15 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students in Seattle
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 9 min read
If you are a high school student in Seattle who enjoys writing, a local summer writing program can help you explore your talent without having to relocate. Writing programs give you the space to write freely, get feedback from mentors, and experiment with creative forms like poetry, fiction, or journalism. You’ll also learn about editing, publishing, and how to develop your voice as a writer.
Seattle’s writing scene is known for its strong literary culture, with universities, writing centers, and local organizations offering programs that mix creativity with skill-building. You might take part in workshops, group discussions, or one-on-one mentorship sessions that strengthen both your craft and confidence. Joining a summer writing program not only helps you grow as a writer but also prepares you for college-level writing and communication.
With that, here are 15 summer writing programs in Seattle for high school students!
15 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students in Seattle
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Online: $700 | In-person: $780 | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort size
Dates: Online: June 30–July 11 | In-person: July 28–August 8
Application deadline: Refund deadline by June 1 (registration deadline likely before that)
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
High School Writers Workshop at the University of Washington is a summer program that helps you explore creative writing across genres like poetry, fiction, nonfiction, spoken word, and hybrid forms. You’ll read and discuss mentor texts, share drafts in a workshop setting, and receive peer feedback to refine your voice and style. You’ll create a final portfolio that showcases your writing, and the course ends with a public reading for family and friends. Classes are small, and instructors provide close guidance to support both your creativity and craft.
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Online: $700 | In-person: $780 | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort size
Dates: Online: June 30–July 11 | In-person: July 14–25
Application deadline: Refund deadline by June 1 (registration deadline likely before that)
Eligibility: Grades 9–11
Sharpen Your Writing Skills at the University of Washington is a summer course that helps you build strong writing skills for school and college preparation. You’ll learn how to write analytical essays, persuasive arguments, and narrative compositions while practicing strategies for clear and effective communication. The course includes drafting, revising, and peer review, helping you gain confidence with timed writing assignments. You’ll also get support for writing college admissions essays, making this especially useful if you’re a junior or senior.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid is available
Acceptance rate: Around 10-25%
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year; The summer cohort runs from June to August
Application deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or more
This program is a solid option for anyone looking to refine their academic writing skills. Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research experience where you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to develop an independent project in a subject of your choice. You can select from fields like biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, history, economics, linguistics, and more, or propose a custom topic if it’s not listed. Throughout the program, you’ll attend workshops on research methods and academic writing, and you’ll produce a full-length research paper by the end. While Lumiere is not affiliated with a university, you may be eligible to earn UC San Diego credit upon completion. Your final paper can strengthen college applications and serve as a foundation for future academic work.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Multiple 10- to 15-week cohorts in a year, including winter, fall, spring, and summer.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary according to cohort
Eligibility: High school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have been AI Scholars participants or have some familiarity with AI concepts or Python
Looking to work on scientific writing? Veritas AI offers two online programs that connect high school students with university mentors to explore artificial intelligence through hands-on learning and research. If you're new to AI, the AI Scholars track introduces you to machine learning, neural networks, and data science. You’ll work in small groups to apply these concepts to real-world challenges and build foundational skills. If you already have experience, the AI Fellowship pairs you with a mentor for one-on-one guidance on an independent research project. You can choose topics in healthcare, finance, environmental science, or other fields. Many students write academic papers, and some submit their work for publication or presentation.
Location: Lakeside School, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: $1,165; no stipend provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not published; small cohort size typical
Program Dates: July 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: Registration opens in spring and closes when full
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12; must be at least 14 years old by the program start date
Journalism Course at Lakeside Summer Institute is a two-week program where you learn the core skills of reporting, interviewing, and news writing. You’ll conduct in-person and phone interviews, do online research, and collaborate with peers while receiving personalized feedback from instructors. The course teaches ethical reporting, fairness in sourcing, and accuracy, along with techniques for writing compelling stories. You may complete a capstone project, such as profiling residents or working with media outlets to publish your work. By the end, you’ll have a portfolio of journalism that reflects your practice and engagement with real-world issues.
Location: The Northwest School, Seattle, WA
Cost: $650 (half day); $1,100 (full day); $2,800 (full day with boarding); no stipend provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 8–12 students per camp; first-come, first-served
Program Dates: Session 1: July 7–18; Session 2: July 21–August 1; Session 3: August 4–15
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 5; closes when camps are full
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12; Writers Workshop requires native or advanced English proficiency
Northwest School Summer Camps run on a two-week schedule where you choose four daily classes from a wide range of subjects, including writing, arts, sciences, athletics, and technology. If you're interested in writing, you can join the Creative Writing track to explore different genres and build storytelling skills, or the Journalism track to learn interviewing, ethics, and narrative reporting. You can also mix writing with other interests like movement, visual arts, or coding, creating a flexible experience that fits your goals. Classes meet Monday through Friday, and if you’re a boarding student, you’ll take part in evening and weekend activities too.
