§ Creative Writing

Creative Writing programs for high schoolers.

61 programs indexed in creative writing. 44 are free or pay a stipend. 11 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new creative writing program.

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All creative writing programs

Boston University
Academic Immersion
Spend three weeks immersing yourself in the study of psychology, business, medicine, or creative writing.
📍 Boston, MA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
The Adroit Journal
Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship
Free online mentorship pairing teen writers with established poets and prose writers.
📍 Online⏱ 6 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Japan Cartoonists Association
All-Japan Manga Competition (Youth)
Youth-open division of the Japan Cartoonists Association's annual manga award.
📍 Japan (submissions welcome globally)📅 Autumn🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Arkansas State University / Arkansas Department of Education
Arkansas Governor's School
A five-week residential program for high-achieving high school students in Arkansas focused on math, science, and the arts.
📍 Russellville, AR⏱ 5 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington July Program
Two-week residential program for writers and visual artists in grades 10-12.
📍 Bennington, VT⏱ 2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Bennington College
Bennington Young Writers Awards
A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.
📍 Online📅 January 12🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bennington College
Bennington Young Writers Workshop
One-week residential writing workshop with Bennington faculty.
📍 Bennington, VT⏱ 1 week📅 April🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest
Annual creative contest for teens combining art, writing, film, and music with environmental advocacy.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Catapult
Catapult High School Writing Workshop
Multi-genre writing workshops for high school students in the creative hub of NYC.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 2 weeks📅 April 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Chapman University
Chapman University Holocaust Art & Writing Contest
A writing contest for high schoolers exploring the impact of the Holocaust through various creative prompts.
📍 Online📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Commonwealth Foundation
Commonwealth Short Story Prize
Global short-fiction prize open to writers from Commonwealth countries.
📍 Commonwealth countries📅 November🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Eunoia Review
Eunoia Review
Open submissions literary journal accepting student poetry and prose.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Poetry Society
Foyle Young Poets of the Year
International poetry award for ages 11-17; free to enter.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
Poetry Society (UK)
Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award
International poetry prize for writers aged 11–17.
📍 Global📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen
Interlochen Arts Camp
Renowned summer arts camp across music, theater, dance, visual arts, writing, film.
📍 Interlochen, MI⏱ 1-6 weeks📅 January🎓 Grades 3–12
Moderate
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: Creative Writing Programs (High School)
High school creative writing summer programs.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Arts Camp: One-Week Intensives
One-week intensive arts programs for high school students in various disciplines.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Interlochen Arts Camp
Interlochen Writers Retreat
Creative writing intensive at the storied Interlochen arts camp.
📍 Interlochen, MI⏱ 3-6 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
International Songwriting Competition
International Songwriting Competition (ISC)
A world-renowned songwriting competition that has launched the careers of many famous artists.
📍 Online📅 February 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Iowa
International Writing Program Between the Lines
Two-week international creative writing program pairing US and international teen writers.
📍 Iowa City, USA + International cohorts📅 March🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
University of Iowa
Iowa Young Writers' Studio
Premier creative writing program from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Need-based aid available.
📍 IA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Kenyon College
Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
Intensive creative writing workshop with published authors. Need-based scholarships.
📍 OH (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
The Concord Review, Inc.
National Writing Board
The National Writing Board assesses academic expository writing against an independent standard endorsed by Harvard, Michigan, Princeton, Stanford, Virginia, Yale, and 33 other selective colleges and universities.
📅 rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
YoungArts
National YoungArts Foundation Competition
National arts competition for ages 15-18 across 10 disciplines; finalists receive cash and YoungArts Week.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ Self-paced📅 Fall🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
YoungArts
National YoungArts Week
Week-long master classes and performances in Miami for YoungArts winners across 10 disciplines.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ 1 week📅 Fall🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
The New York Times Learning Network
New York Times Editorial Contest
Annual student editorial writing contest for teens 13-19.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
The New York Times Learning Network
New York Times Personal Narrative Contest
Annual personal narrative writing contest for teens 13-19.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Fall🎓 Grades 7–12
Selective
NPR
NPR Student Podcast Challenge
Free annual podcasting contest. Submit a 3-8 minute podcast. Winning student is featured on NPR.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 April🎓 Grades 5–12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Personal Narrative Contest
Annual short personal narrative contest for teens. 600 words. Free entry.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Student Editorial Contest
Free annual contest for students aged 13-19 to write a 450-word evidence-based editorial. Top entries are published by the Times.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The New York Times
NYT Summer Reading Contest
Each summer week, students pick a Times piece and write 350 words about it. Free; winners published.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 June-August🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs
Ocean Awareness Contest
International student contest in visual art, film, writing, and music addressing ocean conservation.
📍 Global📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Odyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind (International Finals)
International creative problem-solving competition with teams from 25+ countries.
