Emerging Writers Institute creative writing camp is a two-week summer writing program for teens. Rising 10th-12th graders experience a unique curriculum designed to develop and support students’ imaginative writing across literary genres. This creative writing summer program encourages students to challenge themselves technically and artistically through guided daily writing workshops, one-on-one instructor evaluations, group editing sessions, and creative presentations of their work. Moreover, the participants in the program will be uniquely positioned to profit from the literary culture of the San Francisco Bay Area. By the program’s conclusion, students will produce and perfect quality pieces suitable for publication in their own literary magazine and professional teen publications.
What makes our summer creative writing programs so distinctive?
- A curricular emphasis in expressive writing as a process rather than in rules or formulas - students will discover and refine their own voices.
- The inclusion of critical reading exercises as an essential tool for growth.
- Seminars to ready students' work for professional submission to youth publications, such as the Claremont Review, The Writer's Slate, Stone Soup, and Teen Ink.
Specific Skill Development
This creative writing summer program encourages students to challenge themselves technically and artistically through guided daily writing workshops, one-on-one instructor evaluations, group editing sessions, and creative presentations of their work. Emphasis is placed in expressive writing as a process rather than in rules or formulas. Instructors consistently encourage students to discover and refine their own unique voices. We know that successful writers are also critical and voracious readers; as a result, the inclusion of reading exercises and analysis are woven into the program as an essential tool for growth.
Curriculum & Environment
EWI is conducted in a seminar-style environment were students improve their craft through regular feedback from peers and instructors. Students will also receive inspiration from off-campus, instructor-led activities designed to introduce them to the literary culture surrounding their college campus.
In EWI, Students select a major focus area called a Writer’s Block. In each Writer’s Block, students read classic and contemporary examples of the genre, craft and hone their writing composition, and prepare to present their piece to an audience of readers and listeners.
This year’s Writer’s Blocks may include:
- Short and Sweet: Short Story Seminar
- Well-Versed: Poetry Seminar
- The ‘Wright Stuff: Playwright’s Seminar
- The Real Word: Nonfiction Seminar
Highlights & Deliverables
Participants in the program will be uniquely positioned to profit from the literary culture of the San Francisco Bay Area. One benefit of these seminars is to ready students' work for professional submission to youth publications, such as the Claremont Review, The Writer's Slate, Stone Soup, and Teen Ink. By the program’s conclusion, students will produce and refine quality pieces suitable for publication in their own literary magazine and professional teen publications.
By the end of the week, students will share polished pieces for publication in their own literary magazine and present their work in an informal reading for on the final day of camp. At the conclusion of the summer season, their piece will be published in an impressive anthology that will be mailed home to families.
Grade Level Specifics:
Rising 10th-12th Grade Students
Emerging Writers Institute creative writing camp is a two-week summer writing program for teens. Rising 10th-12th graders experience a unique curriculum designed to develop and support students’ imaginative writing across literary genres.
**Note:* The offering of majors is based upon enrollment and student needs, which varies substantially. Our diverse afternoon workshops have included nontraditional writing genres, such as speech writing, ‘zine creation, graphic novels, journalism, nature writing, and advertising copy. These courses seek to engage students with diverse material. Furthermore, the program recruits guest speakers from the publishing industry and Bay Area authors to give readings and answer questions about literary life and labor.*
*Extended Day Campers check in on Monday morning between 8:00am and 8:30am and then enjoy curriculum and recreation Monday - Friday from 9am to 9pm, with lunch and dinner provided in the dining hall.
