When I was eleven years old, I wrote my first children’s book. As I began looking for ways to publish it, I discovered that very few opportunities existed for young authors. Most traditional publishers did not accept children’s work, and I was often told that becoming an author was something to wait until adulthood to pursue. Instead, I learned the publishing process myself—from editing and illustration to self-publishing—and discovered that writing a book was possible at any age.

That experience also made me realize how few resources existed for other young writers. Many children have wonderful ideas but little guidance on developing their stories, navigating the publishing process, or even discovering that these opportunities exist. I founded The Young Ink to help change this problem.
Our mission is to encourage young people to explore storytelling through free, accessible programs and resources. We partner with schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations to offer hands-on creative writing projects, while also providing free online activities, multilingual story read-alouds, writing courses, and personalized editing and publishing guidance for aspiring young authors.

We believe every child has a story worth telling. By giving young writers the tools, encouragement, and opportunities to create, we hope to inspire a lifelong love of storytelling and remind children that their ideas are worth sharing.