22 Children’s Magazines that Pay (updated for 2023)
If you are looking for more ways to get writing credits, hone your skills as a writer, and get some interaction with an editor, submitting to magazines and anthologies that publish short works of fiction is a good place to start. All of these markets pay their writers, but not all of them pay their writers well. You have been warned!
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Children’s magazine markets
Teen magazine markets
Christian Magazine Markets
Children’s Magazine Markets
Aquila
Aquila is a British magazine for ages 8-13. The magazine has a readership of 40,000 children, the majority being in the 9-12 range.
The content is designed to appeal to bright children who are confident and independent readers. Publishes short stories between 1,000 and 1,150 words; Nonfiction articles of 800 words. Pays £90 upon publication.
Cricket Media
This media publishing company publishes 11 magazines, but only 6 of them are open for general submission. They publish fiction, nonfiction, poetry, puzzles, crafts, and recipes.
1200–1800 words in length; however, they occasionally serialize compelling longer stories of up to 6,000 words.
They also need shorter pieces of 600–900 words. Pays 25¢ per word for stories and articles, Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum Activities and recipes: $75.00 flat rate. Writers guidelines at Submittable. One of the Cricket Media magazines. Pays after publication. Not very quick to pay.
Crow Toes Quarterly
Playfully dark fiction, poetry, and art for children. “We are looking for “playfully dark”, intelligent, humorous, descriptive literature written for children ages 8 – 13. We invite poetry and fiction submissions by email.” See themes. Pays $20 – $50.
East of the Web
They are seeking children’s stories aimed at ages 5-12. Publishes All genres. Payment starts at $0.05 per word with a minimum of $200. Reprints accepted.
Ember
A semiannual journal for all age groups. Submissions for and by readers aged 10 to 18 are strongly encouraged.
Publishes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Payment 2 cents per word or $20 per work, whichever is more.
Fun for Kidz
This a magazine created for boys and girls from 6 to 13 years, with children 8, 9, and 10 as the specific target age.
Issues are themed. Publishes nonfiction and fiction. Length: 300-325 words for a one-page magazine article or up to 600-650 words for a two-page magazine article.
Payment: Five cents a word for both fiction and nonfiction, with additional payment given if the piece is accompanied by appropriate photos or art. Minimum of $10 per poem or puzzle, with variable rates offered for games, simple carpentry projects, etc.
Highlights for Children
Publishes four magazines geared to pre-schoolers through grade school with a total circulation of more than one million.
Features stories, poems, illustrations, photography, hidden pictures, cartoons, puzzles, songs, and more.
Pay ranges from $40 for art, poetry, and crafts to $175 and up for fiction and articles. Writers guidelines on Submittable. Not open for year round submissions.
Issues in Earth Science
Publishes fiction and nonfiction for middle-grade and young adult readers.
They incorporate earth science concepts as key elements and also represent a key idea that might be taught in an earth science classroom.
Length: 1,000-3,000 words. Pays 10 cents/word.
The School Magazine
Australia’s The School Magazine publishes short stories, articles, plays, poems, and activities that have literary and academic merit for kids between 8 and 12. Submit to any of its magazines: Countdown, Blast Off, Orbit or Touchdown.
You’ll do well with a story that reflects the multicultural, diverse society the magazines try to exhibit.
No matter if you submit a fiction story, poetry, an article, or a play, writing should be energetic and suspenseful with credible characters. Word counts for accepted categories range from 800 to 2,000 words — be sure to use those words on a fresh angle rather than a preachy theme.
To submit, scroll up on the Contribute page, then click ‘Contribute’ and fill out the generated fields. Pay varies, but they pay their contributors quickly.
Scouts Life
This is a general-interest, four-color magazine that prints 10 times yearly, with a circulation of 1 million, published by the Boy Scouts of America since 1911.
Publishes fiction and nonfiction. Payment: $500 to $1,500.
Short Edition
Accepts work up to 8,000 characters for short stories and poems, and up to 7,000 characters for children’s stories.
Stories are published online and sold in dispensers.
Pays 100 euros for each selected short story and 50 euros for poetry, and 25 euros for reprints.
Spaceports and Spidersilk
Published three times per year in February, June, and October, Spaceports & Spidersilk wants fantasy, sci-fi, and shadow stories (“spooky, but not terrifying”) aimed at readers ages 8-14.
It prefers stories with young protagonists, plus those that don’t harp on an overarching lesson. Instead, editors want a good story that “entertains and connects with emotions.”
Submit genre stories between 1,000 and 3,000 words, flash fiction that’s less than 1,000 words, essays up to 800 words, and poetry with no more than 25 lines.
Whatever you submit, be sure to follow the magazine’s cardinal rules: No swearing, sex, drugs, or sexist language. Pays $6 for each accepted story; $3 for flash fiction.
U.S. Kids
They publish two magazines, Humpty Dumpty (ages 2 – 6) and Jack and Jill (ages 6 -12).
The magazines are designed to promote reading as well as sparking a child’s curiosity in a wide range of topics. Features fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.
Pays: $25 and up. They do accept submissions by e-mail.
