At age, 15, Ishan Panda, now 17, founded the Young Author’s Anthology (YAA) of Northern Nevada. The program—of which Panda is president; Ethan Ahn is vice president; and Shruthi Inamdar is the media contact—is dedicated to motivating writers in grades 4 through 8 in Washoe County to write, publish and share their ideas. This year, 13 writers will be published in the fall 2026 edition. The deadline to submit is Aug. 10. For more information, visit yaareno.org.
What was the origin of YAA?
So, I used to be—I still am—a Davidson Academy writing teacher. I teach a creative writing elective. Middle school students there were able to write short stories, and they got published into a physical anthology. We realized, at the end of the year, that it’d be pretty cool to then share this to other people.
A press release to the RN&R said there’s going to be an audience of 10,000. How does that work?
We have 16 middle and elementary schools. Some that are most notable for us are Sky Ranch and Swope. We also have Hunsberger Elementary and Brown Elementary partnering with us. Across 16 middle and elementary schools, that roughly adds up to 10,000 students.
Will the students receive an anthology?
Obviously, costs are something we have to be aware of, but (we also need to make) sure the anthology can go to as many people as possible. So, to balance the two ends of the spectrum, we aim to put the physical book in each classroom. At our elementary schools, we put it in the library, but for middle schools, since they don’t have a dedicated library time, it’s better to just put it inside the classroom of their English teachers. So, that’s usually about six to 13 copies per school, depending on how big their classrooms are, and that’s how the students end up seeing it.
At what age did you become interested in writing?
I had been writing since I was 11—like, typing up short stories on my Google account.
How has your writing evolved throughout the years?
I feel like I’ve gotten better with not just syntax … but I also learned just from reading published authors or even the students who submit to our publication. I’ve learned a lot about what makes a story good. I think the big thing to note is: It really is down to the idea.
What would you say constitutes as a good idea?
Writing is super-subjective, but … ultimately, a good idea is something that kind of sits with somebody. Ultimately, it acts as a way for students to feel like they connected with the story. It has characters that are relatable to them. … A good idea sparks that emotional value to the student, and that’s what draws them in. An idea that’s good can come in many different ways, but if it can trigger some sort of emotional response, it does a great job.
Why do you feel writing is important?
People who are able to write really well have a lot more opportunities available to them solely because they can write. It’s something that you can control. The opportunities that open as a result of it are incredible, much better than any sort of privilege or locker status can give you.
Where do you see the future of YAA? How is that going to look once you leave Davidson?
A big thing about our program is legacy. Our slogan is “ars longa, vita brevis,” which just means that art is long, and life is short. While the students’ works are long-lasting, for this program to be long-lasting, we need to think about: How do we make this program continue to last even after me and Ethan graduate? So, we have a club in the Davidson Academy with younger students—so, eighth graders to sophomores in high school—who are able to take over this in the future.