Society of Young Inklings

What Society of Young Inklings does

Society of Young Inklings is a California-based 501c3 nonprofit that supports youth writers ages 8-18 through a layered suite of creative writing programs. Founded by Naomi Kinsman in 2008 and operating with 18 staff, the organization runs an Inklings Membership community (delivered via the Inkwell online platform at inkwell.younginklings.org), 1:1 Mentorship with vetted professional author-mentors at $125 per 45-minute video session plus a $100 enrollment fee, the biennial Inklings Book Contest with resulting Inklings Book anthologies (including a Teen Edition), and a publishing ladder that includes Fresh Ink, Spotlight Ink, and Your Name In Ink, each culminating in retail distribution on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and IndieBound. Supporting programs include summer camps, Writers Circles, Youth Leadership Teams (Youth Advisory Board and Inklings Member Advisor Team), the Spill Some Ink Write-a-Thon, the In the Margins Zine, Think Book educational resources, and the A Hero's Journey partnership for families facing pediatric illness and loss.

The technology stack is deliberately low-AI: the Inkwell community platform, WordPress (Divi) website, ConvertKit email, Google Docs and Google Hangouts/Zoom for session delivery, Airtable and Canva for contest operations, and Google Analytics for site measurement. The organization is COPPA-compliant, requiring parent/guardian email for registration of children 13 and under, and runs background checks on all mentor contractors. Marketing is primarily content-driven through the Written by Inklings blog, the monthly Ink Splat newsletter, organic social, and the annual contest.

Revenue is generated from a mix of recurring membership and mentorship tuition, one-time publishing program fees, book and merchandise sales, and donations/grants via the Illuminate the Future program, with need-based scholarships available across all programs to support underserved youth. Distribution combines a direct e-commerce bookstore with major retailer marketplace presence and a local partnership with Hicklebees Books for launch events. The customer base is consumer-direct (youth writers and their parents/guardians) with no enterprise anchors, and the organization also serves educators through classroom-facing resources.

Name

Society of Young Inklings

Legal name

Society of Young Inklings, Inc.

Website

https://younginklings.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Society of Young Inklings is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports youth writers ages 8-18 through subscription membership, 1:1 author mentorship, an annual writing contest and anthology, and tiered publishing programs producing books sold at major retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Creative Writing Education

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Literary Arts & Writing Organizations (BPAGAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Children’s & YA Writing Workshops (EDAMAMAF), Fiction Writing Workshops (Short Story, Novel) (EDAMAMAA), Writing Skills & Composition Enrichment (EDAMAJAC)

Keywords

• Youth writing programs
• Creative writing mentorship
• Children's book publishing
• Nonprofit writing education
• Writing workshops for youth

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Inklings Membership: Monthly/annual subscription membership providing access to Inkwell community, monthly author interviews, Spilling Ink workshops, writing dares, resources, and Writer's Room access for ages 13+.
2. One-on-One Mentorship: Per-session tuition at $125/session with 45-minute sessions, plus $100 one-time enrollment fee. Sessions delivered weekly via video. Billed monthly. Need-based scholarships available.
3. Book Sales: Sale of books authored by youth through the Fresh Ink Publishing Program and annual Inklings Book anthologies. Books priced at $16.99-$19.99. E-commerce storefront plus marketplace distribution.
4. Publishing Program Fees: Fresh Ink Publishing Program and Spotlight Ink Publishing Program provide guided novel revision and publication services for youth authors who have completed drafts. Costs based on word count and project complexity.
5. Donations and Grants: As a 501c3 nonprofit, the organization receives donations through its Illuminate the Future program and mission-aligned sponsorships and grants to support operations, scholarships, and free programming for underserved youth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Society of Young Inklings provides creative writing mentorship, publishing programs, and community membership for youth writers ages 8-18. Through one-on-one mentorship with professional published authors, an annual book contest producing published anthologies, and a guided novel revision-to-publication pipeline, the organization helps young writers develop craft and publish real books available at major retailers.

Product overview

Society of Young Inklings is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of creative writing programs for youth ages 8-18. The core offerings include: Inklings Membership providing community access to the Inkwell platform, monthly author interviews via Ink Splat, Spilling Ink workshops, and Writer's Room; 1:1 Mentorship with professional author-mentors through weekly video sessions; the annual Inklings Book Contest and Inklings Book anthology publications (including Teen Edition); and publishing programs (Fresh Ink, Spotlight Ink, Your Name In Ink) guiding youth through novel revision to publication. Additional programs include Summer Programs, Youth Leadership Teams (Youth Advisory Board and Inklings Member Advisor Team), Writers Circles, scholarship opportunities, and the Inklings Book Store selling youth-published books and merchandise. The organization also partners on A Hero's Journey for families dealing with pediatric illness/loss and hosts the annual Spill Some Ink Write-a-Thon. All programs emphasize mentorship, revision skills, and authentic publication opportunities, with need-based scholarships ensuring accessibility for underserved communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fresh Ink Publishing: A guided, full-novel revision and publishing program for youth writers with a completed draft.
• Spotlight Ink Publishing
• Inklings Book Contest
• Inklings Mentorship
• Inklings Membership
• A Hero's Journey

