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15 Creative Writing Programs for High School Students

By Eric Eng

With many creative writing programs available for high school students, choosing the right one can impact a student’s writing journey. These programs, from summer workshops at prestigious universities to online mentorships, offer immersive experiences in various genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and dramatic writing. They are designed to improve writing abilities and inspire a deep love for storytelling and literature.

Through intensive workshops, one-on-one mentorships, and collaborative projects, students are guided by accomplished writers and educators committed to nurturing young talent. Whether set against the backdrop of a university campus, delivered through the digital realm, or nestled within the creative havens of art schools, each program offers a unique pathway for young writers to explore their potential and push the boundaries of their creativity.

1. Shared Worlds at Wofford College

• Location : Spartanburg, SC
• Cost : $2,600
• Eligibility : Rising 8th-12th grade students
• Important Dates : July 14th to 27th, 2024; Rolling application deadline.

Shared Worlds at Wofford College is a distinctive entry among creative writing programs for high school students, uniquely blending speculative fiction genres like science fiction, fantasy, and steampunk into an immersive two-week residential workshop.

Set in the picturesque campus of Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Shared Worlds encourages students from rising 8th through 12th grades to dive deep into the realms of their imagination, creating entire worlds and narratives under the guidance of renowned authors and instructors in the field of speculative fiction.

Running from July 14th to 27th, 2024 , with a rolling application deadline to accommodate interested young writers, the program is priced at $2,600, offering a comprehensive package that includes tuition, accommodation, meals, and an array of writing resources.

2. Bard College at Simon’s Rock Young Writers Workshop

• Location : Great Barrington, MA
• Cost : $3,500
• Eligibility : Not specified
• Important Dates : July 7th to 27th, 2024; Rolling application deadline.

The Bard College at Simon’s Rock Young Writers Workshop stands as a distinguished example among creative writing programs for high school students, offering a unique blend of academic rigor and creative freedom.

Set against Bard College’s intellectually stimulating environment in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, this workshop runs from July 7th to 27th, 2024. It is tailored for students with a passion for writing and a desire to deepen their craft. With a cost of $3,500 , the program adopts a methodology distinct from conventional writing workshops.

Inspired by the college’s Language and Thinking Workshop, it emphasizes informal, playful, and expressive writing exercises supported by a peer response system to refine and polish students’ works. Participants are immersed in a collegiate atmosphere, residing on campus and engaging in a daily schedule that fosters creativity and community.

3. Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops

• Location : Gambier, OH (Residential and Online)
• Cost : $2,575 (Residential), $995 (Online)
• Important Dates : Residential (Session 1: June 23rd to July 6th, 2024; Session 2: July 14th to 27th, 2024), Online (June 16th to 21st, 2024); Residential application deadline: March 1st, 2024, Online application deadline: April 15th, 2024.

The Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshops are a cornerstone among creative writing programs for high school students, offering both residential and online formats to accommodate a wide array of participants.

Located in the scenic town of Gambier, Ohio, at Kenyon College, these workshops provide an enriching environment that mirrors the collegiate literary community. The residential sessions, scheduled for two separate sessions from June 23rd to July 6th and July 14th to 27th, 2024, and an online session from June 16th to 21st, 2024, attract students nationwide who are eager to explore their creative talents.

With $2,575 for the residential program and $995 for the online workshop , participants are immersed in a vibrant atmosphere that champions the written word across multiple genres. This program distinguishes itself by fostering a supportive community where young writers are encouraged to discover new strengths, challenge their abilities, and engage with peers who share a deep passion for storytelling.

4. Yale Young Writers’ Workshop

• Location : Online
• Cost : $950
• Eligibility : Ages 16-18, rising high school juniors or seniors
• Important Dates : Application deadline: April 1, 2024.

The Yale Young Writers’ Workshop is a prominent fixture in the landscape of creative writing programs for high school students. It offers a robust platform for young writers aged 16 to 18 to hone their craft in an immersive online environment.

This workshop has a curriculum encompassing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of literary forms and techniques. Participants are capped at twelve per genre, a policy that guarantees personalized attention and maximizes each student’s opportunity for growth and feedback.

The program’s structure is thoughtfully designed, featuring daily craft talks from visiting writers, intensive afternoon workshops, and special sessions, including open mics, faculty, and visiting author readings, further enriching the participants’ experience.

The Yale Young Writers’ Workshop facilitates the development of significant writing skills and fosters a supportive community where aspiring writers can experiment, play, and evolve. With a cost of $950 , the program is accessible to a wide range of students, making it a key player in nurturing the next generation of literary talent.

5. Emerging Writers Institute by Education Unlimited

• Location : UC Berkeley, UCLA , and Online
• Cost : Varies (specific costs not provided)
• Eligibility : Grades 10-12
• Important Dates : Sessions range from June 10, 2024, to July 2024 (specific end dates not provided)​​.

The Emerging Writers Institute by Education Unlimited is a key player among creative writing programs for high school students, designed to cater to young writers in grades 10 through 12 who seek to develop their narrative and poetic abilities.

Offered in both in-person and online formats, the program takes place at prestigious locations such as UC Berkeley and UCLA . It provides a virtual option to accommodate students from anywhere. This flexibility ensures that more students can participate in a rigorous academic environment focused on enhancing their writing skills.

The program’s structure is meticulously crafted, featuring daily blocks dedicated to reading like a writer, exploring various genres, and developing a capstone piece that embodies the student’s growth and learning throughout the course.

With options to focus on short stories, poetry, or nonfiction, participants are encouraged to delve deep into their chosen genre, guided by experienced instructors who provide personalized feedback and foster a supportive workshop environment.

6. Juniper Institute for Young Writers at UMass Amherst

• Location : Amherst, MA (Residential and Online)
• Cost : Not specified
• Eligibility : Motivated high-school age students
• Important Dates : Residential program dates not specified; Online: August 5–9, 2024; Application deadline: March 7​.

The Juniper Institute for Young Writers at UMass Amherst distinguishes itself within the realm of creative writing programs for high school students through its dynamic and immersive approach to writing.

Set against the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s vibrant academic backdrop, this program offers residential and online opportunities, allowing students from various backgrounds to engage deeply with creative writing practices.

Participants are invited to explore their narrative and poetic talents through experimentation, creativity, and wild invention, guided by a dedicated team of instructors who are both accomplished writers and passionate educators.

The program runs in the summer and is designed to foster a supportive and collaborative environment where young writers can freely express themselves, receive constructive feedback, and develop their unique voices.

7. KWH Summer Workshop at University of Pennsylvania

• Location : Philadelphia, PA
• Cost : $2,750
• Important Dates : Not specified.

The KWH Summer Workshop at the University of Pennsylvania shines as a significant offering within the sphere of creative writing programs for high school students, providing an enriching environment for young writers to explore and develop their craft.

Hosted by the esteemed Kelly Writers House, this workshop is tailored to engage participants in personal essay writing while introducing them to various other literary forms through guest lectures and craft sessions.

The program’s structure fosters an intimate setting that promotes intensive learning and personal growth, as students are encouraged to critique one another’s work as part of the revision process.

Beyond the workshops, the program broadens the educational experience by incorporating practical sessions in digital recording and collaboration with Penn’s Institute of Contemporary Art, thereby offering a holistic approach to creative expression.

Priced at $2,750 , the workshop aims to cultivate writing skills and instill confidence in young writers by immersing them in a community of peers and mentors who share a passion for storytelling.

8. Creative Writing Academy at Georgetown University

• Location : Washington, D.C.

The Creative Writing Academy at Georgetown University is a standout among creative writing programs for high school students, offering an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the world of literary creation and narrative construction.

