Links to websites for teenage readers and writers
Links for teenage readers
Inside A Dog is an Australian website where teenagers can talk about books, read and write book reviews, read author interviews and blogs, download podcasts and win books. This is also the place to go if you want to vote in the Inkys, Australia's Teenage Choice Book Awards.
Read Alert is the Centre for Youth Literature's blog, with news, reviews, opinions, booklists, author information and the latest on youth literature events in Australia.
YARA Online is a website written by and for Australian school students. The Older Readers section has lots of reviews of YA (Young Adult) novels, including audio books and verse novels. There are also some author interviews.
Teen Reads is an enormous US site with reviews, recommended books, author biographies, interviews, a newsletter and useful information about how to start your own YA book club. It's not to be confused with Teens Read Too, which is also full of YA book reviews and author interviews.
QueerYA is an LGBTQ (that's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning) book review blog, written by Daisy Porter, librarian and author.
The Children's Book Council of Australia website has information about Book Week and the CBCA Book Awards, plus lots of literature links.
Read Plus Review Blog is an Australian blog with short reviews of children's and YA books, as well as literature news and resources for teachers.
Aussie Reviews is, as the name suggests, full of reviews of Australian books, including books for teenagers and younger readers.
The Guardian Unlimited, the online version of the UK newspaper, has lots of book reviews and articles in its Children and Teens section.
YA Authors Cafe has interviews with the authors of YA books, plus lots of links to author blogs.
Book Browse has book reviews and book excerpts in its Teenage and Young Adult section.
Reading Rants! Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists is a great blog with lots of YA book reviews and themed book lists.
Bookshelves of Doom is full of book news and book reviews. It's not specifically YA, but still includes lots of books for teenagers and children.
Persnickety Snark is another excellent YA book blog, and this one's Australian. Yay! The blog includes a list of international YA bloggers.
The YA Blogosphere is a huge list of YA blogs from around the world.
Links for teenage writers
Wordbox lists writing competitions, workshops and literary events for school-aged Australians. There are also writing tips in its You Write section.
Teen Ink is a US website, print magazine and series of books, featuring writing by teenagers. Here you'll find non-fiction, short stories, poems, book reviews, celebrity interviews, writing contests and lots of links for teenagers interested in writing.
Ian Irvine's website has some entertaining and informative articles for anyone interested in becoming a professional writer. Check out his Guide to Success, Writing Tips and The Truth About Publishing.
Richard Harland's Writing Tips is a very detailed and informative on-line writing guide, of particular interest for fantasy writers.
Justine Larbalestier's blog has lots of useful posts about writing, including writing advice and a writing FAQ.
Hey, Teenager of the Year! is the blog of Steph Bowe, a teenage writer whose first novel will be published in 2010. Her blog has lots of discussion about writing.
Books and Writing is the blog of Australian author, Sherryl Clark. It's not specifically for teenage writers, but there are lots of really interesting and useful writing tips, as well as discussion about the life of a professional writer.
The NSW Branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia runs an annual mentorship competition for young writers and for unpublished writers of children's and YA literature (click on 'Frustrated Writers' in the side menu). It also organises other writing activities.
The NSW Writers' Centre runs writing workshops, online writing courses, a mentorship program, writing competitions and an annual Writing for Children and Young Adults Festival. The website includes links to other Writers' Centres across Australia.
The Guardian's Why I Write section features lots of authors talking about how and why they write.