Location: yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Dates: August 18–22
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering 9th through 12th grade high school, especially marginalized Black, Native, and youth of color (BIPOC)
Clarion West Worldbuilding Summer Camp is a week-long writing program for BIPOC high school students who want to explore speculative fiction. You’ll explore genres like science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural writing, and experimental “hermit crab” forms that use creative structures like transcripts or reports. Each day focuses on a different theme, such as rituals, traditions, or technology, and includes discussions of published works by women and BIPOC authors. You’ll receive writing prompts, time to develop your own stories, and guidance on how to participate in writing workshops.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $575 | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approx 8%
Dates: Mid-late June to early August
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students (including graduating seniors)
The Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program is an online writing opportunity for high school students and recent graduates. You’ll be paired with an established writer for one-on-one guidance in poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. The program focuses on drafting, revising, and experimenting with form. Poetry students usually share work weekly, while fiction and nonfiction students exchange drafts every two weeks. You’ll receive feedback from both your mentor and peers, and you’re expected to stay committed, open to critique, and ready to explore new directions in your writing.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,320 | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students
Dates: June 21 - 27
Application deadline: April 1; rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors ages 16–18
Yale Young Writers’ Workshop is a one-week summer program where you join a small group to focus on fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or graphic storytelling. Each workshop blends close reading, writing exercises, and peer critique to help you try new approaches and strengthen your voice. In fiction, you might explore world-building, dialogue, and plot. Nonfiction courses focus on personal narrative, memory, and research-based writing. Poetry workshops encourage you to experiment with structure, imagery, and style, traditional or innovative. Faculty lead daily discussions, guide your writing and revision, and create a supportive space where creativity and community come together.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,095 | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 18 students
Dates: July 7–11
Application deadline: Typically July
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
Sarah Lawrence Writers’ Week is a week-long summer program where you explore creative writing and performance through daily workshops and collaborative activities. You’ll join small-group writing sessions led by MFA graduate students, responding to prompts and studying craft across genres like poetry, fiction, memoir, fantasy, and flash fiction. The program includes mini-workshops and guest-led sessions that introduce you to different writing styles and feature readings by contemporary authors. You’ll also take part in theatre-based workshops that use improvisation and collaboration to help you experiment with performance as part of your writing process.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10% - 20%
Dates: Late June through early August
Application deadline: March/April
Eligibility: Grades 9–12
Iowa Young Writers’ Studio Online Courses run twice a year and give you the chance to explore creative writing in a flexible six-week format. You can choose from nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, TV writing, or fiction, with classes taught by graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and affiliated programs. You’ll spend about three to four hours per week on readings, writing exercises, peer critiques, and discussion forums. Because the courses are fully asynchronous, you can complete assignments on your own schedule as long as you meet weekly deadlines.
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Ongoing (internships available for indefinite periods)
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply
Pasquines Writing Internship is a virtual program for high school students interested in journalism, politics, and policy. You’ll research, write, fact-check, and edit articles about issues affecting U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Your work often connects local developments to national and global topics, helping you build skills in analysis and reporting. You’ll collaborate with peers and editors, gaining insight into nonprofit journalism and how publishing works.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,815 (one week); $3,965 (two weeks); find more details here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session A - July 7–18; Session B - July 21–August 1; Session C - August 11– 15
Application deadline: April 20
Eligibility: Domestic and international students who will be in grades 9–12 in the fall, and students currently enrolled in grade 12
Columbia University Pre-College Summer Sessions offer intensive online writing workshops for high school students. You can study multi-genre creative writing, imaginative fiction, or personal nonfiction, working across poetry, drama, essays, and speculative storytelling. You’ll complete regular writing assignments, take part in discussions, and receive detailed feedback to help you revise and refine your work. Classes include close reading of published texts, generative exercises, and workshops focused on craft and revision. Programs run for one or two weeks, with sessions held Monday through Friday and featuring group projects, debates, and seminars.
Location: Virtual
Cost: 2 weeks: $3,218; 3 weeks: $4,454; 4 weeks: $5,314; 6 weeks: $6,238
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions offered in June - July
Application deadline: May 9 (rolling)
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9-12 between the ages of 14-18 by June 15
Summer@Brown Online lets you take college-level writing, literature, and humanities courses from home. With over 50 options, you can choose asynchronous, mostly asynchronous, or blended formats based on your schedule and learning style. Writing courses may include essays, research projects, and critical analysis, along with peer discussions and instructor feedback. Most classes run for three weeks or longer. If you complete the course successfully, you’ll earn a digital certificate and often receive a detailed Course Performance Report.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $995 | Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12-14 students per cohort
Dates: June 15-20
Application deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Students ages 16-18
Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop is a week-long online program where you join a small group of 12–14 students to explore creative writing across multiple genres. Each day includes live sessions with generative exercises, freewriting, discussions of published texts, and peer workshops. You’ll write and share new material daily, receiving feedback through group critique and one-on-one conferences with your instructor. Evening events like author readings, craft talks, and open mics add to the experience, giving you more ways to engage with writing and connect with others.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. 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.
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