About Inward Voices
What Is Inward Voices?
Inward Voices is a student-run journal for first-person writing. We publish memoir, personal essays, and narrative nonfiction — the kind of writing that starts from real life and asks what it means.
We believe the most interesting thing a young writer can do is tell the truth about their own experience. Not academic papers. Not hot takes. Just honest, well-crafted personal writing.
We're open to submissions from high school students everywhere.
How Inward Voices Started
Inward Voices grew out of The Palo Alto Scholar, a student-led academic journal founded by high school students in Palo Alto, California. When that journal's founders moved on, we saw an opportunity to take the project in a new direction — away from academic writing and toward something more personal.
We think first-person storytelling is where student voices are strongest. We believe that by focusing on individual narratives, we can create a more authentic record of the teenage experience today.
Who’s Behind Inward Voices
Violet Callahan — Founder & Editor
Violet is a high school student in Palo Alto, CA, with a passion for writing, reading, and amplifying young voices. She founded Inward Voices because she believes the best student writing isn't about proving how smart you are — it's about saying something real.
What We’re Looking For
We publish writing that is personal, specific, and honest. We're looking for stories only you could tell — about your family, your identity, a moment that changed how you see the world, or something you've never said out loud. All high school students are welcome to submit, regardless of experience.