Products and services

• Inklings Membership A subscription-based creative writing community membership for young writers ages 8-18 providing access to the Inkwell community platform, monthly author interviews, Spilling Ink workshops, monthly writing dares, and Writer's Room access for ages 13+.
• 1:1 Mentorship Weekly one-on-one sessions with professional author-mentors personalized for the writer's age, interests, and goals. Sessions are 45 minutes via video, with a recommended 12-session initial commitment at $125 per session plus $100 enrollment fee.
• Membership + Mentorship Combined offering that includes all Inklings Membership benefits plus personalized one-on-one mentor meetings, individual feedback, goal setting, and guidance tailored to the writer's projects.
• Fresh Ink Publishing Program A guided full-novel revision program where youth authors work one-on-one with a mentor through a complete novel revision, culminating in professional publication with optional cover illustrator and ebook add-ons. Average timeline is 12-24 weeks active revision plus 2-4 months preparation.
• Spotlight Ink Publishing Program An advanced, in-depth revision experience for writers who have completed at least one Fresh Ink project. Includes professional cover illustration and thorough copyedit. Average revision timeline is 6-9 months.
• Your Name In Ink Advanced publishing program for experienced writers who have completed at least one Fresh Ink project and are ready for a next-level revision and publishing challenge.
• Inklings Book Contest Annual biennial writing contest celebrating youth writers in grades 3-12. Winners revise their stories with a professional mentor and are published in the annual Inklings Book anthology.
• Inklings Book Annual anthology published by Society of Young Inklings featuring stories and poems by contest winners and finalists, each revised with professional mentor guidance and complemented by author interviews.
• Inklings Book Teen Edition Annual teen edition anthology featuring stories and poems selected from the Inklings Book Contest, where authors participate in a collaborative peer editorial review process.
• Inkwell Online Community Platform Online community platform accessible to Inklings members for sharing stories, connecting with fellow writers, and accessing the Writer's Room for ages 13+.
• Summer Programs Seasonal writing programs including summer camps for youth writers, offering intensive creative writing instruction and community building.
• Youth Leadership Teams Leadership development programs including the Youth Advisory Board (for incoming juniors and seniors) and Inklings Member Advisor Team (for incoming freshmen and sophomores), offering strategic feedback, community projects, and special role opportunities.
• Scholarship Programs Need-based scholarships for Membership, 1:1 Mentorships, Writers Circles, Summer Camps, and the Spotlight Ink and Fresh Ink Publishing Programs, supporting youth writers in high-need and underserved communities.
• Think Book Educational writing resource books available in Intermediate and Advanced editions, containing writing craft insights and practical strategies for young writers.
• Spill Some Ink Write-a-Thon Annual writing event that brings writers together across generations to tap into and share their voices through collaborative writing activities, with proceeds supporting youth authors.
• A Hero's Journey Creative writing program partnership supporting families struggling with pediatric illness and/or loss to share their stories through storytelling and publishing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth authors publish real books available at major retailers (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, indie bookstores)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• A Hero's JourneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Hero's Journey is a storytelling and publishing program partnering with Society of Young Inklings to support families struggling with pediatric illness and/or loss. The program enables young writers to share their stories through creative expression, with some stories serving as legacies for those who may not survive. Founded by a parent who lost their son Tobin in 2012 and wanted to champion other families on similar healing journeys.
• HicklebeesminorOthersLocal children's bookstore partner. Hicklebees hosts Inklings Book launch events and provides retail distribution support for youth-authored books. Partnership supports local community engagement and author celebration events.
• Palo Valley Theater Company (PVTC)minorOthersCommunity theater partner supporting organizational programs and events. Listed as a partner organization providing community support.
• Stone SoupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Stone Soup literary magazine for youth writing opportunities, including the 'Spill Some Ink with Stone Soup' initiative providing personal essay opportunities for young writers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Girls Write Now: Girls Write Now is a nonprofit mentoring program pairing underserved young women and gender-expansive youth with professional writers for one-on-one mentorship and publishing outcomes. Highly comparable mission, mentorship model, and focus on publishing as a development outcome.
• 826 National: 826 National is a nonprofit network of youth writing centers offering tutoring, writing workshops, and publishing programs for students ages 6-18. Highly comparable to Society of Young Inklings in mission (youth creative writing development), nonprofit structure, and publishing outcomes.
• Brave Writer: Brave Writer provides subscription-based creative writing programs and homeschool writing curriculum for children and teens. Comparable in offering online writing instruction, subscription revenue model, and youth/parent-focused GTM, though more homeschool-anchored.
• Teen Ink: Teen Ink is a magazine and online platform publishing teen creative writing, art, and opinions with a national reach and contests. Directly comparable as a youth literary publishing and community platform serving a similar age demographic.
• Stone Soup Magazine: Stone Soup is a literary magazine publishing creative work by youth writers ages 8-13, with an established partnership with Society of Young Inklings via the 'Spill Some Ink' initiative. Directly comparable as a youth literary publishing platform and program partner.

Emerging players

• Creative Writing Now: Creative Writing Now offers paid online creative writing courses, workshops, and prompts for aspiring writers. Comparable in selling structured creative writing instruction, though serves a broader demographic and lacks the youth-only specialization.
• Adroit Journal: The Adroit Journal publishes poetry and prose by teen writers with mentorship and editorial feedback from established writers. Comparable in publishing model and youth development through professional editorial engagement, though more selective/smaller in scale.

Others

• Figment: Figment was an online community platform for teen writers to share work and receive feedback (acquired by Google in 2014). Comparable as a digital community platform for young writers, included for category context rather than as an active competitive threat.

Broad incumbents

• Highlights for Children: Highlights is an established children's media brand publishing magazines, books, and digital content for kids including creative writing prompts. Comparable as a youth creative writing brand, but operates at substantially larger scale and as a broader children's content company.
• National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo): NaNoWriMo runs the annual novel-writing challenge including Camp NaNoWriMo for younger writers. Comparable in mobilizing youth around novel completion and writing communities, though operates at much larger scale and broader demographic scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-of-young-inklings

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Society of Young Inklings