15 Competitive Creative Writing Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 days ago
- 11 min read
Structured programs can be a great option for you if you are looking to explore your interests beyond the high school curriculum. Programs introduce you to career pathways, skill-building opportunities, and new fields to clarify your interests and prepare for future academics. If you enjoy storytelling, poetry, essays, or narrative craft, creative writing programs can help you grow as a writer in many ways. Structured creative writing programs offer college-level instruction designed for young writers, opportunities to explore new writing styles and pathways, personalized feedback from experienced mentors, and the chance to build a portfolio of strong, polished work. Here, you may focus on general creative writing, fiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, or creative nonfiction.
Why should I participate in a competitive creative writing program in high school?
Competitive creative writing programs, typically offered by leading literary organizations and universities/colleges known for their writing programs, are designed to help you develop confidence in your voice, experiment with form and style, and cultivate a strong writing discipline for future academics and professional opportunities. Participating in a competitive creative writing program can also boost your academic profile and resume, especially if you plan to study English, creative writing, journalism, or communications in college. These programs connect you with peers who share your literary interests and published authors and faculty, while introducing you to the conventions and expectations of higher-level writing. If you are also keen on writing competitions, check out this blog!
To make your search easier, we have listed 15 competitive creative writing programs for high school students below. For this selection, we have focused on factors like level of professional mentorship, competitive acceptance, and reputation in literary education.
Location: Virtual
Cost / Stipend: $575; need-based financial aid and fee remission available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: 8%
Program dates: June 15 – July 27
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students, including graduating seniors, and gap year students | Familiarity with drafting and revision | Comfortable with critique
The Adroit Journal’s Summer Mentorship Program is a selective online program that pairs established writers with high school students and gap year students for individualized creative writing mentorship. You will explore poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction and engage in sustained drafting and revision over the course of the program. Rather than functioning as a formal class, the structure centers on one-on-one correspondence between mentor and mentee, along with small peer groups for critique. In the Poetry track, you will typically share work weekly, while the fiction and creative nonfiction tracks require you to share your work biweekly. The emphasis is on deep revision, critique, and professional-level dialogue focused on craft.
Location: Various sites, including Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two-week sessions in the summer
Application deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 – 18, currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program allows high school students to experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus and study in small groups of 7 to 10 students, and learn from tutors from top universities like Oxford and Cambridge. You can choose the creative writing track to learn about narrative techniques, poetry, and fiction, and build a solid writing foundation. Here, you will engage in workshops, sessions on literary analysis, and collaborative project work. At the end of the program, you will complete a personal project and receive written feedback along with a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Kenyon College, Gambier, OH (Residential) | Virtual (Online Programs)
Cost / Stipend: Summer Residential: $2,575 | Summer Online: $995 | Winter Online: $695; need- and merit-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Highly selective; small cohorts for residential workshops
Program dates: Summer Residential Session I: June 21 – July 4 | Summer Residential Session II: July 12 – 25 | Summer Online: June 14 – 19 | Winter Online: January 24 – February 28
Application deadline: Summer Residential: March 1 | Summer Online: Applications open in March (deadline TBA) | Winter Online: December 18
Eligibility: High school students | Typically rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors selected
The Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops offers high school students immersive creative writing experiences in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Offered in residential and online formats, the workshops focus on close reading, peer critique, and intensive revision. You will work in small groups led by published writers and editors affiliated with The Kenyon Review. The residential program includes public readings, craft talks, and literary discussions that mirror collegiate workshop environments. Online sessions focus on genre- or craft-specific themes, meeting regularly over one to six weeks depending on format. Across formats, you will find opportunities to generate new work and receive structured feedback within a focused writing community.
Location: University of Iowa campus, Iowa City, IA
Cost / Stipend: $2,500 + $10 reading fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Highly selective; small workshop sections
Program dates: June 14 – 27 | July 12 – 25
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio Summer Residential Program is a selective two-week opportunity to explore creative writing on the University of Iowa campus. You will enroll in one core course in fiction, poetry, creative writing (mixed genre), TV writing, or playwriting and work closely with instructors who are graduates of the Iowa Writers' Workshop or other Iowa MFA programs. Workshops focus on generating new work, peer critique, revision, and craft discussions in a collegiate-style setting. Beyond the classroom, you will attend author readings, craft talks, collaborative projects, and community-building events. The program focuses on helping you build lifelong writing habits.
