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Fresh Heat: TEEN Zine SubmissionsFresh Heat: Teen Zine is a literary magazine published by Humanities Amped, a non-profit organization who aims to amplify young people’s voice.
Fresh Heat: Teen Zine is open for submissions of poetry, essays, short stories, art, and songs from 13-19 year olds. Accepted works will be included in our printed edition of Fresh Heat: The Zine Spring 2026 slated for release this April. SUBMISSION GUIDELINESAll submissions should be submitted using the Google Form.
All submissions must be the original work of the submitter All written submissions should be typed on Google Docs. Submissions should be uploaded directly or submitted as a link to the Google Docs. When sending the link, make sure the document allows for anyone with the link to view: on the Google Doc, click the button that says: Share. Under “General Access,” make sure it says “Anyone with the link." Click “Copy Link” and paste the link into the submission form |
submission deadlinesSubmissions for the Spring 2026 Edition of Fresh Heat: Teen Zine will be accepted on a rolling basis through March 20, 2026
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Fresh Heat: The Zine (Dis)Claimers:
- Fresh Heat: The Zine welcomes submissions of critical and creative work written by young people that promotes awareness, compassion, and innovative perspectives on civic issues that impact young people.
- Fresh Heat: The Zine only takes submissions from individuals who are between the ages of 13 -19.
- Fresh Heat: The Zine does not publish work that encourages or reifies the discrimination of people based upon race, gender, ethnicity, sexual identity, or religion.
- Fresh Heat: The Zine does not publish AI work or work that uses AI
- Fresh Heat: The Zine does not publish work that uses profane language (including pejoratives of any kind, slurs) or that
- Published work is at the discretion of Humanities Amped.
- Writers maintain the ability to have their work removed from all digital platforms upon request. For work published in print, work will be removed from any future printed editions.
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FrESH HEAT: TEEN zINE fALL 2025 EDITION OUT NOW!Copies can be purchased for $20 at Fresh Heat
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FRESH HEAT MODELS & PROMPTS
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"Field Trip to the Museum of Human History"
by Franny Choi In “Field Trip to the Museum of Human History” Franny Choi imagines a future world where prisons and policing are a distant memory. Taking inspiration from the poem, imagine a future where a certain system, condition, or issue in our current society no longer exists. What would the future generations think about our current society still dealing with said issue? For instance, imagine what it would be like to explain “poverty” to future generations where no individuals are struggling financially. |
"Dinosaurs in the Hood"
by Danez Smith In “Dinosaurs in the Hood” Danez Smith imagines what it would be like to watch a movie that does not rely on stereotypes about Black people and other people of color or focus on their historical traumas. If you could create your own movie, show, album, book, anime, etc., centered around a community you are a part of, what would it be about? What stereotypes or misconceptions would you want to make sure are not included? |
"Kaiya" by Anna West & "Marin" by Sandra Cisneros
In “Kaiya” by Anna West, the poet honors and shares the story of Kaiya, a young poet from Baton Rouge who passed away unexpectedly. The poem not only shares Kaiya’s story, it also imagines what Kaiya’s legacy will mean in the future. Similarly, In “Marin” by Sandra Cisneros, the poet describes the hopes and dreams of Marin. It talks about what she does and who she is as a person.
Using “Kaiya” and “Marin” as examples: Who is someone in your life who is important to you? This can be someone who is in your life presently or is no longer with you. What is their story? Use your words to paint a portrait of them. What are they like? What do they like to do? What are they hoping and dreaming for? What do you see about them that they may not see about themselves? What do you want them to know?
In “Kaiya” by Anna West, the poet honors and shares the story of Kaiya, a young poet from Baton Rouge who passed away unexpectedly. The poem not only shares Kaiya’s story, it also imagines what Kaiya’s legacy will mean in the future. Similarly, In “Marin” by Sandra Cisneros, the poet describes the hopes and dreams of Marin. It talks about what she does and who she is as a person.
Using “Kaiya” and “Marin” as examples: Who is someone in your life who is important to you? This can be someone who is in your life presently or is no longer with you. What is their story? Use your words to paint a portrait of them. What are they like? What do they like to do? What are they hoping and dreaming for? What do you see about them that they may not see about themselves? What do you want them to know?
