15 Creative Writing Camps for High School Students

TL;DR

You’ll find 15 creative writing camps here, from selective two-week residential programs at Iowa, Kenyon, and Sewanee to open-enrollment workshops at Sarah Lawrence and the University of Washington. The biggest difference is how you get in, since Iowa, Kenyon, and Sewanee review statements, recommendations, or writing samples, while Write the World’s $349 online camps are open to register. Most camps suit students in 9th to 12th grade, and several welcome writers at any level. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights pathway in Creative Writing runs for two weeks in Oxford for students aged 13 to 18.

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If you fill notebooks with story ideas or stay up late polishing poems, creative writing camps for high school students give you room to write beyond what an English class allows. Instead of writing for a grade, you draft, share, and revise your work in small workshops with published writers and peers who take writing as seriously as you do. A camp is also a good place to experiment and figure out whether you’re drawn more to prose or poetry.

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Creative writing camps range from open-enrollment workshops to selective residential programs that ask for a writing sample. Depending on the camp, you might write a TV pilot at Iowa, draft speculative fiction in Seattle’s museums, or plot a novel in a one-week Columbia intensive. 

What are creative writing camps for high school students?

Creative writing camps for high school students are summer programs, often hosted by universities and literary organizations, where you write in workshops led by published writers and get feedback on your drafts. Most last between four days and three weeks and end with a reading, a portfolio, or a finished piece.

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Programs differ in how much they ask of you up front. Iowa and Sewanee review writing samples, while Sarah Lawrence and the University of Washington let you register without an application. Before you apply, check whether the camp focuses on one genre or several, whether housing is included, and how admission works. 

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To help you compare your options, we’ve put together a list of 15 creative writing camps for high school students!

15 Creative Writing Camps for High School Students

1. Iowa Young Writers’ Studio: 2-Week Summer Residential Program

Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $2,500 | $10 reading fee to apply, which can be waived | Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 13-26, 2027 (Session 1) | July 11-24, 2027 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: January 25th - February 7th, 2027 (decisions emailed April 9th, 2027)
Eligibility: Current 10th - 12th graders | Open to international students

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At the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio, you spend two weeks focused on one core course in fiction, poetry, creative writing, TV writing, or playwriting. Your course is taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop or the University of Iowa’s MFA programs in playwriting and nonfiction writing. 

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You’ll share your writing with teachers and peers, receive constructive critique, and work through writing exercises in class. Beyond your core course, you’ll attend readings by published writers, craft workshops, discussions on literary translation and revision, and small-group collaborative projects. Open mics, talent shows, and social gatherings round out the two weeks.

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Why it stands out: You study a single genre in depth with graduates of one of the most famous writing programs in the country.

2. Immerse Education's Creative Writing Summer School

Location: Oxford

Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; an average of 7 participants per class

Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions

Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer

Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school; open to international students

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Immerse Education's Academic Insights pathway in Creative Writing will offer you the opportunity to explore the art of creative writing through building skills in poetry, narratives, and fiction. You'll participate in workshops, literary analysis and collaborative projects. You'll receive personalized guidance from experienced writers and explore different genres and writing styles as you find your unique voice as a writer. 

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Along with becoming a better writer, the program also gives you the experience of university life through thought-provoking discussions and a chance to make like-minded friendships. If you're a high school student looking for a writing program that can help you master creative writing, build self-confidence, and earn a recognized certificate, then this one is a good option to consider.

Why it stands out: It immerses you in narrative craft, genre exploration, and editorial feedback, helping you develop stronger storytelling skills and a more compelling creative voice

3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Remote, you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.

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The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! 

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You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.

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Why it stands out: You get 1-1 mentorship with a Ph.D. mentor and produce an independent research project by the end.

4. Kenyon Review Young Writers Summer Residential Workshop

Location: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
Cost: $2,575, covering tuition, housing, meals, and activities | No application fee | Need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 12-14 students per workshop
Dates: June 27th - July 10th, 2027 | July 18-31, 2027
Application Deadline: Applications open in January 2027 | March 1st, 2027 (deadline)
Eligibility: Rising juniors, rising seniors, and recent high school graduates aged 16-18 | Open to international students, who need a B-2 or B-1/B-2 visa

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The Kenyon Review Young Writers Summer Residential Workshop is a two-week program at Kenyon College, home of The Kenyon Review. Workshop groups meet five hours a day to freewrite, respond to prompts, discuss readings, and share short stories, poems, and essays. Everyone in the room writes and shares daily, including the instructors, and the workshop is ungraded so you can take creative risks. 

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You’ll also meet with instructors in individual conferences and can sign up for a three-part genre session with a different instructor and group. Outside class, you live in the dorms and spend downtime exploring the Village of Gambier.

