By Kathy
Anderson
Canton Citizen - December 28, 2000
Although she's only a senior in
high school, Lisa Schottenfeld already knows what it feels like to be a published
writer.
Since she first encountered Teen Ink Magazine as a high school
sophomore, Lisa has had 11 submissions -- mostly poetry -- published. One of her
poems was also included in the recently published book, Teen Ink: Our Voices, Our Visions.
Teen Ink Magazine is a publication written entirely by teenagers.
Its content runs the gamut from poetry and essays to literature, artwork,
commentary, and interviews.
Lisa, who has also done some writing for the
Canton Citizen, said that Teen Ink has a clear vision of who its writers are.
"It's comforting to know that whatever you submit will be looked at without
judgment and not compared to adult-level literature," she said. "Everything is
accepted and integrated.
Stephanie Meyer, Teen Ink's publisher, liked one
of Lisa's poems, "Into the Mold," so much that she decided to include it in
Teen Ink: Our Voices, Our Visions, a compilation of hundreds of submissions
printed in Teen Ink during its first four years. Lisa wrote "Into the Mold," which
addresses the pressure teens feel to conform, during her sophomore year at Canton
High.
When the book was published in October, the producers of the "WB56
Morning Show" called Meyer and asked her to appear. Meyer in turn called Lisa and
asked her to come along.
"At first I thought, 'oh my gosh,"' said Lisa.
"I've been in the theater all through high school, but this was a little
different. They asked me about my poem and why I don't want to fit into the
typical teenage mold, and about the tensions and pressures of being a
teenager."
Lisa said even though she had to get up at 4:45 a.m. to be on
the set by 6 a.m., it was worth it.
"People at school thought it was
great," she said. "In most cases there's a division among the cliques at school
but in cases like this, it's inspiring to see how supportive people can
be."
Lisa said she began writing in the third grade, and credits many of
her teachers throughout her years in school for giving her support. "The English
department at the high school is just great," she said. "I wish I could take them
to college with me next year."
Teen Ink PO Box 30 Newton, MA 02461 (617) 964-6800 editor@teenink.com
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permission of the publisher: The Young Authors Foundation, Inc.
Teen Ink is a national teen magazine, book and website featuring
teen writing, information, art, photos, poetry, teen issues and more. All
articles are written by teen authors who are students at schools. The monthly
print magazine is appropriate for any teenager -- teenagers age 13 to 19
attending secondary school: junior high school, middle school and high school.
This publication is used by professional people including English teachers,
writing teachers, language arts instructors, journalism teachers, school
newspaper advisors, librarians, guidance counselors, K-12 principals in addition
to the PTA or PTO. Each issue of Teen Ink magazine contains a wide variety of
student work: we publish nonfiction, fiction, poems, community service, sports,
heroes, interviews, college essays, college reviews, book reviews, concert
reviews, movie reviews, music reviews, video reviews, video game reviews, the
environment, opinion, sports, pets, cars, automobiles, travel and culture, jobs
and money, health issues, artwork, photographs, cartoons, short stories, essays,
writing contests, a college directory and the website also has a bulletin board
and resources for teens and educators. Subjects include racism,
eating disorders, depression, death, suicide, family, relationships, jobs,
grandparents, violence, the college process, college information, colleges,
driving, self esteem, the arts, movies and more. Teen Ink is also a book series
published by HCI Teens. Subjects covered in the book include Friends, Fitting In,
Love, Challenges, Family, Heroes, Loss and Memories. Teen Ink was established in
1989 as The 21st Century magazine by The Young Authors Foundation, a nonprofit
organization. More than 25,000 teens have been published in the magazine and its
companion Poetry Journal. Teen Ink runs a London Summer Program for teenage writers.
