When getting started in the writing and publishing industry, it is a good idea to get some feedback from peers and other writers before shooting for publication. Depending on your genre--fiction, non-fiction, poetry or short stories--there are thousands of forums accessible online that you should peruse. One of the more legitimate sites is WEbook.com. WEbook is not only a place to post your work for feedback and to comment on the work of others, but oftentimes the site has opportunities for publication as well. Their books are compilations from their forums, or "projects," and any registered user can participate to have their work voted on to be published in a future book that will be available to purchase on the site.
There are ample possibilities in the way of writing contests for teens to get their work recognized and published. "Writer's Digest" magazine constantly lists writing competitions, none of which has an age minimum or maximum. Not only will you have a shot at publishing your work in this well-known periodical, but you can hone your writing skills with the various prompts the competitions include.
Some contests even offer rewards, like the Good Story Contest for Young Writers; the first prize is $25,000. For similar opportunities, look into a copy of the "Writer's Market" book, where you will find a plethora of contests along with everything else you need to know to get published.
Looking into magazines that take writing submissions is a great way to get yourself out there and read, while building a portfolio of published work. "Teen Ink" and "Stone Soup" are two periodicals that cater specifically to teens and teen writers. "Teen Ink" caters to older teenagers while "Stone Soup" accepts submissions up to the age of 13.
For each of the aforementioned opportunities, you should make sure to read over the guidelines for submission to assure the length and type of your piece fits the forum, contest, or publication. While you may have a whole portfolio of writing you are eager to get out to the reading world, you must make sure that each piece is catered specifically to each publication you choose to send them to. If not, your work will not be published.
If you have a large collection of poetry or short stories, or perhaps a full-length manuscript, self-publication is worth looking into. There are tons of businesses that will publish your book for a nominal fee, like WordClay, and still others that will professionally design and publicize your work if you are willing to shell out a little more cash, like iUniverse. Instead of being one of thousands of manuscripts that land on a publisher's desk any given week, you can market yourself and sell your book online and, in many cases, even in bookstores. Who knows, the right person may get their hands on it and you could have a legitimate publishing contract before you know it!