Teen Magazine Markets
Blue Marble Review
Showcases the creative work of young writers ages 13-21. Its name is inspired by the view of the earth as seen from the Apollo 17 spacecraft.
The image, known as the Blue Marble, provides inspiration for dreamers, discoverers, and explorers.
The magazine publishes poetry, fiction, non-fiction, essays, opinion pieces, travel writing, photography, and art. Pays $25 per published piece, $75 for cover art.
Cast of Wonders
This is a young adult short fiction market (12-17 age range), open to stories up to 6,000 words in length.
The stories are audio and also published on the site. Publishes fantasy, science fiction, light horror.
Pays $.08/word for original fiction of any length (yes, including flash!). For reprints. $100 flat rate for Short Fiction, and a $20 flat rate for Flash Fiction. Their sweet spot for length is 2,500-3,750 words for short stories.
They are not open for submissions year-round.
Cast of Wonders is a qualified SFWA Short Fiction market.
DreamForge
This magazine is a fantasy and science fiction magazine for teenagers. They publish flash fiction, short stories, and poems.
Their sweet spot for length is 2,500-3,750 words for short stories. Pays $0.06/word.
Pays $0.04/word for reprints Poems are paid at the rate of $25 to $100. They are not open for submissions year-round.
Check the website for the next reading period. It seems to start at the first of the year. DreamForge Magazine is a qualified SFWA Short Fiction market.
One Teen Story
Publishes 4 stories a year and accepts submissions from teen writers ages 13-19. Publishes short stories of any genre—literary, fantasy, sci-fi, love stories, horror, etc. .
“We seek stories that deal with issues of identity, friendship, family, and coming-of-age.
Gratuitous profanity, sex, and drug use are best avoided. We’re open to all genres of well-written young adult fiction between 2,000 and 4,500 words.”
Pays $500 and 25 contributor copies.
Voyage
Has no restrictions on the kind of YA fiction they’re looking for.
“We simply aim to publish good work and provide a space for new and established voices. We are simply looking for stories that surprise, inspire, entertain, or enlighten us.
We’re on the hunt for personal essays and other creative nonfiction that specifically relates to the teen experience.”
Length: Up to 6,000 words. Pays $200 per accepted story/CNF piece. Reprints accepted.
Youth Imagination
Publishes stories relevant to teens. Publishes fiction, including modern, urban or classical fantasy, as well as sci-fi, slipstream, literary, action-adventure or suspense.
“We particularly love stories exploring their issues, such as bullying, drugs, romance, school, parental issues, teacher issues, etc., as well as about the grit and character of teens and young adults.”
Pays: Flash 200 to 999 words $3; Short Story 1000 to 8,000 words $8; Long Story 8,001 to 20,000 word $15.
In addition to the payments, there is a bonus of $2 per flash, story, or long story for accepting payment via PayPal.
Zizzle
Not a magazine but an anthology book series that brings parents and kids together to foster a love of reading, Zizzle publishes literary fiction that fascinates kids from age 12 and up.
Your fiction story should have a strong voice and dive deep into themes of meaning and morality that evolve naturally.
While Zizzle editors embrace “fresh perspectives on the nuanced joys and tensions in kids’ daily lives and imaginations,” they welcome untraditional storytelling plus tastefully humorous stories.
Flash fiction children’s stories should be 500 to 1,200 words and 2,000 to 4,500 words for short stories. Before you submit, note Zizzle requires a $3 submission fee.
Christian Magazine Markets
Focus on the Family Magazines
Brio magazine published by Focus on the Family is for teen girls.
They publish fiction (1200-1300 words).
Nonfiction categories are:
Be Inspired (a-girl-like-me profile) (1200-1400 words),
Character Trait (650-750 words),
Entertainment/Social Media (800-900 words),
Prayer (200-300 words),
Relationships (family, friends, or guys) (800-900 words).
They do not publish reprints. They pay 30 cents per word. A sample copy is available on their website.
Clubhouse magazine is published by Focus on the Family and is for boys and girls ages 8-12. Publishes:
Personality features of ordinary kids doing extraordinary things,
Activity theme pages with 3 to 5 fun things for kids to do,
Short, humorous how-to articles,
Quizzes,
Factual stories from a Christian worldview that talk about apologetics, biblical archeology or Christian values,
Short craft or recipe ideas centered around a theme or holiday and more.
Pays 15 to 25 cents per word. They don’t publish reprints.
Clubhouse Jr. magazine is published by Focus on the Family and is for boys and girls ages 3-7. Publishes fiction (800-1000 words),
rebus stories (200 words), nonfiction (400 words),
crafts, recipes, and activities (300 words).
Pays 15 to 25 cents per word for fiction and nonfiction. Rebus story rates are $75-$150.
Keys for Kids Ministries
Publishes Keys for Kids devotional series for ages 6-12, and Unlocked devotionals for teens.
They publish devotionals of about 350 words.
They are looking for more stories that include, characters with autism, blended or single-parent families, and people from other countries. Read full guidelines before submitting.
Pays $30 per story.
If you enjoyed this article please check out my other post:
30 Children’s Publishers Accepting Unagented Work
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