Location: Virtual
Cost / Stipend: $475 per course; financial aid available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective; small workshop sections
Program dates: June 14 – July 26 (summer) | Winter dates TBA
Application deadline: Summer: April 4 | Winter applications accepted in September and October
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12 with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher | Incoming 9th graders eligible for summer courses | International students eligible
The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio runs six-week online creative writing courses for high school students each winter and summer. Courses are asynchronous, allowing you to work on weekly readings, writing assignments, and peer critiques on your own schedule while meeting structured deadlines. Each class is taught by graduates of the renowned Iowa Writers' Workshop or other University of Iowa writing programs. You can choose from genres such as fiction, poetry, nonfiction, speculative fiction, playwriting, and TV writing. The program emphasizes enthusiasm, commitment, and growth over prior publication experience. On successfully completing the course, you will receive a Letter of Completion and a final letter grade.
Location: Online and Princeton University campus, Princeton, NJ
Cost / Stipend: None
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: ~40 students/year
Program dates: Online workshops throughout July | 10-day residential session in early August
Application deadline: January/February
Eligibility: High school juniors with a minimum unweighted grade point average of 3.5 out of 4.0; applicants must fulfill at least one of the socioeconomic conditions specified here
PSJP is a free, year-long program that introduces high school juniors to journalism and college preparation. Within a cohort of 40 students, you will attend virtual workshops led by professional journalists and Princeton faculty, and then join a 10-day residential session on Princeton’s campus. While this is not a typical creative writing program, it can help you build writing skills. During the program, you will attend lectures, engage in reporting exercises, and go on visits to newsrooms like The New York Times and Bloomberg. You will also work on collaborative reporting and writing projects that will be part of The Princeton Summer Journal, published at the end of the program. Following the summer session, you get to work one-on-one with college advisers during your senior year to get support on your college applications, essays, and financial aid.
Location: Online or UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Cost / Stipend: $650
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Program dates: June 22 – July 2 (in-person) | July 13 – 24 (online)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 9th – 12th graders
This two-week summer writing workshop, hosted by the UCLA Writing Project, focuses on developing your skills across multiple genres, including poetry, narrative essays, and argumentative writing. The program runs on weekdays for about three hours, and you can choose to attend it either in person at UCLA or online. As a participant, you will read texts, take part in discussions and debates, and explore the writing process under the guidance of experienced instructors. Throughout the workshop, you will receive feedback from both your peers and your instructor to help you refine your ideas and how you express them.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY | University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost / Stipend: Free; additional financial aid available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Highly selective
Program dates: June 21 – July 25
Application deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors) | Ages 15 – 17 | Open to U.S. and international students
TASS is a free, competitive five-week residential humanities program conducted on a university campus. As a participant, you will attend intensive, college-level humanities seminars focused on literature, history, politics, and art, along with weekday classes centered on discussion and critical inquiry. You will explore themes such as history, politics, literature, art, and systems of power through collaborative, faculty-led dialogue. While not solely a creative writing program, TASS allows you to attend writing workshops led by resident advisors and teaching assistants, who will help you build critical reading and writing skills. Additionally, TASS focuses on shared governance and community responsibility, allowing you to engage in collective decision-making and event/activity organization. You will also gain experience in public speaking, civic engagement, and leadership while living within a democratic living setup.
Location: NYU Tisch School of the Arts, New York, NY
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Program dates: January 31 – May 9 (Saturdays only)
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
This free program offered by NYU's Tisch School of the Arts introduces you to dramatic writing across three forms: playwriting, screenwriting, and television/episodic writing. Each week, you will attend lecture and discussion sessions on dramatic structure and workshop sessions where you develop your own scripts. The program covers the same foundational material as Tisch's undergraduate dramatic writing courses. At the end of the program, you will present your work at a live final showcase.
