Best Summer Programs for Creative Writing & Literature

Best Summer Programs for Creative Writing & Literature – 2026

March 15, 2026

writing summer programs for high school students

We live in a world where many and artificial intelligence seems to be taking over the world at a pace that makes the world from Terminator look like a soulful paradise (okay, slight exaggeration…maybe?). Anyway, young people who love to read and write are a precious commodity these days and must be nurtured appropriately. If your teen prefers Tolstoy over TikTok and Austen over Alexa, you should really think about giving them a one-of-a-kind literary experience this summer. As it happens, some colleges offer such experiences on their campuses or even online. We offer five examples of the best summer writing programs for high school students.

For a full look at our searchable database of the best 2026 summer programs, click the button below. Here, you will be able to sort summer programs by discipline and location and can view important data points such as tuition costs, deadlines, course listings, and more!

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1) The Common Young Writers Program – Amherst College

Location: n/a
Instructional Method: Online
Program Length: 2 Weeks
Cost: $849 (Level I) / $999 (Level II)
Eligibility: Rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: May 18 (application opens in March)

This virtual program is taught by esteemed writers, including editors and editorial assistants of The Common, Amherst College’s award-winning literary magazine. Students interested in creative writing engage in a two-week intensive on the craft of fiction. Level 1 and Level 2 options are available, depending on experience.

The program also includes access to written Q&As with editors and authors, an introduction to literary magazines and their role as a vital stepping stone for new authors, additional inspiring writing prompts, a digital edition of the latest issue, and a print subscription to The Common.

Level I is a rigorous boot camp for beginning writers, helping them attain confidence and proficiency in their craft in a short period of time. Students should expect to spend around 3-4 hours each day on their assignments, including meeting times.

Level II is an intensive workshop for experienced writers, enabling students to noticeably develop their craft in a short period of time. Students should expect to spend 4-5 hours a day on their assignments, including meeting times.

2) The Summer Liberal Arts Institute – Carleton College

Location: Northfield, MN
Instructional Method: In-person (residential)
Program Length: 3 Weeks
Cost: $5,300 (domestic) / $5,700 (international)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Application Deadline: March 2

Live and learn like a college student for 3 weeks this summer at Carleton College’s Summer Liberal Arts Institute (SLAI). In this selective 3-week residential program, students can earn college credit while taking a course and completing guided research with Carleton College faculty at a top-ranked liberal arts college. Choose from 6 program areas, with topics that include Field Science, Computer Science, Humanities, Emotions, Activism, and Borders.

This summer’s creative writing course is Narratives of Home and Belonging. This course examines the deep and inseparable ties between place of origin, identity, and belonging through literature and personal narrative. Building on explorations of migration and identity along Mexico’s borders, students will engage with storytelling that reflects real experiences of movement, resistance, and cultural encounter.

3) Vanderbilt Summer Academy

Location: Nashville, TN
Instructional Method: In-person (residential)
Program Length: 1 week
Cost:$2,600-$2,750
Eligibility: Grades 7-12
Application Deadline: Rolling

One-week summer courses are offered through Vanderbilt University’s Programs for Talented Youth. VSA courses are accelerated and designed to meet the needs of gifted and high-ability students.

With up to 6 hours of academic activities per day, participants will stretch their intellectual boundaries while enjoying life on this beautiful Nashville campus.

Two writing/lit-related courses are currently offered. Short Form Prose Writing: Adventures in Narrative Minimalism will teach students to wield precision as a creative superpower—crafting emotionally resonant stories through short form prose writing while examining how every choice on the page shapes meaning. Students will practice advanced narrative techniques allowing them to hone their description and dialogue, as well as discover the essential throughlines, plot elements, and narrative perspectives.

Creative Writing: Free Verse Poetry will help students find and express their poetic voice and gain confidence and expert feedback about their work. By studying different kinds of poetry through creative and engaging writing activities, group collaboration, analysis, and peer review, students will work toward building a comprehensive collection of their own original poems.

4) St. John’s College Summer Academy

Location: Annapolis, MD / Santa Fe, NM
Instructional Method: In-person (residential) and online
Program Length: 1 week
Cost: $240 (Online) / $1,400 (In-Person)
Eligibility: Ages 15-18
Application Deadline: Rolling

Modeled after St. John’s discussion-based, interdisciplinary method of teaching great books, this program offers courses on Shakespeare, Homer, and creative writing, among many others. Summer Academy provides a thematic academic experience that will engage students who have a variety of interests. Students challenge themselves by engaging in deep discussions with small groups of their peers in seminar-style classrooms led by St John’s College full-time faculty.

Can’t make it to Maryland or New Mexico? This year’s online offerings include courses on Macbeth, Pride and Prejudice, and the works of James Baldwin.

5)

Location: Iowa City, IA
Instructional Method: In-person (residential) and online
Program Length: 2 weeks (residential) / 6 weeks (online)
Cost: $2,500 (residential) / $475 (online)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Application Deadline: April

The core courses are taught by graduates students in the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop the University of Iowa MFA programs in playwriting and nonfiction writing. Students may select a core course in fiction writing, poetry writing, or creative writing (which includes some combination of fiction, poetry, and personal essay).

The program at Iowa also offers readings by published writers, workshops on process, and aspects of craft. Collaborative projects allow small groups of students to work together. What’s more, open mics, talent shows, icebreakers, and social gatherings are designed to give students the opportunity to connect with one another.

6)

Location: Gambier, OH
Instructional Method: In-person (residential) and online
Program Length: 2 weeks (residential) / 1 week (online)
Cost: $2,575 (Residential); $995 (Online)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (16+)
Application Deadline: March

The Young Writers Summer Online Workshops provide young writers with a dynamic and supportive environment in which they can stretch their talents, discover new strengths, and challenge themselves in the company of peers who are also passionate about writing. Online workshops offer an intimate setting for exploring ideas, producing fresh work, discussing the craft of writing (and rewriting) with instructors and other students, and finding one’s voice in a variety of genres, including short stories, poems, and essays.

Turning to the residential program, students write to explore ideas and produce fresh work in a variety of genres, including short stories, poems, and essays. With their instructors and peers, student discuss the craft of writing (and rewriting) to stretch their talents and develop their own unique voice.

Final Thoughts – Creative Writing Summer Programs for High School Students

In conclusion, while the definition of “literacy” continues to evolve in this second decade of the 21st Century, the traditional skills of mastering the written word maintain a high degree of value. Teens with a passion for books and the art of writing have a genuine opportunity to grow their talents this coming summer.

Looking for literature/creative writing summer programs in your area? Consider checking out the following:

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Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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