Situated in the heart of Washington, D.C., the program leverages the city’s rich cultural scene to inspire and inform its curriculum. Students engage in an intensive exploration of literary history, technique, and the transformative power of narrative, learning how to develop their ideas into polished pieces.

The program emphasizes using great literature and art as sources of inspiration, encouraging students to draw upon diverse voices and styles to inform their writing. This approach fosters a dynamic learning environment where students refine their writing skills and expand their understanding of what it means to contribute to the literary world.

The Creative Writing Academy at Georgetown University not only equips young writers with the tools necessary for literary success but also offers a glimpse into the professional writing world, all within a supportive community of peers and mentors dedicated to fostering literary talent.

9. Smith College Precollege Programs Creative Writing Workshop

• Location : Northampton, MA
• Important Dates : Assessed on a rolling basis, applicants can submit their materials until May 2024.

The Smith College Precollege Programs Creative Writing Workshop represents a unique and innovative offering within the realm of creative writing programs for high school students, distinguished by its imaginative approach and commitment to fostering a vibrant community of young writers.

Set against Smith College’s prestigious campus backdrop, this workshop invites participants to immerse themselves in creative exploration and literary experimentation. Dubbed a “word coven,” the program emphasizes the magic and power of language, encouraging students to conjure their narratives through various exercises and collaborative projects.

From generating a plethora of story beginnings to engaging with visual, aural, and textual art, students are guided to discover and refine their writing processes. The workshop’s curriculum is designed to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling, urging participants to experiment with hybridized writing forms and to develop their rituals and practices that celebrate the art of writing.

This program equips students with the technical skills needed to craft compelling stories and poems and instills a deep appreciation for the creative process and the communal aspects of writing. By participating in the Smith College Precollege Programs Creative Writing Workshop, students join a supportive network of peers and mentors, all while developing their unique voice and vision as writers​.

10. NYU SPS High School Academy Creative Writing Program

• Location : New York, NY
• Eligibility : Completed grades 9, 10, or 11
• Important Dates : Sessions run from July 15 to August 9, 2024; International student deadline: March 15, 2024; Residential U.S. student deadline: May 17, 2024; Commuter U.S. student deadline: June 7, 2024​.

The NYU SPS High School Academy Creative Writing Program is a distinguished initiative among creative writing programs for high school students, designed to immerse participants in the intricacies of crafting narratives, building worlds, and developing authentic characters and dialogue.

Hosted by the prestigious New York University School of Professional Studies, this program offers an intensive week-long workshop that caters to students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11 . It stands out for its commitment to refining students’ writing skills and providing them with a portfolio of peer-critiqued short stories, showcasing the practical application of the techniques learned during the workshop.

Sessions are scheduled across multiple weeks in July and August, allowing for flexibility in attendance. The program takes place in a dynamic and supportive environment where students from around the globe come together to share their passion for writing and creativity.

This setting fosters a rich exchange of ideas and simulates a real-world literary community, offering students a glimpse into the professional writing world. By the end of the program, participants walk away with enhanced writing abilities, a deeper understanding of narrative construction, and valuable feedback from their peers, all of which are essential tools for any aspiring writer.

11. Interlochen Arts Camp Creative Writing Program

• Location : Interlochen, MI
• Cost : $6,765
• Eligibility : High School (Grades 9-12)
• Important Dates : Session 1: June 23 to July 13, 2024; Session 2: July 14 to August 4, 2024; Application status: Accepting applications.

The Interlochen Arts Camp Creative Writing Program is a preeminent summer enrichment experience among creative writing programs for high school students, offering an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the literary arts within the inspiring environment of the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

This prestigious program, nestled in the scenic beauty of Northern Michigan, provides high school students in grades 9-12 with a three-week intensive that spans from late June to early August across two sessions.

With a tuition fee of $6,765 , participants are immersed in a curriculum that covers fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and playwriting, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the literary world. Workshops focus on the fundamentals of narrative craft, encouraging students to experiment with voice, structure, character development, and dialogue while introducing them to contemporary techniques and genres.

By engaging in rigorous writing practices, receiving constructive feedback, and participating in a vibrant literary community, students leave the program with a deeper understanding of their craft, a portfolio of their work, and lasting connections with peers and mentors. The Interlochen Arts Camp Creative Writing Program is the leading choice for young writers seeking to challenge themselves and grow in a supportive, creatively charged atmosphere.

12. Iowa Young Writers’ Studio

• Location : Iowa City, IA
• Cost : Typically varies; scholarships may be available.
• Eligibility : High school students.
• Important Dates :  They stopped accepting application materials on February 4, 2024.

The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio stands as a formidable presence among creative writing programs for high school students, drawing upon the storied literary heritage of the University of Iowa, renowned for its Writers’ Workshop, the first creative writing degree program in the United States.

This program offers a two-week, immersive experience in Iowa City, a UNESCO City of Literature, where students from across the nation gather to study under the guidance of accomplished writers and educators.

The curriculum spans various genres, including fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, allowing students to delve deeply into their chosen field or explore new ones. Workshops emphasize the development of personal voice and style, while craft seminars examine the nuances of literary technique and theory. This nurturing environment encourages experimentation and growth, allowing students to produce work that reflects their evolving understanding of the craft.

Beyond the workshops and seminars, the program fosters community among participants, creating a network of young writers who support and inspire each other. The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio not only equips students with the skills necessary for artistic expression but also instills a profound appreciation for the literary arts, making it a pivotal experience for those looking to pursue writing professionally and personally.

13. Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program

• Cost : Free or low-cost; the program is known for being accessible.
• Eligibility : High school students globally.
• Important Dates : The application period is from March 1 to April 1, 2024.

The Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program is a highly acclaimed fixture among creative writing programs for high school students, leveraging the prestige and literary understanding of The Adroit Journal to offer a unique, immersive experience.

This free online program pairs talented young writers from around the globe with established poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, facilitating a one-on-one mentorship that spans several weeks during the summer.

The focus is on fostering creative growth, refining technique, and exploring new dimensions of voice and style under the guidance of mentors who are accomplished in their fields and deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of literary talent.

Participants can engage in an intensive curriculum designed to challenge their assumptions about writing and push the boundaries of their creativity. Students are encouraged to develop a sophisticated understanding of literary craft through assignments, feedback, and discussions and produce work that reflects their perspectives and experiences.

14. Creative Writing: Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction at Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes

• Location : The program is conducted by Stanford University, offering a rich academic environment for students to immerse themselves in creative writing.
• Cost : While the specific cost for this course was not listed in the provided sources, Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes generally have varying tuition rates based on the program and length.
• Eligibility : The course is designed for students currently in grades 8-11 at the time of application, catering to a wide range of young writers seeking to refine their craft in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.
• Important Dates : The course is offered in two sessions, with Session One running from June 17, 2024, to June 28, 2024, and Session Two from July 8, 2024, to July 19, 2024.

The Creative Writing: Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction course at Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes is a prime example of the enriching experiences of creative writing programs for high school students.

This course sets itself apart by providing a deep dive into the craft of writing across three major genres. It offers students from grades 8 through 11 a unique opportunity to explore and refine their writing skills in an intellectually stimulating environment.

Located at the prestigious Stanford University, the program runs in two sessions during the summer, allowing participants to engage with the published works of well-known authors and craft their pieces under the guidance of experienced instructors.

Students are encouraged to develop their imaginative, critical, and technical skills through reading, writing, and workshop discussions, fostering a supportive writing community that values creative exploration and personal expression.

The course’s structure, emphasizing the workshop model, ensures that each student receives personalized feedback and learns to critique peers’ work constructively, thereby cultivating a nuanced understanding of the writing process and the diverse forms it can take​.