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FRESH HEAT MODELS & PROMPTS
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"Klonopin"
by Imani Sundiata In “Klonopin” by Imani Sundiata, the poet tells the stories of their struggle with mental health as a teenager. In the poem they explore how unaddressed mental health can cause generational trauma, being unheard as a teenager, and the struggles to express what you need to feel better. She explains how various different people and figures in her life react to her sharing her struggles. Using “Klonopin” as an example: What is something about yourself (this can be a trait, a physical characteristic, a memory, a secret, or condition) that is important to you but most people may not know or may be difficult for them to understand? What would it be like to explain this aspect of you to someone you love or someone who you think would be really understanding? This person could be real or imaginary, known or unknown. How would they react to you explaining yourself? |
"For everyone who tried on the slipper before Cinderella"
by Ariana Brown In, "For everyone who tried on the slipper before Cinderella" by Ariana Brown, the poet imagines what happens to the people who did not get their “Happily Ever After” like Cinderella. She imagines what may be the unheard thoughts, feelings, and actions of the unnamed ladies who we do not think about when we think of the fairytale. Using "For everyone who tried on the slipper before Cinderella," write a piece celebrating people who are overlooked, undervalued, or unappreciated in your life, community, or in society as a whole. What advice or encouragement do you have for those people? What are these people doing at the moment you are writing this poem? What are their day to day lives like? Maybe try using a repeated phrase such as “For those who,” |
"Kaiya" by Anna West & "Marin" by Sandra Cisneros
In “Kaiya” by Anna West, the poet honors and shares the story of Kaiya, a young poet from Baton Rouge who passed away unexpectedly. The poem not only shares Kaiya’s story, it also imagines what Kaiya’s legacy will mean in the future. Similarly, In “Marin” by Sandra Cisneros, the poet describes the hopes and dreams of Marin. It talks about what she does and who she is as a person.
Using “Kaiya” and “Marin” as examples: Who is someone in your life who is important to you? This can be someone who is in your life presently or is no longer with you. What is their story? Use your words to paint a portrait of them. What are they like? What do they like to do? What are they hoping and dreaming for? What do you see about them that they may not see about themselves? What do you want them to know?
In “Kaiya” by Anna West, the poet honors and shares the story of Kaiya, a young poet from Baton Rouge who passed away unexpectedly. The poem not only shares Kaiya’s story, it also imagines what Kaiya’s legacy will mean in the future. Similarly, In “Marin” by Sandra Cisneros, the poet describes the hopes and dreams of Marin. It talks about what she does and who she is as a person.
Using “Kaiya” and “Marin” as examples: Who is someone in your life who is important to you? This can be someone who is in your life presently or is no longer with you. What is their story? Use your words to paint a portrait of them. What are they like? What do they like to do? What are they hoping and dreaming for? What do you see about them that they may not see about themselves? What do you want them to know?
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THS SLAM TEAM PROMPT A: "dEAR br" BY ch, km, & js
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In “Dear BR,” the poets talk about what it is like to grow up as teenagers in Baton Rouge. Drawing on their personal memories and using descriptive language, the poets show the good and bad experiences of growing up in “Jigga City.”
Using “Dear BR” as an example, write about what it was like growing up in your hometown or another place that is important to you. What are some of the lessons you learned? What are some of the positive things about the city? What about the not so positive things? Be sure to get descriptive so we can really imagine what it is like to live there! |
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THS SLAM TEAM PROMPT B: "My Name" by Sandra Cisneros
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In “My Name,” the speaker of the poem tells the story of how she got her name. She talks about what it means to her family, what it means to people at school, and also what she would like it to mean. In the poem, she imagines a new name that has a new meaning.
Using “My Name” as an example, write about the meaning of your name. How did you get your name? Is there a family story connected to it? Would you change your name? If so, what would you change it too? |
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THS SLAM TEAM PROMPT C: "Superpower" by Ariana Brown
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In “Superpower,” Ariana Brown writes about how her ability to love even when it is not always valued is her superpower.
What is your superpower? This can be a trait about yourself (smile, ability to see the good in others, etc) or imaginary (ability to read minds, invisibility, etc.) How did you get your superpowers? How do you use them? How do they benefit you? Has anyone tried to use your superpower for their own benefit? |
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