poetry letter?

Will the reader understand what I am talking about? Does my poem have meaning?

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by Jacalyn Eyvonne Kathleen Herrmann co-poets laureate

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

by Jacalyn Eyvonne Kathleen Herrmann co-poets laureate

Youth Poetry Letters will be compiled by two experienced poets passionate about poetry and the world of writing.

Kathleen Herrmann writes poems inspired by small moments that carry big messages. Her poems have appeared in anthologies published by B Cubed Press, Ice Floe Press, Pure Slush, Moonstone Press, Napa Valley Writers, and Benicia Literary Arts. She has also been published in the Going The Distance column in the Benicia Herald. She was awarded Best in Show at the Solano County Fair in 2022 and 2023. She hosts literary interviews on OZCAT radio and is writing a poetry book about refugees to America, entitled I Was There, Now I’m Here—Crossing Borders. Kathleen is a retired elementary educator and volunteer for the Vallejo City Unified School District.

Jacalyn Eyvonne began her writing career early on and was deemed a multifaceted creative by her high school teacher. She became the editor and publisher of the international magazine “In The Company of Poets” and produced the ‘Poetry Joust’ competition in Oakland. Her poem “It’s Magic,” a dedication to Magic Johnson, was published in the Oakland Tribune after he announced his battle with HIV in November 1991. She is the author of “I Am Not An Inconsequential Word - Poetry and Remnants, Venting to Verse-How To Turn Your Anger into Poetry,” and in publication “The Unyielding Weight of Words” and “The World of Black and Words.” A Poet, Filmmaker, and Photographer, Jacalyn is an Academy of Art University graduate in Motion Picture and Television and the current Director of the Monologues and Poetry International Film Fest and the International KidsNFilm Festival. She is a Teaching Artist with Vallejo Teaching Artists.

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Submission Guidelines

Additional Information

Before submitting your poetry letter, read it a few times, silently and then aloud. Reading your letters aloud helps you catch any mistakes. You may submit up to 3 poetry letters for consideration. If you send multiple letters, present them all in one Word or PDF document.

Youth Poetry Letters will publish two inspiring poetry anthologies:

Volume 1 - In partnership with Vallejo Teaching Artist, will feature youth from Vallejo, CA.

Volume 2 invites youth outside of Vallejo, including participants from around the globe. It is open to anyone up to age 21.

Publication Date November 2024, and Volume 2 Publication Date Spring 2025 or sooner.

IMPORTANT! ***Please note that a parent or guardian must submit all work for any student under the age of 18 years. The submission of your poetry letters indicates that a parent, guardian, and youth submitter agree to their letter being published in the upcoming anthology. The letter may be typed, handprinted, or written in cursive; however, adjustments may be made if the handwritten submission is unreadable. Typed is preferable.

When submitting content for the Youth Poetry Letters Project, it is essential to ensure that the work is entirely original and not copied, AI-generated, or plagiarized from any other source. The parent and student contributor, upon submitting work, declare that the content is solely the student's own and take full responsibility if it is found to be plagiarized or copied.

Youth Poetry Letters project reserves the right to hold onto personal information such as the writer's/parents' name and email address as part of the submission process. This information will be stored for the submission process and the period of publication or broadcast, should the content be accepted. Writers also consent to receive status updates regarding their submitted work, including confirmation of receipt, acceptance, or non-acceptance.

It's important to note that Youth Poetry Letters, Jacalyn Eyvonne, and Kathleen Herrmann cannot be held liable for any issues arising from the use of copied or plagiarized content, and the onus is entirely on the writer or contributor to ensure that their work is original. By submitting only original work, we can ensure the project's integrity.

While we request the full name of the parent/guardian, email address, the student's full first and last name, and the grade level of the submitter of the poetry letters, only the first name and grade will be listed at the end of each letter. If you submit a handprinted or cursive letter, only sign with your first name and grade level.

Publication of your letters by Youth Poetry Letters will not impair your right to distribute your work elsewhere, either online or in print. However, we request that if you submit, you allow us to retain the right to be the first to publish your letter in our anthology. After which, we understand that our publication is just one potential avenue for your writing and that you may wish to pursue multiple channels for your work after publication.

Please note that we may also edit your work at our discretion to ensure that it meets our publication standards or if handwritten submissions are unclear or unreadable. Please trust that we will always strive to maintain the integrity and coherence of your writing. Further, submitting indicates your understanding that not all submissions may be selected for publication depending on the number of submissions received.

PLEASE INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE PARENT/GUARDIAN, THE YOUTH SUBMITTER, GRADE LEVEL, AND THE TITLE (IF APPLICABLE) ON EACH PAGE'S HEADER BEING SUBMITTED.

You may upload your file by attaching it below or emailing it to Poetry@youthpoetryletters.com.

You may request the withdrawal of your submission by September 1, 2024, before submission closing dates by emailing us at poetry@youthpoetryletters.com. We cannot honor any withdrawal requests once we have submitted the completed project for publication. The completed anthology will be available in many locations where books are sold, and purchasing is optional.

Submitting confirms that you have read and understand the submission Terms and Conditions.

If accepted you will receive an electronic publishing agreement for signature.

Please retain a copy of our submission guidelines for your records.

Unlock Your Imagination

Unlock Your Imagination

Submit Today!

SUBMISSION OPENING DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2024-Volume 1 & 2

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

PUBLICATION TARGET DATE: NOVEMBER 2024-Volume 1 Spring 2025-Volume 2

Jacalyn Eyvonne & Kathleen Herrmann Vallejo Teaching artists

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

What should you consider when writing your poetry letter?

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

by Jacalyn Eyvonne Kathleen Herrmann co-poets laureate

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

by Jacalyn Eyvonne Kathleen Herrmann co-poets laureate

Submission Guidelines

Additional Information

Contact Us!

submit or Get in Touch

additional Questions or Comments?

Youth Poetry Letters sponsored by

Follow

follow us on our social media pages

Unlock Your Imagination

Unlock Your Imagination

Submit Today!

SUBMISSION OPENING DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2024-Volume 1 & 2

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

PUBLICATION TARGET DATE: NOVEMBER 2024-Volume 1 Spring 2025-Volume 2

Jacalyn Eyvonne & Kathleen Herrmann Vallejo Teaching artists

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

What should you consider when writing your poetry letter?

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

by Jacalyn Eyvonne Kathleen Herrmann co-poets laureate

Do you have a special person, pet, or big thing in your life that means a lot to you?

by Jacalyn Eyvonne Kathleen Herrmann co-poets laureate

Submission Guidelines

Additional Information

Contact Us!

submit or Get in Touch

additional Questions or Comments?

Youth Poetry Letters sponsored by

Follow

follow us on our social media pages

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