Emerging Writers Institute: 10th-12th Graders
The Emerging Writers Institute™ is a two-week creative writing summer camp for high school students who want to strengthen their skills in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Designed forrising 10th-12th graders, this immersive program combines immersive workshops, individualized instructor feedback, and collaborative peer critiques to help students develop as confident writers. Our unique, student-focused curriculum emphasizes the process of expressive writing and refining the narrative voice. Held on the campuses of top universities and led by accomplished writers, our Emerging Writers program is one of the nation’s leading summer writing programs for high school students.
Note: In order to attend the EWI, students must demonstrate their potential as writers by submitting a creative writing sample in any of the four major areas of focus. This program assumes that its students possess a significant understanding of the English language and are prepared to employ this familiarity in inspired and inventive ways. Students should be writing at or above grade level and be eager to continue to hone their literary skills and voice.
High School Summer Writing Program at a Glance
- Grade Level: Rising 10-12 (Grade after summer)
- Available Options: Commuter, Residential, or Online camps
- Duration: 2 weeks (in person) or 5 days (online)
- Topics: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry
Emerging Writers Institute for High School Students
Learning Outcomes
- Strengthen writing skills in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and other sub-genres.
- Investigate the fundamentals of storytelling and how to read like writers.
- Develop revision techniques through group editing sessions and individual instructor evaluations.
- Practice different voices and styles through guided daily writing workshops led by professional authors and expert faculty.
- Build confidence through collaborative peer workshops and presenting in front of an audience.
- Produce a polished piece to be published in a literary anthology.
Curriculum
Education Unlimited’s Emerging Writers Institute for high schoolers is designed around MFA-style workshops, daily writing practice, peer critiques, and personalized instructor feedback. The program includes three scheduled learning blocks: Read Like a Writer; Write Like a Reader, Genre Exploration, and Writers Block.
- Read Like a Writer; Write Like a Reader: Students read mentor texts, participate in generative writing exercises, and work on character development, storytelling, and other literary techniques.
- Genre Exploration: Students read various literary sub-genres, including science fiction, thrillers, mysteries, and more, and practice writing in these different styles.
- Writers Block: Students focus on their selected major (short story, poetry, or nonfiction), honing their writing through a capstone project. where students work on their capstone piece, have one on one conferences with their instructor, and workshop their piece with peers.
By the end of this creative writing summer camp, students will have expanded their writing portfolio with a publication-ready piece, gained confidence through sharing their work with peers and writing professionals, and developed practical techniques for writing beyond high school.
FAQs
What makes this one of the best summer writing programs for high school students?
Our creative writing summer programs emphasize writing as a creative process rather than a set of rules or formulas. Students are encouraged to discover and develop their own unique voices through daily writing, revision, and constructive feedback from accomplished instructors. With small workshop sizes and a rigorous curriculum that mirrors university creative writing programs, motivated high school students gain practical writing and editing experience that will serve them in college and beyond.
How is this creative writing summer camp different from a traditional English class?
Rather than focusing on grades or standardized assignments, our creative writing camps for teens emphasize the process and craft of writing. Students spend their time creating original work, participating in collaborative workshops, and receiving one-on-one feedback from experienced instructors and professional writers.
Who are the instructors for the Emerging Writers Institute creative writing summer camp?
Education Unlimited’s summer writing camps for high school students are taught by experienced writers, educators, and creative writing professionals who are passionate about mentoring young authors. Instructors guide students through every stage of the creative process while fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment.
This program is offered in-person at West coast locations, as well as online!
To register for the Emerging Screenwriters Institute, please follow the below steps
- Click "Apply Now" on the top right of this screen.
- Follow the prompts to enter parent and student information on screens 1 and 2.
- On screen 3, select the following options:
- Camp Category: Emerging Writers Institute
- Camp Name: Emerging Writers Institute 10-12
- Camp Session: Select the Session you prefer
- Camp Major: Select a Camp Major: Fiction/Non-Fiction/Poetry
- Price Option: Select Online Camp, Extended Day Camp or Overnight Camp
- Option 1: Extended Day Campers: Attend in-person from 9 am to 9 pm and have lunch and dinner included in the campus dining hall
- Option 2: Overnight Campers: Live on campus in the university residence halls and have breakfast, lunch, and dinner included in the university dining hall.