15. Tisch School of the Arts Summer High School Program in Dramatic Writing

• Cost : Varies; scholarship opportunities may be available.
• Eligibility : High school sophomores and juniors.
• Important Dates : The summer 2024 application is closed.

The Tisch School of the Arts Summer High School Program in Dramatic Writing is an exceptional opportunity within the realm of creative writing programs for high school students, aiming to immerse them in the world of playwriting, screenwriting, and television writing.

Hosted by one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, this program offers high school sophomores and juniors a rigorous and engaging curriculum designed to unleash their creative potential and refine their writing skills.

Students can work closely with experienced instructors and professionals in the field, gaining insights into the craft of dramatic storytelling and the intricacies of character development, dialogue, and plot structure.

This intensive, hands-on program focuses on the technical aspects of writing. It encourages students to explore their voices and perspectives, challenging them to create original, compelling stories that resonate with audiences.

As we conclude this exploration of 15 creative writing programs for high school students, it’s evident that each offers a unique set of opportunities designed to ignite passion, foster talent, and open doors to endless possibilities in the literary world.

These programs equip students with the technical skills needed for storytelling and imbue them with the confidence to share their stories with the world. Beyond the craft of writing, students gain invaluable life experiences, friendships, and mentorships that extend far beyond the classroom or screen.

The journey through any of these programs can be transformative, laying the foundation for future endeavors in writing, education, and beyond. For high school students passionate about writing, the path to discovering their voice and honing their craft is rich with opportunities.

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Teach Creative Writing In High School With 10 Fun Activities

Creative writing is a meaningful aspect of literature that mandates you to utilize your expertise, ingenuity, and story to depict a critical message, emotion, or plot. It defies the traditional bounds of other forms of writing and is completely subjective to our preferences and experiences. In creative writing, it’s all about imaginativeness!

Using creative imagination and originality to convey feelings and concepts in a unique way is at the heart of creative writing. Simply stated, it’s about infusing your own ‘flair’ into your writing, moving beyond academic or other technical kinds of literature. 

In this post, we will explore the various activities which would be advantageous for a high schooler who wishes to indulge in creative writing!

What Happens When Creative Writing Is Put To Use?

Creative writing is any form of writing that deviates from traditional professional, investigative journalism, educational, or technological forms of literature. It is typically distinguished by emphasizing narrative craft, character development, literary tropes, or various poetic traditions.

Here are the few ways how high schoolers can benefit from creative writing –

1. Imagination

When you write creatively, you expand your imagination by creating new environments, scenarios, and characters. This way, you are also boosting and stretching your imagination, as well as “thinking out of the box.” This allows you to concentrate your energy on many other things and improve your ability to find fresh ideas and alternatives to problems you’re having. Whether you’re a researcher or a businessman, creative writing will increase your imagination and help you think more creatively, and push the boundaries.

2. Empathy and Communications skills

When you create characters, you’ll be constructing emotions, personalities, behaviors, and world views that are distinct from your own. Writers must conceive personalities, emotions, places, and walks of life outside of their own lives while creating universes with fictional characters and settings.

This can give children a good dose of empathy and understanding for those who aren’t like them, who don’t live where they do or go through the same things they do daily. Writers are better equipped to communicate when they have a greater understanding of other points of view. They can come up with creative ways to explain and debate subjects from multiple perspectives. This ability is crucial in both professional and personal situations. 

3. Clarification of Thoughts 

Creating structures in creative writing allows you to organize your impressions and emotions into a logical procedure. You may express both your thoughts and your sentiments through creative writing. For example, if you’re a marketing executive, you could create a short tale in which your clientele reads your promotional emails. You can guess what they’re up to, where they’re seated, what’s around them, and so on.

This enables you to focus on the language and strategies you employ. Alternatively, if you’re a technical writer writing on a new desktop platform, you could create a creative scenario in which a user encounters a problem. 

4. Broadens Vocabulary and gets a better understanding of reading and writing

You’ll learn a larger vocabulary and a better understanding of the mechanics of reading and writing as you begin to practice writing exercises regularly. Even if you’re writing a budget report, you’ll know when rigid grammar standards work and when they don’t, and you’ll know what will make your writing flow better for your readers. Exploring different ways of expressing yourself when writing creatively allows you to extend your vocabulary.

You’ll notice a change in your use and range of language as you improve your writing over time, which will be useful in any professional route and social scenario. You’ll be able to bend and break the rules when you need to, to utilize your voice and make what you’re writing engaging without coming off as an amateur, dull, or inauthentic once you’ve grasped the fundamentals of writing professionally and creatively.

5. Building Self-Belief 

When you write creatively, you’re actively involved in an activity that allows you to fully develop your voice and point of view without being constrained. You have a better chance to investigate and express your feelings about various issues, opinions, ideas, and characters. And you’ll feel more at ease and secure stating your thoughts and perspectives in other things you write as a result of this.

Writers who don’t write creatively may be concerned about appearing authoritative or trustworthy. They accidentally lose their voice and sound like drones spouting statistics by omitting to include their perspective on the topics they’re writing about. As a result, they miss out on using their distinct voice and presenting themselves as an expert with real-world expertise.

Creative Writing Activities That Will Strengthen Your Writing Skills  

Short spurts of spontaneous writing make up creative writing activities. These writing exercises push a writer to tackle a familiar topic in a new way, ranging from one line to a lengthy tale. Short, spontaneous projects are common in creative writing programs, but any writer should make them a regular practice to extend their abilities and learn new tactics to approach a series of stories.

These activities must be performed for ten minutes at a time, several times a week – by creative writers. They’re designed to help you improve your writing abilities, generate fresh story ideas, and become a better writer.

1. Free Writing

Writing is the first and foremost activity that is going to give your creative writing a boost. Start with a blank page and let your stream of thoughts and emotions flow. Then simply begin writing. Don’t pause to think or alter what you’re expressing. This is known as “free writing.” This writing activity is referred to as “morning pages” by Julia Cameron, the author of ‘The Artist’s Way.’ She recommends that authors do this every day when they first wake up. Stream of consciousness writing can provide some intriguing concepts.

Allow your intellect to take the lead as your fingers type. Or write a letter to your younger self.  Consider a topic you’d like to discuss, such as a noteworthy event, and write it down. Give guidance or convey a message that you wish you had heard as a youngster or a young adult.

2. Modify a Storyline – Read

Most of us like to read. However, just reading won’t really help augment your creative writing skills. While reading bestows insight into the deeper meanings of numerous things, you need a more concrete approach to better your aptitude. To do this, you can modify any storyline. Take an episode from a chapter, if you’re feeling brave—from one of your favorite books and recreate it. Write it from the perspective of a different character. Swap out the main character in this exercise to examine how the story may be conveyed differently.

Take Percy Jackson’s thrilling conclusion, for instance, and rework it with Annabeth as the primary character. Another way to approach this creative activity is to keep the primary character but switch viewpoints. Rewrite a scene in the third person if the writer has told a story in the first person. 

3. Add Creative Writing Prompts or Create Flash Fiction

Use writing prompts, often known as narrative starters, to produce writing ideas. A writing prompt is a sentence or short excerpt that a writer uses to start composing a story on the spot. You can look up writing prompts online, pick a sentence out of a magazine at random, or use a brilliant line from a well-known work as the start of your short scene.

Another thing you can do to accentuate your writing is to create flash fiction. Sit down at your desktop or pick up a pen and paper and write a 500-word story on the spur of the moment. This isn’t the same as just writing whatever comes to mind. With no fixed guidelines, free writing generates a stream of consciousness. All of the basic components of a story arc, such as plot, conflict, and character development, are required in flash fiction, albeit in a shortened form.

