Literature programs for high schoolers.
38 programs indexed in literature. 20 are free or pay a stipend. 4 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new literature program.
All literature programs
- SelectiveThe Adroit JournalAdroit Journal Summer Mentorship
Free online mentorship pairing teen writers with established poets and prose writers.
📍 Online⏱ 6 weeks📅 April🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateBard College at Simon's RockBard College at Simon's Rock Young Writers Workshop
A 3-week residential program where students engage in creative and analytical thinking through literature and history.
📍 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY⏱ 3 weeks📅 April 1🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveBennington CollegeBennington Young Writers Awards
A prestigious creative writing competition for students to win cash prizes and publication.
📍 Online⏱ N/A📅 January 12🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateBennington CollegeBennington Young Writers Workshop
One-week residential writing workshop with Bennington faculty.
📍 Bennington, VT⏱ 1 week📅 April🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveBlue Marble ReviewBlue Marble Review
Quarterly literary journal for writers ages 13-22.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateBrown UniversityBrown Pre-College
On-campus and online courses across the liberal arts.
📍 Providence, RI⏱ 1-7 weeks📅 May🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateCatapultCatapult 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🎓 10, 11, 12 - Highly SelectiveColumbia UniversityColumbia Summer Immersion
Pre-college immersion across humanities and STEM.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 1-3 weeks📅 January🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveDavidson InstituteDavidson Fellows
Scholarships of USD 10K, 25K, and 50K for students under 18 with significant work in STEM, literature, music, or philosophy.
📍 Online application⏱ Project-based📅 February🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveEunoia ReviewEunoia Review
Open submissions literary journal accepting student poetry and prose.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectivePoetry SocietyFoyle Young Poets of the Year
International poetry award for ages 11-17; free to enter.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 July🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveVariousFreedom Summer Collegiate
Free college-prep program in the Mississippi Delta taught by graduate students. Travel and housing covered.
📍 Mississippi⏱ 4 weeks📅 April🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateHarvard UniversityHarvard Pre-College Program
Two-week residential program in 50+ disciplines.
📍 Cambridge, MA⏱ 2 weeks📅 January🎓 10, 11, 12 - Highly SelectiveHollins UniversityHollins University Hollinsummer
Two-week creative writing program for high school women writers.
📍 Roanoke, VA⏱ 2 weeks📅 May🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModerateInterlochen Arts CampInterlochen Writers Retreat
Creative writing intensive at the storied Interlochen arts camp.
📍 Interlochen, MI⏱ 3-6 weeks📅 May🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateUniversity of IowaIowa Young Writers' Studio
Premier creative writing program from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Need-based aid available.
📍 IA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModerateUniversity of IowaIowa Young Writers' Studio
Two-week residential or online program from the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
📍 Iowa City, IA⏱ 2 weeks📅 February🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModerateUMass AmherstJuniper Institute for Young Writers
Residential creative writing workshop in poetry and fiction.
📍 Amherst, MA⏱ 1 week📅 May🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModerateKenyon CollegeKenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
Intensive creative writing workshop with published authors. Need-based scholarships.
📍 OH (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 10, 11, 12 - ModerateKenyon CollegeKenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
Two-week intensive residential writing workshop on Kenyon's campus.
📍 Gambier, OH⏱ 2 weeks📅 March🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveThe New York Times Learning NetworkNYT Summer Reading Contest
Weekly summer contest for students 13-19 responding to NYT articles.
📍 Online⏱ 10 weeks📅 June🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - Highly SelectivePaideia InstitutePaideia Institute Living Latin in NYC
Two-week intensive Latin program in New York City for high schoolers, with site visits and immersive translation.
📍 New York, NY⏱ 2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveUniversity of PennsylvaniaPenn Manuscript Journal
Undergraduate humanities journal welcoming exceptional HS work.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - Highly SelectivePioneer AcademicsPioneer Academics (Aid)
Accredited college-level research with US professors. Need-based aid up to full tuition.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 15 weeks📅 Multiple cycles🎓 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveNational Endowment for the Arts (NEA)Poetry Out Loud
A national poetry recitation competition that begins in high school classrooms and ends in a national final.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Academic Year📅 January 10🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectivePolygencePolygence Press
Symposium and publication venue for student research across all fields.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectivePolyphony LitPolyphony Lit Editorial Internship
International literary magazine staffed by high school students; editors and writers worldwide.
📍 Online⏱ Academic year📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - Highly SelectivePrinceton University PressPrinceton University Press Junior Reviewers
Various junior reviewer / reader programs and writing contests in the humanities.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - ModerateAlliance for Young Artists & WritersScholastic Art & Writing Awards
Longest-running recognition program for creative teens in the US; 28 categories.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 December🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveAlliance for Young Artists & WritersScholastic 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)🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - Highly SelectiveUniversity of the SouthSewanee 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🎓 10, 11, 12 - Highly SelectiveSt. John's CollegeSt. John's College Summer Academy
Rigid university-level philosophy and great books program for high school students.
📍 Annapolis, MD / Santa Fe, NM⏱ 2 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 11, 12 - SelectiveStone SoupStone Soup Magazine
Magazine of writing and art by children and teens up to age 14.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 - ModerateSusquehanna UniversitySusquehanna Advanced Writers Workshop
One-week residential workshop in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, publishing.
📍 Selinsgrove, PA⏱ 1 week📅 May🎓 10, 11, 12 - Highly SelectiveTelluride AssociationTelluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS/TASP)
Free intensive humanities seminars. Tuition, room, board, and travel fully covered.
📍 Multiple campuses (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 Mid-January🎓 10, 11 - SelectiveAmy Lowell TrustThe Amy Lowell Poetry Traveling Scholarship
One of the most valuable writing scholarships for high school seniors, based on a portfolio.
📍 Online⏱ N/A📅 January 21🎓 12 - SelectiveSusquehanna UniversityThe Apprentice Writer
Annual print magazine of student writing distributed to 3,000+ schools.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 March🎓 9, 10, 11, 12 - SelectiveThe Weight JournalThe Weight Journal
An online literary magazine that curates the best of student writing in various genres.
📍 Online⏱ N/A📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12