This discussion introduces a heuristic to guide writing instruction with adolescents and young adults. Our framework, called "Open World Writing," consists of six writing territories (vision, material, design, voice, flow, polish) that provide focus and clarity for writing and educators working across academic and creative writing projects. We describe the "how" and "what" of Open World Writing, including anecdotes from our writing space affiliated with a site of the National Writing Project that illustrate the three tenets of Open World Writing (openness, connection, and person-centeredness).