4. Create a Fictitious Advertisement

Pick a random word from a nearby book or newspaper and create a fictitious commercial for it. Write one ad in a formal, abbreviated newspaper classified format to require you to pay special attention to your word choice to sell the item. Then write one for an online marketplace that allows for longer, more casual text, such as Craigslist. Describe the item and persuade the reader to purchase it in each one.

5. Engage in Conversations 

Engaging in conversations with your friends/family – or simply communicating can help brush up your writing skills. Talk to your loved ones about their hobbies, career, views on societal issues – any suitable topic for that matter. This helps implement others’ points of view and expands your mental ability. Another useful thing that you can do is – make another person’s tale and create it by implementing your own thoughts. Then talk about it in an impeccable manner. Also, talk in complete sentences. This goes to show your Linguistic intelligence proficiency – and helps augment your creative writing skills.

6. Create Your Own Website/Blog

Start your search for blogging. There are a million writing suggestions out there, but they all boil down to the same thing: write. Blogging is excellent writing practice because it gives you a place to write regularly.

To keep your fingers and mind nimble, write a post every day. Like most bloggers, you’ll want to restrict your subject—perhaps you’ll focus on parenting or start a how-to site where you can tell stories from your point of view.

7. Participate in Debates/Extempores  

Participating in debates, extempores – anchoring for your school function, giving a speech, all of these activities help boost your creative spirit. These group events make you understand what other people are envisioning, which in turn helps you generate new ideas, approaches, and methods. Not only do they improve your articulation and research skills, but they also develop critical thinking and emotional control abilities. All of these promote a better creative writing aptitude.

8. Start a YouTube Channel or Podcast 

Starting a YouTube channel or podcast will definitely level up your creative game. YouTube is a never-ending platform, covering myriads of topics. Choose a particular niche for your channel.

Then do your topic research, create content, manage SEO, approach brands, talk to clients and influencers – do all the good stuff. Communicating with other influencers and creating content will take your creative writing skills to another level. Starting a podcast will have a similar impact. 

9. Love them? Say it with your words!

We have many festivals, occasions, birthdays, parties, anniversaries and whatnot! You can employ these special days and boost your creative writing skills. You can make a token of love for them – writing about your feelings. You can also make gift cards, birthday cards, dinner menus, and so on. So let’s say, it’s your mother’s birthday, you can write her a token of love, elucidating your feelings and letting her know what all she’s done for you and that you’re grateful. Do this for all your near and dear ones. This not only spreads positivity and love but helps you develop your creative aptitude.

10. The What-if Game

The What-If game is an incredible way to upgrade your creative abilities. You can play this game with your friends, cousins, relatives, or solo. Here, you need to find links to many interesting hypothetical questions. For instance, what if the sun doesn’t rise for a week? What if there’s no oxygen for one minute? Play it with your peeps, or ask these questions to yourself. It can be anything random but concrete. If you don’t know the answers to the questions, look them up on Google. This way, you’re training your mind to learn new concepts all the while enhancing your visualization process. 

We can conclude that creative writing encourages students to think creatively, use their imaginations, imply alternatives, expand their thinking processes, and improve their problem-solving skills. It also allows the child to express themselves and grow their voice. Besides, it enhances reasoning abilities. The principle behind the creative writing concept is that everyone can gain the qualities that are needed to become a successful writer or, rather become good at writing. Creative writing is all about using language in new and innovative ways.

Sananda Bhattacharya, Chief Editor of TheHighSchooler, is dedicated to enhancing operations and growth. With degrees in Literature and Asian Studies from Presidency University, Kolkata, she leverages her educational and innovative background to shape TheHighSchooler into a pivotal resource hub. Providing valuable insights, practical activities, and guidance on school life, graduation, scholarships, and more, Sananda’s leadership enriches the journey of high school students.

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12 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students (2022 -2023)

Extracurriculars

Love reading, writing, and being creative? Then consider checking out summer writing programs for high school students! 

Whether you want to become a journalist or the next Poet Laureate, there are tons of summer writing programs that will help you achieve your goals. Participating in these programs can look great on college applications too! 

In this article, we’ll give you all the info you need to decide if creative writing summer programs for high school students are right for you, including: 

• A full description of 12 summer writing programs for high school students (including cost, eligibility, and what they cover!)
• A quick, five question quiz to help you decide if a summer writing program is right for you
• Three tips on how to impress colleges with your summer writing program

Let’s get started! 

Summer's the perfect time for sitting on the beach, eating ice cream...and participating in writing programs. 

What Are Summer Writing Programs for High School Students? 

Creative writing summer programs for high school students are a great way for students with an interest in writing to explore subjects they’re interested in, build skills for college, and meet other students who share their interests.  

As a bonus, summer writing programs can look great on college applications!

Summer writing programs for high schoolers are typically held between May and August each year . These programs are similar to a summer class or camp. Additionally, these programs last anywhere from a week to several weeks throughout the summer. 

Like summer camps, writing programs for high schoolers are pretty intensive. Students spend their time l istening to lectures from experts, participating in workshops, presenting their work, and getting real-life feedback. 

Best of all, summer writing programs are hands-on, so you’ll spend lots of time writing and creating original work ! The goal of any summer writing program is to help you develop and improve your writing skills through practice and feedback. 

While some programs teach general writing skills, many summer writing programs focus on a particular field or genre, like journalism, essay writing, or creative writing . For instance, if you’re thinking about becoming a journalism major, you might participate in a journalism writing summer program that’ll give you a glimpse of what it’s like to work in the industry.

There are many benefits of summer writing programs when it comes to college applications too. After all, writing great college essays is an important part of getting into your dream school! And because they’re extracurricular activities, summer writing programs are also a good option for students who are aiming for an arts-based spike approach on college applications. 

Dust off that typewriter...it's time to apply!

12 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students

We’ve put together a list of 12 summer creative writing summer programs for high school students to help you get a sense of the many great options out there. Our list includes journalism, research-based, and creative writing summer programs for high school students so you can find the best one for you! 

#1: The School of New York Times Summer Academy

• Eligibility: Must be entering 10th, 11th, 12th grade, or graduating high school
• Dates: Term 1: June 5-17; Term 2: June 19-July 1; Term 3: July 3-15; Term 4: July 17-29
• Location: New York City
• Cost: $6,420 for residential; $5,820 for day program
• Deadlines: Varies by term; deadlines range from early May to mid-June

The New York Times (NYT) offers a series of writing-based summer courses for high school students at their campus in New York City. Courses are designed to develop students’ curiosity and critical thinking through traditional coursework and in the museums, arts centers, think tanks, and start-up labs of New York City. Courses are offered on various topics , including creative writing and investigative journalism. 

The program “seeks talented student leaders with diverse interests, ambitions and writing styles.” To participate, students complete an online application that includes short answer questions and optional writing samples, high school transcripts, and one recommendation. 

#2: Boston University Summer Journalism Academy

• Eligibility: Must be aged 14-18 
• Dates: Vary by year; Session 1: June 20-July 1; Session 2: July 4-July 15; Session 3: July 18-July 29
• Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
• Cost: On-Campus w/tuition, room, board and activity fees: $3700; On-Campus Commuter w/tuition and activity fees: $2700; Learn-from-Home: $1300
• Deadlines: Applications due mid-May

The Summer Journalism Academy at Boston University is designed to introduce high school students to life as news reporters . Students practice their skills in the classroom then apply them to hands-on learning opportunities in a real newsroom. One of the biggest perks is that students get to learn from working journalists who cover a wide range of beats. 

Students can participate in person or remotely. In-person participants can stay on BU’s campus through the residential program, where they’ll get a chance to live alongside other academy attendees. To participate, applications must be submitted online and should include a 300-word letter explaining the student’s interest in journalism.