Location: University of the South campus, Sewanee, TN
Cost / Stipend: $2,600 (covers tuition, room, and board); financial aid available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: ~85 students total; selective admissions
Program dates: June 28 – July 11
Application deadline: March 2; applications open in December
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11 | Requires writing sample, personal statement, and recommendation letter
Hosted by The University of the South, the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference is a two-week residential creative writing intensive for high school students. You will enroll in a primary workshop focused on fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or playwriting, and join a class of 12 peers in daily, discussion-based sessions. The program emphasizes rigorous critique, close mentorship, and individual conferences with faculty. Afternoons feature craft talks, Q&As with guest authors, visits to The Sewanee Review, and dedicated time for writing and reflection. Evening readings and community-building activities round out the experience.
Location: Meredith College, Raleigh, NC
Cost / Stipend: $225
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective; limited to 12 students
Program dates: June 23 – 27
Application deadline: No deadline; first-come, first-served enrollment
Eligibility: High school students | Ages 14 – 18
This five-day writing workshop offers high school students the opportunity to work with Meredith College faculty, who are published writers, and build creative writing skills. You will participate in activities to explore a variety of genres, including personal essay, fiction, and poetry. You will also work with peers and receive one-on-one feedback from instructors to keep refining your work. On the last day of the program, you will present your work at a participant open mic and reception.
Location: Virtual
Cost / Stipend: $8,008 + $75 application fee; scholarships available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Program dates: July 6 – 31; fall sessions typically available
Application deadline: Priority: May 11 | Regular: June 10
Eligibility: High school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Run by the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, this four-week program allows high school students to explore the core concepts of writing for film and television and earn college credit in the process. The program combines asynchronous learning with optional live sessions, allowing you to study at your own pace while also taking up hands-on creative work. You will spend 6–10 hours each week working through interactive modules and assignments via the Smashcut platform. From screenplay structure to character development and storytelling techniques, the workshop covers all key aspects to help you craft and submit a completed short screenplay and a synopsis for a feature film and a TV series. You will also learn through real-time interaction with faculty and peer collaboration across time zones.
Location: Virtual
Cost / Stipend: None; community service hours awarded
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: 10 participants
Program dates: Varies
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 15 – 18
Project Write Now (PWN) offers virtual work experiences to teenagers interested in exploring publishing and journalism. The program offers two main writing-related positions, one as an editorial assistant and another as a part of The Interview Project. As an editorial assistant, you will work with the program coordinator on various PWN Teen programming projects, engaging in tasks like marketing content creation, website content creation, and managing Bridge Ink, PWN’s online young adult literary magazine. You will have a platform to share your ideas and attend PWN Teen editorial meetings to assist with the development and expansion of the teen writing community. If you work on The Interview Project, which is inspired by Humans of New York, you will look for stories, conduct interviews, and create compelling narratives. Your stories will be published on Bridge Ink.
Location: GrubStreet, Boston, MA
Cost / Stipend: $715 for members | $750 for non-members; scholarships available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: 25 – 60 students, varies by session
Program dates: Multiple two-week sessions in the summer
Application deadline: Rolling until seats are full
Eligibility: Students ages 13 – 18
GrubStreet’s Teen Summer Writing Sessions allow teens to explore various genres and styles while building creative writing skills. You will join sessions that split participants into small, genre-based groups, within which you will participate in writing exercises, workshops, and instructor feedback sessions. You will spend two weeks learning from published writers and performers recognized for their literary contributions. The program offers one-on-one mentorship opportunities, guest author talks, and a professional writing day focused on college and career readiness. You also have access to open mic events, free writing time, and the opportunity to publish your work in the annual YAWP Anthology.
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost / Stipend: $8,130 (commuter) | $11,570 (residential) + $85 nonrefundable application fee
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not specified
Program dates: June 22 – July 17
Application deadline: May 8 (domestic students) | March 13 (international students)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least 9th grade | International students must demonstrate English proficiency through SAT, ACT, IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, or Duolingo scores
This four-week summer workshop at USC introduces you to creative writing across four genres: personal essay, creative nonfiction, flash fiction, and short story, with a different genre covered each week. You will study the techniques of published authors, attend workshops to work on your writing with peers, and meet one-on-one with your instructor for feedback. By the end of the program, you will have a portfolio of four polished pieces, including a personal essay that can be used for college applications. The program also includes field trips around Los Angeles, such as a visit to The Huntington gardens and libraries. You will earn college credit upon completion.
One other option—Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Princeton University logo