12 Winter Writing Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 4 hours ago
- 8 min read
If you’re a middle school student with a passion for writing, winter is a good time to explore it further through structured programs. As a participant, you can gain exposure to professional writers and their work, build valuable connections with mentors, and develop your portfolio. These programs can also help you explore new genres, refine your academic writing, or simply find a community of like-minded peers. Many winter programs also have smaller class sizes and flexible schedules, giving you time to develop your writing while balancing schoolwork.
To help you find the right option, we have put together a list of 12 winter writing programs for middle school students.
If you are looking for free winter programs, check out our blog here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including in the winter
Application deadline: November/December; you can apply to the program here
Eligibility: Middle school students with strong academic backgrounds
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Location: Virtual
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a research-focused experience for middle school students interested in exploring a subject area in detail. During the program, you will work with Ph.D.-level mentors from leading universities to develop independent research projects based on your interests. You can choose from STEM fields, social sciences, business, and various other disciplines, and then pick a topic for your project, which could be a research report, presentation, or anything else that reflects your skills and knowledge. This experience can help you refine your critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and independent research skills and prepare for academic competitions and research opportunities.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; requires 90th percentile placement in standardized achievement or ability tests to qualify.
Dates: January 24, January 31, and February 7
Application deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Students in grades K-8 who test around the 90th percentile on an ability test or in at least one area on a standardized achievement test; students whose scores do not qualify may be considered on a case-by-case basis
Cost: $450/session + $50 application fee
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Vanderbilt University's Programs for Talented Youth hosts SAVY, a weekend program for gifted students in grades K-8. Its Spring Session, running between January and February, features accelerated courses in humanities and writing where you get to engage with advanced concepts and texts. Led by content experts, these classes move at a fast pace, allowing you to explore topics like screenwriting and screenplay in depth. This can be an opportunity to engage with a university-level curriculum and deepen your exposure to advanced literary techniques.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, with small group cohorts
Dates: Winter cohorts run for 10 weeks (on weekends) starting in December or January.
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines; you can apply to the program here
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Location: Remote
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that allows middle school students to explore the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over the course of 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python, regression, image classification, data analysis, neural networks, and AI ethics through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. You will also work on AI-focused projects with peers. Previous projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and developing a machine-learning algorithm to generate a custom list of educational resources based on specified criteria.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round sessions; winter sessions run from January through March
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 and 8
Cost: $645; limited need-based financial aid available
Location: Various locations in New York, NY
Writopia Lab runs the Middle School Advanced Writing Exploration Program (AWE) during the school year for students who want to join a group of young writers and explore their interests in writing. You will engage in student-driven, author-led workshops across multiple genres, as well as specialized master classes. You will receive feedback from both instructors and peers. AWE also offers access to a single one-on-one session tailored to your interests, whether you want to explore academic essay writing, admissions writing, or creative writing. The program serves as a preparatory option for Writopia’s Creative Portfolio program, which you can enroll in the future as a high school student.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open registration
Dates: Various sessions held between January and March
Application deadline: Varies by class
Eligibility: Classes available for students of all ages.
Cost: Varies by class, ranging from ~$40 to over $400.
Location: Virtual and Minneapolis, MN
The Loft Literary Center is a leading literary arts center that offers a series of winter classes for youth. You can enroll in workshops open to middle schoolers to explore everything from graphic novel writing to fantasy world-building. The classes are taught by published authors who are passionate about youth education. You will attend workshop-style sessions to explore different writing styles, work with peers, and create your own pieces.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open registration
Dates: Varies by program, but winter courses typically run between January and March.
Application deadline: Rolling; payment deadline: December 22
Eligibility: Students, ages 10 –18
Cost: Sliding scale/pay-what-you-can options available
Location: Virtual or in-person in Red Bank, NJ
Project Write Now offers a variety of creative writing classes specifically for young students in the winter. As a middle schooler, you can join "Teen Writing Space" or specific genre workshops to develop your storytelling skills in a relaxed environment. The organization focuses on the joy of writing and self-expression, with classes designed to help you find your voice without the pressure of grades. Instructors are professional writers who provide encouragement and guidance on projects ranging from poetry to short fiction.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open registration
Dates: January 20 – March 26 (various sessions scheduled within this window)
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Cost: $255 – $360, depending on the program.