#3: Asian American Journalist Association (AAJA) Journalism Camp

• Eligibility: 9th-12th graders with a strong interest in journalism 
• Dates: Summer; exact program dates may vary
• Location: Varies by year; JCamp 2022 is hosted by the University of Southern California
• Cost: No cost (travel expenses are also covered by the program)
• Deadlines: Applications due March 31

The AAJA‘s six-day summer training camp, called JCamp, gives students the opportunity to learn from journalists and journalism executives while developing their writing skills. This summer writing program gives students hands-on experience producing multi-platform news packages that are published on the program’s news site, JCamp Live. 

Students who show a strong interest in broadcasting, newspaper, magazine, photojournalism, or online media are encouraged to apply online. Also, JCamp isn’t limited to Asian American students, so all high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible. Even better: all program costs are covered , including travel, university lodging, and meals. 

#4: Yale Daily News Summer Journalism Program

• Eligibility: Open to all high school students
• Dates: August 16-20
• Location: Varies by year; 2022 program held via Zoom
• Cost: Free to students from New Haven Public Schools; all other participants pay $160 in tuition
• Deadlines: Unspecified

The Yale Daily News Summer Journalism Program is a one-week journalism course for high school students. Students participate in workshops on the basics of writing and reporting, hear lectures by journalists from major publications, and work as a team to produce an issue of the Yale Daily News.  

As a bonus, the program is run entirely by undergraduate staff members of the Yale Daily News , so students will get to see what it’s like to be a real journalism student at an Ivy League school. 

To apply, students must submit four short answer questions and a pitch for one professional-grade news article . Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as program costs may increase as the program start date approaches. 

Howard University's writing program is perfect for people who want to write across media--and yes, that includes TikTok.

#5: Howard University Multimedia Academy 

• Eligibility: Must be in 9th-12th grade
• Dates: June 14-25
• Location: Virtual/online
• Cost: Not specified
• Deadlines: Applications due June 5

Howard’s virtual summer writing program teaches students to use multimedia journalism to report on health and wellness in underserved communities . At the end of the program, students’ work appears on the Howard University News Service and on Voices of Tomorrow, a nonprofit that provides social services to immigrants and refugees from East African communities.  

Additionally, the best work by seniors and recent graduates will be eligible for the Dow Jones News Fund’s scholarship competition . To apply to Howard’s Multimedia Academy, students must fill out an online application, including a 250-word essay. 

#6: The Multicultural Journalism Program (MJW)  

• Eligibility: Rising 9th graders through college freshmen
• Dates: June 3-12
• Location: University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
• Cost: Free, including housing, meals, and field trips; students are responsible for transportation to and from Tuscaloosa
• Deadlines: Applications due April 1

MJW’s summer writing program selects 10 to 15 students to attend an intensive workshop held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This workshop focuses on multimedia reporting, writing, editing, graphics, photography, and production. During the workshop, students produce an issue of the MJP Journal to showcase everything they’ve learned. 

Applicants must submit a high school transcript, a typed 500-word essay explaining their interest in journalism, and a recommendation letter. The program also encourages students to submit samples of published journalistic work , but unpublished writing samples are also acceptable. 

#7: Carnegie-Mellon University Writing and Culture Program

• Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old by program start date; must be a current high school sophomore or junior at time of application; must have an academic average of B (3.0/4.0) and/or have received a B or higher in their last English class.
• Dates: July 5-August 12
• Location: Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
• Cost: $9,000 for residential program; $6,932 for commuter program
• Deadlines: Applications accepted on a rolling basis

The Carnegie-Mellon Writing and Culture Program teaches high school students to think critically and express themselves creatively. This six-week course features classes taught by Carnegie-Mellon faculty, readings and events with local authors, and hands-on visits to Pittsburgh’s museums. Throughout the program, students produce a written portfolio that explores film, art, and culture . 

To apply, students must complete an online application that includes a high school transcript, responses to essay prompts, and up to three optional writing samples. If an applicant’s cumulative high school GPA is below a B average (3.0/4.0), submitting writing samples is strongly encouraged.

#8: Iowa Young Writers’ Studio Residential Program

• Eligibility: Must be a current 10th, 11th, or 12th grader
• Dates: Session 1: June 12-25; Session 2: July 10-23
• Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
• Cost: $2,500 for residential
• Deadlines: Applications due February 6

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop offers a two-week, residential creative writing summer program for 144 high school students from across the country. Once accepted, students will select a course of study from the following options: poetry, fiction, creative writing, playwriting, or TV writing. Students also participate in writing workshops, receive constructive feedback, and star in open mics and talent shows.

The Iowa Young Writers’ studio acceptance rate falls between 15% and 20% . A competitive application to this program will include a polished writing sample, statement of purpose, letter of recommendation, and high school transcript. Students from outside the United States are also welcome to apply. 

It turns out that Virginia is for writers.

#9: UVA Young Writers Workshop

• Eligibility: Session 1: rising 9th-12th graders; Session 2: rising 10th graders through rising first-year college students
• Dates: Session 1: June 19-July 1; Session 2: July 3-July 22  
• Location: Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA
• Cost: $2450 for Session 1; $3500 for Session 2
• Deadlines: Applications due March 1

UVA Young Writers Workshop is a summer program designed to immerse students in a creative writing genre . Students focus on one of the following for the duration of the program: short form creative writing, poetry, songwriting, screen and playwriting, creative nonfiction, or fiction. 

UVA Young Writers Workshop is one of the best summer writing programs for high school students because it offers two program sessions that are geared toward different skill levels . Session 1 is designed for a wider range of skill levels and experience, whereas Session 2 is geared toward more advanced writers. You can apply to both sessions online by submitting several writing samples, a brief autobiography, and a letter of recommendation. 

#10: Smith College Creative Writing Workshop

• Eligibility: Must be in 9th-12th grades; must be female-identified or gender-nonconforming students
• Dates: July 9-23
• Cost: $4,285
• Deadlines: Applications due May 15

Smith’s Creative Writing Workshop teaches the importance of practice and perseverance by engaging students in a multi-draft writing process in a variety of mediums . Students are taught by real published writers and get the chance to present their work at open mic and improv nights. In the evenings, there are even opportunities to meet with agents and learn how to create an author website!

Students are selected for this writing program based on academic performance, a written essay, and a teacher recommendation. Also, because Smith is a women’s college, this summer writing program is only open to young women, female-identified, or gender-nonconforming students . Students from outside of the U.S. are also encouraged to apply. 

#11: Sarah Lawrence Writer’s Week

• Eligibility: Must be in 9th-12th grade and 14 years of age or older by the program start date
• Dates: On-campus session: July 11-15; online session: August 1-5
• Location: Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY; online
• Cost: $1,125 for on-campus; $725 for online
• Deadlines: Unspecified; contact [email protected]​ for more information 

Writer’s Week at Sarah Lawrence is a week-long experience with creative writing and performance arts for high school students. Students attend workshops taught by real writers, artists, and Sarah Lawrence faculty and will get the chance to meet in small groups with workshop leaders. At the end of the week, the program hosts a celebration of student work and faculty and student readings. 

Sarah Lawrence Writer’s Week offers both an on-campus and online session (but note that the on-campus session is a day camp, not residential). Applications and registration must be completed online. 

#12: Alpha Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Workshop for Young Writers

• Eligibility: Must be aged 14-19
• Dates: July 20-31
• Location: University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg, PA
• Cost: $1,200
• Deadlines: Unspecified; applications open in January 

Alpha is a twelve-day writing workshop for 20 high school students at the University of Pittsburgh’s Greensburg campus. During this program, students are expected to write an original science fiction, fantasy, or horror short story of 2000 words or more. During the writing process, students receive plenty of hands-on guidance. 