📍 USA (worlds); regional in origin country📅 Regional Winter, Worlds May🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Interlochen Arts Camp
One-Week Intensives Arts Camp
One-week intensive arts programs covering various disciplines like music, theatre, visual arts, creative writing, dance, film & new media, and interdisciplinary arts. Students will perfect their skills and learn new ones alongside lifelong friends.
📍 Interlochen, Michigan, USA📅 Applications open Sept. 1 for Camp 2027🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NYU Tisch
Online High School Filmmakers Workshop
High school first-years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors will work in online crews and collaborate to direct, shoot, and edit music videos and short films. Special emphasis is placed on storytelling through visual language. You’ll develop your writing, directing, shooting, and editing skills, and participate in screenings of significant works, master classes, and discussions with industry professionals/Tisch faculty. This program culminates in four college credits (units).
📍 Multiple🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
NYU Tisch
Online High School Screenwriters Workshop
Learn the basic principles of writing for film and television in the Online High School Screenwriters Workshop. You will develop story ideas and characters, and learn film language and script structure. The workshop culminates with submitted scenes, a short screenplay, a synopsis of a feature film and television series, plus four college credits (units).
📍 Multiple🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Oxbridge Launchpad
Oxbridge Launchpad Essay Competitions
Rolling essay competitions across STEM, humanities, and social sciences for global high school students.
📍 Remote (Global)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW
Patriot's Pen Essay Contest
Patriotic-themed essay contest for grades 6-8 with $5,000 top prize.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 Grades 6–8
Selective
Polygence
Polygence Scholars (Financial Aid)
1:1 research mentorship with PhDs across any field. Full financial aid for qualifying students.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10-20 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Polyphony Lit
Polyphony Lit Editorial Internship
International literary magazine staffed by high school students; editors and writers worldwide.
📍 Online⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pratt Institute
Pratt PreCollege Intensive Program
Live and learn on Pratt’s Brooklyn campus! Spend four weeks taking two courses, building a portfolio, and experiencing life as a college student in New York City. This immersive program pushes students creatively while preparing them with college-ready work.
📍 Brooklyn, New York🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Princeton University
Princeton Ten-Minute Play Contest
Annual playwriting contest for 11th-grade students judged by Princeton's Lewis Center faculty.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The longest-running recognition program for creative teens in the US — writing, visual art, photography, film.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Year-long competition📅 December-January (regional)🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Scholastic Art & Writing
Scholastic Art & Writing Programs (Exhibitions and workshops)
Exhibitions and workshops for teens, along with professional development for educators.
📍 Various🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Scholastic Art & Writing
Scholastic Art & Writing Scholarships
Information about scholarships available through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
📍 remote🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Scholastic Writing Awards
Regional and national recognition for student writers in 11 categories. Need-based fee waivers available.
📍 Regional + national⏱ Self-paced📅 Sept-Dec by region🎓 Grades 7–12
Moderate
University of the South
Sewanee Young Writers' Conference
A rigorous two-week writing workshop where students live at Sewanee: The University of the South and work with acclaimed authors.
📍 Sewanee, TN⏱ 2 weeks📅 January 15🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Sorbonne Université
Sorbonne Université Summer School
Short summer courses in French language, humanities, and science in Paris.
📍 Paris, France⏱ 2-3 weeks📅 June🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Stone Soup
Stone Soup Magazine
Magazine of writing and art by children and teens up to age 14.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 5–9
Selective
Susquehanna University
Susquehanna Advanced Writers Workshop
One-week residential workshop in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, publishing.
📍 Selinsgrove, PA⏱ 1 week📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
The Young Authors Foundation
Teen Ink
An award-winning monthly print and online magazine by and for teens.
📍 Online / Jersey City, NJ📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Amy Lowell Trust
The Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship
One of the most valuable writing scholarships for high school seniors, based on a portfolio.
📍 Online📅 January 21🎓 Grade 12
Selective
Susquehanna University
The Apprentice Writer
National literary magazine of high school student writing published by Susquehanna.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
The Daphne Review
The Daphne Review
An independent literary journal specifically for middle and high school writers and artists.
📍 Online📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
VFW
Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay
Audio-essay scholarship competition with $35,000 top prize.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 October🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Carnegie Mellon University
Writing & Culture
Pre-College Writing & Culture program at Carnegie Mellon University.
📍 Pittsburgh, PA🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
Young Diplomats Society
Young Diplomats Forum
Global essay and forum program engaging teens with foreign policy questions.
📍 Various⏱ Varies📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National YoungArts Foundation
YoungArts
Free national arts competition. Winners receive cash awards, mentorship, and the chance to perform at YoungArts Week in Miami.
📍 Miami + regional⏱ 1 week📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National YoungArts
YoungArts at Oberlin: A One-Day Summer Intensive for High School Artists
A one-day summer intensive program at Oberlin Conservatory of Music for high school artists.
📍 Oberlin Conservatory of Music📅 Annual — 2027 dates not yet announced🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
National YoungArts Foundation
YoungArts Awards
National competition in writing, visual arts, design, music, theater, film for 15-18 year olds.
📍 Miami, FL⏱ Year-round📅 October🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists
YoungArts National Arts Competition
One of the nation's most prestigious honors for high school students in the visual, literary, and performing arts.
📍 Miami, FL / Nationwide📅 December 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective

Creative Writing programs for high schoolers.

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