The 20 remarkable teen writers below have been selected as GrubStreet’s 2025 Teen Writing Fellows! With their dazzling play on language and dedication to literary citizenship, this cohort of teen writers demonstrates the power of stories to embolden us to welcome authenticity, growth, and each other.
This year’s Teen Writing Fellows were selected from an impressive pool of more than 140 applicants in a blind judging process by 4 panelists. The 20 Fellows will be supported as working writers in a three-week intensive program where they will gain the skills, pathways, and relationships to bring their voices into the world.
From left to right: Maria Pinto, Advika Singh, Siri Erlingsson, and Estella Gu.
Maria Pinto: Hi, my name is Maria Pinto, and I’m a rising 9th grader in Brookline. Ever since I was little, I’ve had a deep love for writing—especially poetry and realistic fiction—so being accepted into this fellowship means a lot to me. I’m really looking forward to learning new techniques, getting feedback on my work, and connecting with other teen writers who share my passion. I can’t wait to grow as a writer and be part of such a creative community. See you soon!
Advika Singh: Hi I’m Advika! I’m a rising ninth grader and I’m thrilled to join the Grubstreet program. I usually write short stories, but I’m excited to experiment with different kinds of writing. Some of my favorite books are “ The Devil Wears Prada” by Lauren Weisberger and “ the five people you meet in heaven” by Mitch Albom. Currently, I’m writing a piece called “Carried by Otto” that I eventually hope to turn into a book. One of the goals I have as a writer is to spread positive and inspiring messages through my work. Outside of writing, I enjoy playing tennis, watching movies, shopping, and exploring fashion. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in fashion journalism, so I can combine my love for writing and style.
Siri Erlingsson: My name is Siri and I am an incoming freshman in Boston! I have always enjoyed writing, though I believe the turning point was a short story I wrote in third grade. I love writing vignettes and poetry, and I hope my writing can free people as it frees myself. I am just ecstatic to be given the opportunity to learn from my fellow peers who are also as interested in writing as me, but have different perspectives and opinions that I can’t wait to hear!
Estella Gu: Hello! My name is Estella and I'm a rising freshman from Carlisle. I enjoy writing science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. In my free time, I also enjoy art, coding, and hiking. I'm looking forward to exploring more writing genres, growing my writing skills, and connecting with more teen writers this summer!
From left to right: Reagan Massó, Duyen Nguyen, Lily Xia, and Sabrine Said.
Reagan Massó: Hi, I’m Reagan, a rising freshman at Boston Latin Academy. I adore writing young adult fiction, mostly coming-of-age stories with various science fiction elements. I’m extremely excited to meet more writers and hear new and captivating stories from others in this fellowship. Fun fact: I love '80s music and the Beatles.
Duyen Nguyen: Hi, my name is Duyen, and I’m a rising 9th grader. I write mostly fiction, and I especially enjoy writing themes of mystery and self identity as I try to find my own. I look forward to stepping outside of my comfort zone, exploring poetry, screenplay, and meeting new people!
Lily Xia: Hey guys I’m Lily and I’m from Lexington! I’m super excited to join Grubstreet this summer, and I particularly enjoy writing poetry and short stories. Some fun facts about me are that I am an avid debater and game pigeon player, especially with word hunts and 8 balls.
Sabrine Said : Hi! My name is Sabrine, I'm a 15 year old writer who enjoys all aspects of writing but mostly realistic fiction, thrillers, and poetry. I can't wait to hone my skills and learn new ideas from others! So far I've written poetry for fun, school articles, short stories, and some memoirs. In the near future I want to put my new skills to use to write a book, I'm currently stuck between a murder mystery or a realistic fiction mixed in with some thriller. I'd also really love to try out screenwriting! Lastly, I can't wait to meet everyone this summer!
From left to right: Sanaaya Hora, Dylan Ecimovic, and Vivian Cain-Weingram.