The Alpha program is held in-person on the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg campus . To apply, students must fill out an online form and submit an original short story of at least 2000 words. 

Quiz: Is a Summer Writing Program Right for You?

If you’re still not sure if participating in a summer writing program is right for you, don’t worry–we’re here to help! 

We’ve put together a five-question, yes-or-no response quiz to help you decide if summer writing programs support your interests and goals. Just read the questions below and respond with “yes” or “no.”

• Is your English class the most exciting part of your school day?  
• Do you spend free time reading and writing for fun? 
• Are you looking for new challenges and experiences as a writer? 
• Are you willing to share your writing with others, including peers you’ve just met and writing professionals and experts? 
• Are you highly motivated to pursue your interests outside of school and even during your summer vacation? 

If you responded with “yes” to three or more of the questions above, you might consider applying to a summer writing program for high school students! 

At the end of the day, you want your summer activities to support your interests and boost your college applications . If you’re aiming for a future career as a writer or just want to hone your writing hobby, a summer writing program may be the perfect fit for you.

3 Tips To Impress Colleges With Your Summer Writing Program

Summer writing programs for high school students look great to college admissions teams . But what are the best ways to showcase your writing experience on your applications? 

We’ll show you how to impress colleges with your summer writing program–just check out the tips below !

Tip 1: Work It Into Your College Essays

You want your college essays to tell a vivid story about your interests . Your experiences in a summer writing program provide a great springboard for illustrating your interests and passions on your college applications! 

Colleges want to accept students who are creative, courageous, and motivated to pursue their dreams. Writing about how you stretched and grew during your summer writing program will show colleges that you’re up for a challenge…and that you won’t give up, no matter how many revisions your draft needs. 

Tip 2: Connect It to Your Major

If you’re already certain you want to major in a writing-related field in college, your summer writing program will be especially helpful. Many elite schools ask students to apply directly to their chosen major. So if you’re applying to an arts or humanities major, there’s a good chance you’ll have to submit a writing sample as part of your college application . 

The good news is that most summer writing programs give you the chance to produce original writing and receive critiques from professional writers. By taking the writing you produce during your summer writing program and continuing to revise it, you’ll have a top-notch writing sample to include with your application.

Tip 3: Ask a Program Instructor for a Recommendation

Creative writing summer programs for high school students give you the opportunity to connect with writing faculty at elite colleges and real-life writers, journalists, poets, and more. These professionals provide feedback on your writing during your summer program…which means they’ll have unique insights into your potential as a college student ! 

In fact, several summer writing programs offer students the chance to receive a college recommendation from program faculty . For instance, the New York Times Summer Academy says this about recommendations from program faculty:

As a pre-college program, [NYT] Summer Academy gives students the opportunity to get a glimpse of the college experience while also exploring possible topics of study. Typically, college admissions officers look favorably on students who continue to enhance their academic portfolio during the summer months. Students will also benefit from receiving a narrative evaluation from their instructor which can be included as part of their college applications.

If you build strong rapport with an instructor at your summer writing program, consider staying in touch and asking them to write you a letter of recommendation for your college applications. Having a recommendation from someone outside of your high school will show colleges that you’re already building real-world connections with people in your future career field . 

What’s Next? 

Writing programs can prepare you for writing your college admissions essays . Our expert guide breaks down the whole admissions essay writing process , step by step.

One popular college essay format is the “why this school?” prompt. We’ll show you how to write an amazing “why this college” essay that will wow admissions counselors.  

If you’re not sure what a great college essay looks like, that’s okay. We’ve compiled a list of over 140 college essays that can inspire you as you’re writing yours! 

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10 Best Creative Writing Programs for High School Students

Creative writing has a wide range of applications and benefits. It not only helps you structure and write in different ways but also makes you a better reader and communicator!

In this post, we have compiled a list of great creative writing programs for high school students. We’ve also thrown in some journalism programs for good measure!

10 Great Creative Writing Programs

1. iowa young writers’ studio – residential program.

Location: Online and in-person versions available

Fee/stipend: $575 for the online version, $2,500 for the in-person version

Financial assistance: Several full tuition and partial tuition grants are available.

Application deadline: February 5, 2023

Program dates: Session 1 from June 11, 2023, to June 24, 2023, Session 2 from July 9, 2023, to July 22, 2023

Eligibility: 10th, 11th and 12th graders are eligible to apply

The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio is one of the most prestigious writing programs in the country, with an estimated acceptance rate between 15-20%. You get to choose one course from poetry, fiction, creative writing, playwriting, or TV writing. The course structure contains a mix of seminars and workshops. The mentors are graduates of the University of Iowa, which holds the most prestigious creative writing program in the country (strange but true)! This is a great program if you’re looking for an immersive experience in a single style of writing.

2. Princeton’s Summer Journalism Program

Location: Online and in-person versions available throughout the year culminating in a 10-day residential program at the end of July

Fee/stipend: Free

Financial assistance: NA

Application deadline: February 27, 2023

Program dates: Year-long

Eligibility: Students must be in the 11th grade, have a minimum GPA of 3.5, and must qualify for one of these socioeconomic conditions .

You will get a taste of life as a journalist in this year-long course. You will participate in a range of activities, including attending online workshops and lectures with renowned journalists from all over the country.

Apart from the usual workshops and lectures, you will have access to a number of exciting opportunities such as visiting newsrooms, making a documentary, and working on the Princeton Summer Journal which is published at the end of the program. Fair warning - this is a highly selective program including a three-round application process and a final cohort of up to 40 students .

3. NYU Tisch’s Future Dramatic Writers Workshop

Location: Commuter program at NYU's New York City campus

Application deadline: Closed for 2023

Program dates: February 4, 2023 - May 13, 2023

Program Selectivity: Highly selective

Eligibility: Open to 9th, 10th and 11th graders

If accepted to this program, you get the opportunity to study and practice writing for theatre, film, and television. The program takes place every Saturday for 14 weeks , where you will be spending 8 hours in lectures and workshops. It culminates in a yearly showcase where students can present what they’ve worked on. It is an intensive course equivalent to Tisch’s undergraduate curriculum . This has an in-person component, so it may be easiest if you are in New York City.

4. Telluride Association Summer Seminars

Location: Cornell University, University of Maryland, and University of Michigan

Program dates: June 25, 2023 – August 5, 2023

Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders

Primarily rooted in humanities and social studies, TASS looks at systems of power and oppression. While its main agenda is to exercise students’ critical thinking skills , reading and writing essays is a crucial part of the curriculum. You will find the opportunity to hone your writing skills in fields such as history, politics, culture, and more . This is a highly selective program with an estimated acceptance rate of 3-5% . While this may not fit the bill for traditional ‘creative writing’, the way in which it weaves a connection between critical thinking and impeccable writing is likely to enhance your creative writing projects.

5. Yale Young Writers’ Workshop

Location: Online

Fee/stipend: $900

Application deadline: April 3, 2023

Program dates: July 9, 2023 – July 14, 2023

Eligibility: Open to 10th, 11th and 12th graders

Yale Young Writers’ Workshop will give you an in-depth look at one of the following genres — fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or graphic storytelling. With only 12 students per workshop, the highly selective, one-week program ensures each person gets an immersive experience in developing the craft of writing, experimenting with their work, and finding their own voice .

6. Asian American Journalists Association’s JCAMP

Location: On campus at American University, Washington D.C.

Application deadline: March 17, 2023

Program dates: July 15, 2023 – July 21, 2023

Known for its multicultural diversity and unique hands-on training, this renowned program aims to prepare you for a career in journalism. Not only will you get workshops with veteran industry leaders and go on field trips, but you’ll also have the chance to produce news packages for the program’s news site ! You will also have some published work to your credit. This is a highly selective program with about 30 students chosen from hundreds of applicants.