- Option 3: Online Campers: Attend a live-synchronous class via zoom
| Program | Grades | Location | Start Date | End Date | Price Options | Register |
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Click here for a downloadable information sheet.
Don’t see a class you want in your time zone? Check other time zones to flexibly fit your needs!
| Click Here to View Sample ON-CAMPUS Schedule | Click Here to View Sample ONLINE Schedule |
Education Unlimited believes in small-group, immersive learning with subject matter experts and experienced teachers. We strive to provide industry-leading instruction to all of our students and hold all staff to the highest possible standards. Staff assignments vary by program and location. Some of our recent staff members for this program include:
Elizabeth Bull, MFA - Camp Director
Elizabeth Bull is a writer and filmmaker. Her writing has been published in various journals, including the Los Angeles Review of Books, H.O.W. Journal, Third Coast Magazine, and Gulf Coast; her work has been nominated for two Pushcart Prizes. Her involvement in television and film began at AMC Networks, where she worked in original series development during the creation of “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad.” In addition to writing and directing several short films, she co-wrote the feature film “Song of Sway Lake,” released in the fall of 2017. Elizabeth has also co-produced two feature films and a television series for Fuse.
Elizabeth received her Bachelor’s degree from the School of Theater, Film, and Television at the University of California Los Angeles. She also holds a Master in Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing (Fiction) from The New School in New York City. In addition, she has studied directing at the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design, and Technology in Dublin, Ireland on a Rotary International Fellowship. She has taught writing at the University of Zadar in Croatia on a Fulbright Fellowship. Elizabeth has been with Education Unlimited since 2010.
Patrick McHugh, MFA - Instructor
Patrick McHugh is a native Arizonan with a background in English literature, creative writing, and critical theory. He is a graduate of Arizona State University's Barrett Honors College with a degree in English literature. Patrick received his Master's degree in English literature from the University at Buffalo. Experienced in a wide variety of classroom settings, Patrick initially taught at SIAS International University in Henan, China before returning to Arizona. While in the states he has worked with EU he has taught creative writing at the Emerging Writers Institute for both middle school and high school students. Currently, Patrick is teaches in English department at Grand Canyon University, with a focus on English Composition courses for freshman students. He is passionate about guiding each student using their own voices and talents, fostering unique reading and writing skills as well as empowering critical thinking. On a personal level, Patrick is a devoted music lover and performs as a clarinet player, drummer, and electronic composer. He also indulges his interests in contemporary art and 21st-century literature.
Ploy Pirapokin, MFA - Instructor
Ploy Pirapokin is a writer and instructor currently teaching Nonfiction for the Creative Nonfiction Foundation. She is also an adjunct instructor for the University of Los Angeles Extension program and does freelance training for The Writer, a global brand language agency. Ploy has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and English from the University of San Diego. During her time at SFSU, Ploy lectured in Creative Writing and also worked as a Creative Writing Admissions Reader for the MFA and MA program.
Ploy’s own work has been featured in Tor.com, Apogee Journal, Entropy Magazine, the Bellingham Review, HYPHEN Magazine and more. She has received multiple Pushcart Prize nominations for her work. She is a Writing by Writers Workshop at Tomales Bay fellow, a Community of Writers at Squaw Valley scholar, and was a Visiting Writer at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center. She has been the recipient of grants and fellowships from the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Ragdale Foundation, the Anderson Center, the Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, Kundiman and others.
Brett Shanley, PhD, MFA - Instructor
Brett Shanley is a writer and English lecturer who earned his PhD at Columbia University in New York City. Prior to his doctoral work, Brett received his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing - Nonfiction from The New School in NYC. In addition to his dissertation research, which looks at methods of promoting sincere engagement between undergraduate writers and the work that they produce, Brett lectures in advanced writing at Pace University. Brett has been teaching in the classroom and at academic camps since 2012, and it was these experiences that inspired his dissertation topic. He has been an instructor with Education Unlimited since 2014, teaching both creative and academic writing.
In addition to his advanced degrees, Brett also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and German from University of Oregon. In the rare moments that Brett is not working on his research or teaching, his favorite thing to do is enjoy time in New York City’s famed Central Park with his fiance and their dog Huxley.