Day 3 of Youth Authors Week: "You're not broken."
This pick comes from our friends at Sonderful Writings literary magazine!
Our Day 3 pick for Youth Authors Week, “Dear Younger Me,” by Savannah Massey, comes from our friends at Sonderful, a youth-run literary magazine.
“We chose Massey's piece - published in our most recent Issue - because it is a story within a story, a powerful testament to the people we once were who lose their innocence and are commended on a strength they did not develop intentionally. She makes her words a home for her past self and the values she held close. Sonderful's underlying philosophy is that our emotions don't need explanations, our pockets of solitude should be treasured, and we have a right to self-expression.”
-The Team at Sonderful
“You’re not broken. No matter how long chemistry tests take you, you are not broken. No matter how many times you forgot to refill your medicine, you are not broken. Be prepared, the lady at church will tell you that today she prayed for God to fix you and she will keep praying for you until he does.”
- Savannah Massey, “Dear Younger Me”
Writing or Reflection Prompt: What words did your younger self need to hear?
The Youth Authors Week Coalition
We’re so grateful to the team at Sonderful for joining us in forming a coalition of organizations that publish youth writing, so that we can work together to lift up all of our youth authors, not just the ones at Novelly.
“Sonderful's partnership with Novelly represents the heart of our mission and truly a full-circle moment for our story. As teen writers who have been constantly rejected, frustrated, and isolated by the traditional publishing process - we found solace in peer writing communities and mentors. But we were the more fortunate ones who found guidance on our long publishing journeys. Everyone has a story and every writer deserves to share their unique form of expression, which is where our name 'sonder' originates. By founding our literary magazine and partnering with a publishing company to amplify the teen voice, we hope to lay the foundation for young activists across the globe.”
- Anshi Purohit, Co-Founder, Sonderful
If you publish youth writing, consider joining our coalition!
You can also stay up-to-date with our reading recommendations for Youth Authors Week by following us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.