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Why it stands out: You write every day in a supportive, ungraded workshop run by one of the country’s best-known literary journals.

5. Yale Young Writers’ Workshop

Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT, or online
Cost: On campus: $2,660 tuition ($3,085 with housing) | Online: $1,380 | $80 application fee (2026)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21-26, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: January 16th - April 1st, 2026, with rolling weekly decisions (2027 dates not yet posted)
Eligibility: On campus: rising seniors aged 16-18 | Online: rising juniors and seniors aged 16-18 | International eligibility not specified

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The Yale Young Writers’ Workshop is a one-week program for high school writers that you can attend on Yale’s campus or online. You choose from workshops across several genres, taught by experienced, accomplished writers who mentor emerging voices. 

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Each day follows a structured schedule of workshops, events, and activities designed to keep you writing. Your application centers on a 500-word writing sample, and admissions decisions are released weekly on a rolling basis.

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Why it stands out: You get a concentrated week of workshops with accomplished writers, either at Yale or from home.

6. Sarah Lawrence College: Writers Week

Location: Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY, or online
Cost: Virtual: $985 | On campus: $2,050, including lunch and snacks | Residential add-on: $1,195 (ages 16+) | $250 deposit at registration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; classes limited to 18 students, with two teaching artists per workshop
Dates: July 6-9, 2027 (virtual) | July 12-16 or August 2-6, 2027 (on campus)
Application Deadline: No application; register for your session online
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12 who are 14+ | Open to international students, who should attend on an F-1 visa

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Writers Week combines creative writing with theatre in a one-week program that Sarah Lawrence has run since 1999. Each day begins with a writing workshop led by two MFA Writing graduate students, with generative prompts across genres like speculative fiction, poetry, memoir, flash fiction, and novel writing. 

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In the Writer’s Theatre workshops, you explore storytelling through improvisation, group projects, and games, choosing a specialty such as screenwriting, sketch comedy, or playwriting. You can earn one transferable college credit from Sarah Lawrence when you complete the program. The week also includes faculty and student readings and a celebration of student work on the final day.

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Why it stands out: You pair creative writing with theatre and leave with a transferable college credit after just one week.

7. Columbia University Pre-College Programs: Novel-Writing Intensive

Location: Columbia University, New York, NY (commuter)
Cost: $2,883 (2027 estimate) + $95 application fee | Need-based aid covering 25-50% of costs for U.S. residents
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21-25, 2027
Application Deadline: February 1st, 2027 (early registration) | April 1st, 2027 (general); applications open in mid-November 2026
Eligibility: Rising 9th graders through current 12th graders | Open to international students, who need a visitor visa

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If you already have an idea for a novel, or you want to understand how longer fiction is built, Columbia’s Novel-Writing Intensive is a one-week course that takes you from conception to outlining to writing. You’ll explore conflict, world-building, character work, pacing, and how to create an effective scene, whether you write literary fiction, young adult, fantasy, or another genre. 

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You share your writing in a workshop setting and complete asynchronous work between class sessions. Workshop sessions give you in-depth feedback from both your instructor and peers. The course is non-credit, and you receive a certificate of participation and a personalized evaluation from your instructor.

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Why it stands out: You focus on the mechanics of planning and sustaining a novel-length work in a single, concentrated week.

8. Columbia University Pre-College Programs: The Columbia Creative Writing Workshop

Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Residential: $12,838 | Commuter: $6,381 (2027 estimates) + $95 application fee | Need-based aid for U.S. residents in the commuter program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Three-week sessions: June 28th - July 16th or July 20th - August 6th, 2027
Application Deadline: February 1st, 2027 (early registration) | March 1st, 2027 (residential) or April 1st, 2027 (commuter)
Eligibility: Rising 9th graders through current 12th graders; residential students must be 15+ and turn 16 by December 31st | Open to international students, who need a visitor visa

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The Columbia Creative Writing Workshop is a three-week course adapted from Columbia’s MFA in Writing program. You’ll work across poetry, prose, fiction, and creative nonfiction while developing voice, imagery, characterization, dialogue, rhythm, and narration. 

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The curriculum takes you from idea generation and draft development through basic revision and editing, with your own work becoming material for class critique. You’ll also analyze writing by acclaimed authors to understand, on a technical level, how accomplished creative writing is produced. You can live on campus or commute, and the course is non-credit.

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Why it stands out: You get a foundational workshop built on Columbia’s MFA in Writing program, set in the middle of New York City.