7. Kenyon Review Young Writer’s Summer Residential Workshop

Location: On campus at Kenyon College

Fee/stipend: $2,575

Financial assistance: Need-based financial aid is available.

Application deadline: March 1, 2023

Program dates: Session 1 from June 25, 2023, to July 8, 2023, Session 2 from July 16, 2023, to July 29, 2023

Eligibility: Open to 16–18-year-old students

This program offers a combination of individual conferences with your instructor and peer-led group discussion and exercises. The coursework is ungraded and focuses on students recognizing and working on their writing skills. You will also have the opportunity to sign up for a genre session where one genre or element of writing will be explored in-depth . This is highly selective with 12-14 students per workshop.

8. Bard College at Simon’s Rock Young Writers Workshop

Location: On campus

Fee/stipend: $3,500

Financial assistance: Moderate

Application deadline: None. Applicants are reviewed until the program is full, usually in mid-April or May

Program dates: July 9, 2023 – July 29, 2023

Eligibility: Open to students from grades 9-11

Instead of focusing only on the writing style, this three-week workshop focuses on enhancing language and thinking skills that are key for effective writing. The program consists of three 90-minute sessions every day with each having a different area of research. You will engage in writing activities and reading discussions within small groups of 12, so every student gets individual attention. Writings are shared by the workshop leaders as well as peers. While building a portfolio, you will be encouraged to focus on the process and finding your voice rather than the end product. This program is a good fit if you’re looking for informal coursework with a heavy emphasis on critical thinking.

9. Sarah Lawrence Writer’s Week – A Creative Writing and Performance Art Workshop

Location: Commuter program

Fee/stipend: $1,125

Financial assistance: Limited scholarships available to Yonkers Public School students

Application deadline: Registrations open in February.

Program dates: Virtual program from July 10, 2023 – July 14, 2023, On campus program from August 7, 2023 – August 11, 2023

Eligibility: Students must be 14 years of age or older

Writing (workshops and collaborative discussions) and theatre (workshops on improvisation, solo performance, character comedy, and the like) come together in this program with students learning components of each as well as their relation to each other. While this is a highly selective program, once in, you’ll find yourself in an interactive and supportive environment in a class of 18 students.

10. The Adroit Journal’s Summer Mentorship Program

Fee/stipend: $450

Financial assistance: Available

Application deadline: March 12, 2023

Program dates: June 19, 2023 – July 31, 2023

Eligibility: Open to students from the 9th to 12th grades

Hosted by a literary and art non-profit organization, this program pairs budding writers with established ones , making this a highly individualized program. While peer activities are also offered, you will get personalized support and guidance from your mentor. You can choose from poetry, fiction and non-fiction/memoir writing. However, the program’s acceptance rate has been approximately 8-9% in the past so keep in mind that it is highly selective.

If you’re interested in going beyond creative writing and want to explore research in fields you’re interested in (e.g., research in literature!) , consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.

Great Summer Creative Writing Programs for High School Students

Immersive Summer Programs for Budding Writers

Summer is a terrific time for aspiring writers to focus on creative writing . Immersive programs give high schoolers the opportunity to develop writing skills, meet like-minded students, and gain an impressive line on their activities resumé. This list of excellent summer creative writing programs for high school students may offer just what the budding writers in your family need to make the most of their talents.

Emerson College Creative Writers Workshop

Emerson’s Creative Writers Workshop is a five-week program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors geared at developing their writing skills in a variety of media, including fiction, poetry, screenwriting, graphic novels, and magazine writing. Participants attend college-level writing classes exploring these genres in which they write and present their own work, create a final portfolio of their writing, contribute to the workshop’s anthology, and present a reading for family and friends. On-campus housing is available for the duration of the workshop.

Alfred University Creative Writing Camp

This summer writing program introduces rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to many different genres, including poetry, short fiction, creative non-fiction, and drama. Students read and discuss the work of established authors and participate in writing-intensive exercises and workshop sessions led by Alfred University faculty members. Campers stay in university housing and enjoy a variety of recreational activities outside of classes and workshops such as movie nights, games, and social gatherings. The program runs annually for five days at the end of June.

Sarah Lawrence College Summer Writers Workshop for High School Students

This program is a one-week, non-residential summer workshop for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors that explores the process of creative writing in a non-competitive, non-judgmental environment. Participants have the opportunity to attend small writing and theater workshops led by faculty and guest writers and theater artists, as well as attend and participate in readings. Classes are limited to 15 students with three faculty leaders per workshop to provide individual attention for each student.

Sewanee Young Writers Conference

This two-week residential program offered by The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, provides dedicated rising high school sophomore, junior, and senior creative writers an opportunity to develop and polish their writing skills. The conference includes workshops in playwriting, fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction led by celebrated professional writers as well as visiting writers whose works students analyze and discuss. Participants select one writing genre and spend their two weeks attending a small workshop dedicated to that genre, with opportunities for one-on-one contact with workshop leaders. Students also participate in lectures, readings, and discussions.

Emerging Writers Institute Creative Writing Camp

Allen Grove

Education Unlimited offers the Emerging Writers Institute creative writing camp each summer at Yale University , Stanford University , and UC Berkeley . This two-week residential program for rising 10th-12th graders includes daily workshops, evaluations, peer editing groups, and creative presentations designed to encourage students to challenge themselves as writers and hone their expressive writing process.

Each student chooses to major in the writing of either short stories, poetry, playwriting, or nonfiction. The bulk of their critical reading and writing exercises and workshopping is devoted to their selected major. Students may also attend afternoon workshops on nontraditional genres such as speechwriting, graphic novels, and advertising copy, as well as guest presentations by local authors and publishers.

Iowa Young Writers' Studio

The University of Iowa offers this two-week summer creative writing program for rising juniors, seniors, and college freshmen. Students choose one of three core courses in poetry, fiction, or creative writing (a more general course sampling from poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction). Within their course, they participate in seminar classes in which they read and analyze literary selections and workshops to create, share, and discuss their own writing. Also offered are large group writing exercises, inspirational outdoor writing excursions, and nightly readings by prominent published writers. Many of the program's teachers and counselors are graduates of the university's Iowa Writers' Workshop, one of the most prestigious creative writing graduate programs in the country.

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Teaching Creative Writing: Tips for Your High School Class

When I was first told that I’d be teaching creative writing, I panicked. While I had always enjoyed writing myself, I had no idea how to show others how to do it creatively. After all, all of my professional development had focused on argumentative writing and improving test scores. 

Eventually, though, I came to love my creative writing class, and I think you will too. In this post, I hope to help you with shaping your own creative writing class. 

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally use and love, or think my readers will find useful.

The Importance of Teaching Creative Writing

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of how to teach creative writing, let’s first remind ourselves why you should teach a creative writing class.  

How often do you see students freeze in your English class, wondering if what they’re writing is “right”? How often do your students beg you to look over their work to make sure that they’re doing it “right”? 

We English teachers know that there’s no such thing as “right” when it comes to writing. But our students really struggle with the idea of there being no one correct answer. Creative writing is one solution to this problem.

By encouraging our students to explore, express themselves, and play with language, we show them how fun and exploratory writing can be. I know there have been many times in my life when writing clarified my own ideas and beliefs for me; creative writing provides this opportunity for our high school students. 

Plus, creative writing is just downright fun! And in this modern era of standardized testing, high-stakes grading, and just increased anxiety overall, isn’t more fun just what our students and us need? 

Creative writing is playful, imaginative, but also rigorous. It’s a great balance to our standard literature or composition curriculum. 