Sanaaya Hora: Hi! My name is Sanaaya Hora, and I’m a 14 year old writer who loves to experiment with poetry and prose. I’m currently working on my first draft of a middle grade mystery novel with a pinch of Greek mythology sprinkled in. Storytelling has always been a huge part of my life, and I’m super excited to meet other young writers this summer and expand my repertoire.
Dylan Ecimovic: Hi! My name is Dylan Ecimovic. I am from Hull, MA and I enjoy writing stories and plays which often feature nonsensical characters and situations. I write about whatever enters my mind and I often utilize bizarre humor and parody to illustrate more serious topics and ideas. I also occasionally write poetry. I am excited to join the Fellowship to improve my writing and meet like-minded people.
Vivian Cain-Weingram: Hi! My name is Vivian and I am a rising sophomore. I love to write short stories and essays, and am working on a novel right now. I’m looking forward to exploring new writing genres at GrubStreet this summer. In my free time, I sing, run long distance, and am training for my first triathlon.
From left to right: Selim Efe, BK Kelley, Teo Russell, and CJ Carpenter.
Selim Efe: Hi, I’m Selim! I’m super excited to spend three weeks with nineteen other like- and different-minded writers from the Boston area. I especially enjoy exploring the mundane, everyday moments in my writing. And above all else, I’m a fervent apologist for the Granny Smith apple.
BK Kelley: Hi, I'm BK Kelley! I'm an incoming junior from Quincy, MA. I enjoy listening to music, writing poetry, and walking my dog. Excited to meet you all this summer!
Teo Russell: I’m Teo Russell, a rising junior from Hyde Park, Boston who has always been entranced by the power of words! For me, creative writing is a source of inspiration that I use to capture thoughts and ideas about the world around me. I write a lot of poetry and have recently been exploring short stories and mixed-media works. One of my favorite books is Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I am also passionate about music and photography. I look forward to building connections with other aspiring writers!
CJ Carpenter: Hey, I’m CJ! I’m a 16 year old writer from Boston. I mainly write short works of prose that draw from my own life experiences, but I’m looking forward to expanding my writing range at GrubStreet! I’m also excited to engage with the broader artistic community during my time here and meet new people.
From left to right: Gigi Nacco, Simon Dolev, Jessica Wu, and Newt Barletta.
Gigi Nacco: Hello all! My name is Gigi and I am a 17-year-old writer from Medford. I enjoy writing of all kinds—like romance, horror, and building rich narrative worlds—but poetry above all else! I am working on creating a poem book that expresses my experiences as a Black, young, and queer writer in this world that isn’t always accepting. I am published in my school’s LitMag and have done poetry readings for Black Legacy Galas and Lavender Graduations. I am super excited for the opportunity to meet other writers who are passionate about their craft and collaborate with them! I want to reach beyond my usual writing styles and get out of my comfort zone!
Simon Dolev: I write short fiction—often speculative—that explores moral ambiguity and human agency. My stories revolve around enduring philosophical and ethical questions, such as what makes an action just, how conflicting obligations shape us, and how we respond when control slips away. As a Teen Writing Fellow, I’m excited to learn from a community of thoughtful writers and begin developing the tools to expand my work from short stories into novels.
Jessica Wu: Hi, I’m Jessica! I’m a rising senior from Lexington, MA. I mostly write flash fiction and poetry, though I have written short stories and screenwriting works as well. Some of my favorite poets include Ocean Vuong and Richard Siken. Outside of writing, I enjoy playing the flute, going to cafes, and doom-scrolling on Substack. I'm excited to explore new writing genres and meet everyone this summer!
Cedar Connell: Hi, I'm Cedar, an aspiring writer and lover of all things literature. I enjoy writing fiction, poems, and anything experimental. In my spare time you can catch me reading, watching movies, and playing with my dog, Bamboo. I look forward to sharing with and learning from my peers at Grub Street's program this summer!
Newt Barletta: My name is Newt, and I’m seventeen. I love a lyric essay more than anything, and my favorite books are Carmen Maria Machado’s In the Dream House and Wendell Berry’s The Unsettling of America. This summer, I’m hoping to experiment with my writing, take creative risks, & connect with other teen fellows!