9. Lighthouse Writers Workshop: Summer Writing Intensive

Location: Lighthouse Writers Workshop, Denver, CO
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6-12 campers per session
Dates: One week, offered once each summer
Application Deadline: Apply through Lighthouse’s online application; 2027 dates not yet posted
Eligibility: Middle and high school writers of all experience levels | International eligibility not specified

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Lighthouse Writers Workshop is a Denver literary nonprofit, and its Summer Writing Intensive runs once each summer for middle and high school writers. During the week, you work at length with several published and award-winning instructors across a variety of genres. 

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Small sessions of 6 to 12 campers mean you get plenty of individual attention. You’ll leave with new knowledge about craft, at least one completed piece, and ideas for pieces to come. You’re also invited, but not required, to share your writing at a public reading at the end of the week.

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Why it stands out: You learn from several published writers in one week and can continue with Lighthouse’s year-round youth programs afterward.

10. UMass Amherst: Juniper Institute for Young Writers

Location: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA
Cost: Residential: $5,200 | Commuter: $2,330 | Scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12-25, 2026 (Session 1) | July 26th - August 8th, 2026 (Session 2) (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: March 16th, 2026; 2027 applications not yet open
Eligibility: Rising 10th - 12th graders and graduating seniors | International eligibility not specified

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At the Juniper Institute for Young Writers, you spend two weeks developing your writing through Writing Labs, craft sessions, write-ins, participant readings, and Writer’s Life Talks. You work with the one-on-one guidance of a Creative Writing Instructor while living and writing alongside other young writers on the UMass Amherst campus. 

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Programming runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts building. Field trips connect you with the literary culture of Western Massachusetts, home to poets like Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, and Robert Frost.

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Why it stands out: You get one-on-one guidance from a writing instructor while living in a university-based literary community.

11. Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference

Location: University of the South, Sewanee, TN
Cost: $2,800, including room and board | Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 85 students; workshops capped at 12
Dates: June 27th - July 10th, 2027
Application Deadline: December 1st, 2026 - March 15th, 2027 (decisions in early April)
Eligibility: High school students | International eligibility not specified

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The Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference brings young writers to the Cumberland Plateau for two weeks of reading, writing, and community. Workshops of no more than twelve students meet from 9:30 to 12:30 every morning except Sunday, with time set aside for one-on-one conferences with your teacher. 

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Faculty include writers who have won literary prizes and been recognized by publications like the New York Times and the New Yorker. Afternoons bring Q&As with guest authors, a tour of the Sewanee Review, and short craft classes on topics from sonnets to zines. Every evening, you gather for a reading by a faculty member or special guest.

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Why it stands out: You work in small, rigorous workshops with prize-winning writers and get one-on-one conferences built into the schedule.

12. Clarion West Teen Writing Camp

Location: Hugo House and art spaces across Seattle, WA
Cost: Sliding scale from $350 to $850 | Limited need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 10 students
Dates: July 20-31, 2026, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on weekdays (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: The 2026 camp is full; join the waitlist on the camp page
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 entering grades 9-12 who are interested in speculative fiction | International eligibility not specified

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If you love science fiction, fantasy, or horror, Clarion West’s ten-day camp introduces you to creative writing through speculative fiction. Taught by author and writing instructor Tara Campbell, the camp alternates writing days at Hugo House with field trips to spaces like the Seattle Art Museum, MoPOP, and the Allen Institute. 

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You’ll cover worldbuilding, urban fantasy, the supernatural, horror, and hermit crab fiction, which tells stories in unusual formats like transcripts and reports. Guest instructors join to discuss other industries that rely on writers, and the camp ends with a capstone reading for your peers.

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Why it stands out: You write speculative fiction in a group of ten while using Seattle’s museums and art spaces as inspiration.

13. Georgetown University: Creative Writing Academy

Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Residential: $3,725, including meals | Commuter: $3,095 (2026)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12-18, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Summer 2027 programs and applications open November 16th, 2026
Eligibility: High school students | Open to international students

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During the Creative Writing Academy, you spend a week generating poems, stories, and essays through craft lectures, workshops with graduate student instructors, and peer feedback. Daily sessions cover poetry, fiction, personal prose, literary history, and technique, including story structure, character development, theme, description, and dialogue. 

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You’ll attend readings from published authors and explore the publishing side of writing, from markets for your work to undergraduate and graduate writing programs. Off-site excursions include a responsive writing exercise at the National Gallery of Art and prompts at other locations around Washington, D.C.

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Why it stands out: You pair daily workshops with writing exercises across Washington, D.C., while learning how writers get published.

14. Write the World: Virtual Summer Writing Camp

Location: Online
Cost: $349 per one-week camp | 15% off when you register for two or more
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Cohorts of up to 30 teens
Dates: One-week camps from July 6th to August 7th, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Register until each camp fills
Eligibility: Writers aged 13-19 at all levels | Open to international students

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Write the World’s virtual camps connect you with teen writers around the world for a week of focused writing in one genre. Depending on the camp you choose, you’ll explore fiction, poetry, science fiction and fantasy, novel writing, or the college essay. 

