Step 1: Who can submit a story

New York Youth Speaks accepts stories from:

• young people approximately 13–21 years old, and
• who live, study, or spend most of their time in New York City or generally in NY State.

Step 2: What you can write about

You can write about almost anything that feels important or heavy or meaningful to you, including:

Step 3: Pen name, age & borough

When you submit a story, we ask for:

• Pen name – the name that will appear on the website (not your real name)
• Age – to give readers context
• Borough – so readers see voices from across NYC
• Email address – optional

We do not publish your real name, email, or any direct personal contact information.

Step 4: Anonymity & safety

We read every story before it is published. During that review, we may:

• remove or change names of specific people, schools, or locations;
• remove details that could be used to identify you;
• edit for clarity, grammar, and length;
• decline to publish content that is unsafe, threatening, or targets specific individuals.

Our goal is to protect you while still sharing the heart of your story.

Step 5: What happens after you submit

• You fill out the Submit Your Story form.
• You receive a short confirmation on the website that your story was sent.
• An editor reviews your story for safety, clarity, and fit with the project.
• We may lightly edit language or structure, but your voice and meaning stay yours.
• If your story is accepted, it will be published under your pen name, with your age and borough.
• We may create audio or animated video visualization of the story

Step 6: Who owns the story and can it be removed?

You could write it like this:

When you submit a story, you promise that it is your own original writing. You keep being the author of your story, and you give New York Youth Speaks permission to publish it on this website and share it as part of this project.

We may keep your story published even if, in the future, you change your mind, especially because it will not include your real name or identifying details. In rare cases (for example, for safety, legal, or ethical reasons), we may decide to remove or update a story.