Location: Virtual and various NJ locations
The Writers Circle offers specialized winter workshops for elementary, middle, and high schoolers that emphasize creativity and imagination. As a middle school student, you can join the "Tween Writers Circle" or age-appropriate creative writing classes where you will explore character, conflict, and plot in a fun, interactive setting. The instructors are published authors who focus on teaching how to encourage you to take risks and trust your creative instincts. The program focuses on building a sense of community, with opportunities for you to share your work and learn from peers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by session, but all workshops only host a small number of students.
Dates: Vary by specific workshop
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Workshops available for different age groups, with many options open to middle schoolers
Cost: Varies by program, ranging from $80 to $550.
Location: Virtual or at Lighthouse Writers Workshop, Denver, CO
Lighthouse Writers Workshop runs dedicated winter sessions for young writers who want to explore genres like fiction, poetry, and playwriting. Here, you will spend a few hours to weeks, depending on the program you choose, building creativity and self-expression through small, interactive workshops led by published authors across a variety of genres. All workshops feature writing exercises, feedback sessions, and community-based interaction. Online-only, after-school, and homeschool formats are typically available, making these workshops accessible options to explore.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; applicants need to provide proof of high scores/ achievement.
Dates: Vary by course; multiple options are available between February and April.
Application deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: K-12 students; applicants must provide either a state assessment result or a test score in the 95th percentile or higher in their most recent achievement test
Cost: $159 or $249, depending on the course you choose
Location: Virtual and William & Mary School of Education, Williamsburg, VA
Hosted by the Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary, the Saturday Enrichment Program offers selective, academically advanced courses during the winter months. You can enroll in courses like Creative Writing and A Little Bit of Lit, designed to expand your understanding of various writing genres and learn advanced writing techniques and styles. You will engage in discussions and projects to explore literature and writing styles. During the course, you will also create your original creative pieces, which can be short stories, poems, or artwork.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Vary by course; sessions are available throughout the year, including in the winter months.
Application deadline: Varies by course and format
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8 who meet CTY eligibility requirements through qualifying test scores
Cost: Varies by format and course, can range from ~$900–$1,400; financial aid is available.
Location: Online
Johns Hopkins CTY offers year-round learning opportunities, including winter writing courses for academically advanced middle school students. Courses range from "Crafting the Essay" to "Creative Writing," all designed to help you master the conventions of standard written English while developing your own style. You will work at your own pace within a session-based structure, receiving detailed feedback from expert instructors who challenge you to elevate your work. The program emphasizes critical thinking and analytical skills, allowing you to prepare for high school and college-level writing.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: January 21 – March 18
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 3–8 who are either in the 90th percentile or higher on a nationally normed grade-level assessment in the required qualifying subject area, have completed a CTD course in the past two years, or have received a teacher recommendation with a transcript/report card
Cost: $675; financial aid is available.
Location: Online
Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) provides year-round enrichment and credit-bearing courses, with many options running from January through March. You can choose courses like "Advanced Grammar and Academic Writing" and creative writing workshops that are designed to help you learn how to think critically and write persuasively. The program emphasizes personalized feedback and flexible pacing, allowing you to advance quickly through complex material. You will also work on writing assignments to practice the concepts you learn.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Flexible/self-paced; typical commitment 10 hours/week for three weeks
Application deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all
Cost: Free to enroll; $79 to earn a certificate
Location: Virtual
Stanford Online’s Writing in the Sciences is designed for learners of all ages who want to explore writing within science and tech. While the course focuses on academic writing, the first four weeks emphasize general writing skills useful across disciplines. As a participant, you will learn how to organize your ideas, improve sentence and paragraph structure, and write with clarity. The second half of the course covers topics specific to scientific writing, including peer review, manuscript formatting, and communicating research. You will learn through video lectures, peer editing, quizzes, and short writing assignments.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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