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Each day starts with a 90-minute live Zoom session of interactive writing activities, usually from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. After the live session, you work through prompts and peer reviews on your own, guided by feedback from peers and experts. Camps are led by Write the World’s team of trained authors and educators.

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Why it stands out: You can try a new genre for a week from anywhere, with live sessions and feedback from a global community of teen writers.

15. University of Washington: Writers Workshop for High School

Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA, or online
Cost: $700-$780 per session + $50 nonrefundable registration fee (2026)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29th - July 10th and July 27th - August 7th, 2026 (in person) | July 13-24, 2026 (online) (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Open registration until sessions close
Eligibility: 9th - 12th graders with a high level of English proficiency; no prior creative writing experience needed | International eligibility not specified

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UW’s Writers Workshop for High School is an introductory creative writing course where you explore your voice across poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, spoken word, and hybrid or multimodal work. You’ll read, share, and constructively critique each other’s writing in a supportive community while building toward a final portfolio. 

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You’ll learn how to write across multiple modes and how to give and receive feedback one-on-one and in groups. The workshop ends with a class reading open to family and friends, and you can claim a UW Youth & Teen Programs digital badge to highlight on college applications.

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Why it stands out: You build a multi-genre portfolio in two weeks and earn a digital badge you can share on applications.

Frequently asked questions: Creative Writing Camps for High School Students

What are the best creative writing programs for high school students?

The best creative writing programs for high school students combine small workshops, experienced writer-instructors, and plenty of time to write. Iowa Young Writers’ Studio courses are taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and Sewanee caps workshops at twelve students with one-on-one conferences. Kenyon’s workshops meet five hours a day, and instructors write and share alongside students. The right choice depends on whether you want a single genre, like Iowa’s TV writing course, or a multi-genre experience like Kenyon’s.

What are some creative writing activities for high school students?

Good creative writing activities for high school students include timed freewrites, prompts, writing in response to art, and swapping drafts for feedback. Clarion West takes teens to the Seattle Art Museum and MoPOP for inspiration, and Georgetown runs a responsive writing exercise at the National Gallery of Art. At home, try rewriting a scene from another character’s point of view or telling a story in an unusual format. For more ideas, browse these creative writing prompts for high school students.

Do you need a writing sample to apply to a creative writing camp?

It depends on the camp, since selective programs usually ask for one while open-enrollment camps don’t. Iowa asks for up to ten pages of fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction, and Sewanee requires a writing sample, personal statement, and teacher recommendation. Kenyon skips the sample and asks for a 300-word statement, transcript, and recommendation instead. Sarah Lawrence’s Writers Week and Write the World’s camps have no application, so you can simply register.

Do creative writing camps help with college applications?

Yes, creative writing camps can help by giving you finished work and showing a sustained commitment to writing. Sarah Lawrence’s Writers Week earns you one transferable college credit, and UW’s workshop ends with a portfolio and a digital badge you can list on applications. If you’re applying to arts programs, learn how to create a writing portfolio to impress. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights pathway in Creative Writing ends with a personal project, and from age 14 you can earn 8 UCAS points.

Are there online creative writing camps for high school students?

Yes, several creative writing camps run fully online. Write the World offers one-week virtual camps for ages 13 to 19 at $349 each, with daily 90-minute Zoom sessions, and Sarah Lawrence and UW both run virtual sections of their summer programs. Immerse Education’s Online Research pathway in Creative Writing pairs you 1:1 with a tutor if you’re aged 13 to 18. For more options, compare these online writing programs for high school students.

Can international students attend creative writing camps in the US?

Yes, many US creative writing camps welcome international students, though visa rules vary. Iowa welcomes applicants from outside the United States, and Kenyon requires a B-2 or B-1/B-2 visa for international participants. Sarah Lawrence asks international students to come on an F-1 visa since Writers Week earns college credit, while Columbia’s non-credit programs only require a visitor visa. If you’re also weighing study abroad for college, explore the best UK universities for creative writing.

Turn your summer writing into college plans

A creative writing camp gives you deadlines, feedback, and a room full of honest readers, which is often exactly what a growing writer needs.

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Compare creative writing camps for high school students by how they admit writers, whether they focus on one genre, and what you’ll leave with.

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Selective programs like Iowa and Kenyon close applications by early spring, so polish your strongest writing sample and line up a recommender this winter.

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When you’re ready to shape your writing into strong college applications, explore our University Preparation blogs for detailed guides on majors, essays, and admissions.