Once a month, my English teacher assigns us to write an article to submit to Teen Ink. Most of the students stay up all night and try to write about an interesting subject that they believe will be published, but when they receive the next issue, their article is nowhere to be found. Can you please tell me what Teen Ink’s editors are looking for? Also, do you pick only a certain number of student writers from each state?

Editor’s note: In the simplest terms, we are looking for writing, poetry, and artwork that honestly describes the teen experience. The more you read Teen Ink, the more you will understand what that means. Also, keep in mind that there may be a number of months between when you send us a submission and when it is published. And, lastly, we do not have quotas by state.