Whether you’re choosing to teach creative writing or you’re being voluntold to do so, you’re probably ready to start planning. Make it as easy as possible on yourself: grab my done-for-you Creative Writing Class here !

Otherwise, preparing for an elective creative writing class isn’t much different than preparing for any other English class .

Set your goals and choose the standards you’ll cover. Plan lessons accordingly. Then, be sure to have a way to assess student progress. 

Teaching Creative Writing Tip #1: Get Clear on Your Goals

First, what do you want to achieve with your creative writing class? In some school, Creative Writing is purely a fun elective. The goal is create a class that students enjoy with a side of learning. 

For other schools or district cultures, however, Creative Writing might be an intensely academic course. As a child, I went to an arts middle school. Creative writing was my major and it was taken very seriously. 

The amount of rigor you wish to include in your class will impact how you structure everything . So take some time to think about that . You may want to get some feedback from your administrator or other colleagues who have taught the course. 

Some schools also sequence creative writing classes, so be sure you know where in the sequence your particular elective falls. I’ve also seen schools divide creative writing classes by genre: a poetry course and a short story course. 

Know what your administrator expects and then think about what you as an instructor want to accomplish with your students.  

Teaching Creative Writing Tip #2: List Out Your Essential Skills

Regardless of your class’s level of rigor, there are some skills that every creative writing course should cover. 

First, you need to cover the writing process. Throughout the course, students should practice brainstorming, outlining, writing, and editing their drafts. In nearly every Poem Writing Activity that I use in my class, students follow the same process. They examine a model text, brainstorm ideas, outline or fill out a graphic organizer, put together a final draft, and then share with a peer for feedback. 

That last step–sharing and critiquing work–is an essential skill that can’t be overstated. Students are often reluctant to share their work, but it’s through that peer feedback that they often grow the most. Find short, casual, and informal ways to build in feedback throughout the class in order to normalize it for students. 

Literary terms are another, in my opinion, must-cover topic for teaching a creative writing class. You want your students to know how to talk about their writing and others’ like an actual author. How deep into vocabulary you want to go is up to you, but by the end of the course, students should sound like writers honing their craft. 

Lastly, you should cover some basic writing skills, preferably skills that will help students in their academic writing, too. I like to cover broad topics like writing for tone or including dialogue. Lessons like these will be ones that students can use in other writing assignments, as well. 

Of course, if you’re teaching a creative writing class to students who plan on becoming creative writing majors in college, you could focus on more narrow skills. For me, most of my students are upperclassmen looking for an “easy A”. I try my best to engage them in activities and teach them skills that are widely applicable. 

Teaching Creative Writing Tip #3: Make Sure Your Materials are Age-Appropriate

Once you know what you’re teaching, you can begin to cultivate the actual lessons you’ll present. If you pick up a book on teaching creative writing or do a quick Google search, you’ll see tons of creative writing resources out there for young children . You’ll see far less for teens. 

Really, the content and general ideas around creative writing don’t change much from elementary to high school. But the presentation of ideas should .

Every high school teacher knows that teens do not like to feel babied or talked down to; make sure your lessons and activities approach “old” ideas with an added level of rigor or maturity.

Take for example the haiku poem. I think most students are introduced to haikus at some point during their elementary years. We know that haiku is a pretty simple poem structure. 

However, in my Haiku Poem Writing Lesson , I add an extra layer of rigor. First, students analyze a poem in which each stanza is its own haiku. Students are asked not only to count syllables but to notice how the author uses punctuation to clarify ideas. They also analyze mood throughout the work.  

By incorporating a mentor text and having students examine an author’s choices, the simple lesson of writing a haiku becomes more relevant and rigorous. 

Teaching Creative Writing Tip #4: Tell Students What They Should Not Write About

You’ll often be surprised by just how vulnerable your students are willing to be with you in their writing. But there are some experiences that we teachers don’t need to know about, or are required to act on. 

The first day of a creative writing course should always include a lecture on what it means to be a mandated reporter. Remind students that if they write about suicidal thoughts, abuse at home, or anything else that might suggest they’re in danger that you are required by law to report it. 

Depending on how strict your district, school, or your own teaching preferences, you may also want to cover your own stance on swearing, violence, or sexual encounters in student writing. One idea is to implement a “PG-13” only rule in your classroom.

Whatever your boundaries are for student work, make it clear on the first day and repeat it regularly.

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Teaching Creative Writing Tip #5: Give Students Lots of Choice

Creative writing should be creative . Yes, you want to give students parameters for their assignments and clear expectations. But you want them to feel a sense of freedom, also.  

I took a class once where the story starters we were given went on for several pages . By the time we students were able to start writing, characters had already been developed. The plot lines had already been well-established. We felt written into a corner, and we all struggled with wrapping up the loose ends that had already been created. 

I’ve done an Author Study Project with my class in which students were able to choose a poet or short story author to study and emulate. My kids loved looking through the work of Edgar Allan Poe, Elizabeth Acevedo, Neil Gaiman, and Jason Reynolds for inspiration. They each gravitated towards a writer that resonated with them before getting to work. 

Another example is my Fairy Tale Retelling Project. In this classic assignment, students must rewrite a fairy tale from the perspective of the villain. Students immediately choose their favorite tales, giving them flexibility and choice.

I recommend determining the form and the skills that must be demonstrated for the students . Then, let students choose the topic for their assignment. 

Teaching Creative Writing Tip #6: Use Hands-On Activities

If you’re teaching a class full of students who are excited to write constantly, you can probably get away writing all class period. Many of us, however, are teaching a very different class. Your students may have just chosen an elective randomly. They might not even have known what creative writing was!

(True story–one of my creative writing students thought the class would be about making graffiti. I guess that is writing creatively!)

For students who have no long-term writing aspirations, you need to make your lessons and activities a little more engaging. 

When possible, I try to make writing “hands-on.” Adding some tactile activity to a standard lesson breaks up class, engages students, and makes the lesson more memorable.

For example, when I teach students the old adage “Show. Don’t Tell” , I could just give them a scene to write. Instead, I print simple sentences onto strips of paper and have students randomly select one from a hat. (Then they turn this simple sentence into a whole “telling” scene.)

Simply handing students a strip of paper that they can touch and feel makes the lesson more exciting. It creates more buy-in with students. 

Another one of my favorite hands-on activities is a Figurative Language Scavenger Hunt. I hang up posters of mentor poems around the room, each full of different figurative language techniques. 

Then, students must get up and explore the posters around the room in an attempt to find an example of 10 different figurative language techniques.

We could do the same lesson on a worksheet, but having students up and moving increases engagement, collaboration, and gives everyone a break from constantly sitting. 

Teaching Creative Writing Tip #7: Incorporate Mentor Texts

One way to make sure that your creative writing class is rigorous–and valuable–enough for high school students is to use mentor texts . 

Mentor texts are essential for older students because it shows them what’s possible . Many of my students will rush through an assignment just to be done with it. If you ask them what they could do to improve their writing, they say that they think it’s fine. 

But when they’re shown mentor texts or exemplar products produced by their peers, suddenly students see a myriad of ways in which they could improve their own work. They’re quick to make edits. 

I try to always include a mentor text and several examples whenever I introduce students to new ideas or teach a new lesson. You can pull mentor texts from classic writers. However, I also recommend including writing from more modern poets and writers as well. 

Teaching Creative Writing truly is a special job. Your students trust you with writing that many adults in their lives will never see. You’ll be able to watch students grow and bloom in a totally new way.

That doesn’t mean that teaching creative writing is without challenges or difficulties, however. If you want an easy place to start, or just want to save yourself a ton of planning time, I highly recommend checking out my Complete Creative Writing Class . 

Inside this bundle, you’ll receive daily warm-ups, weekly lessons, two projects, several activities, a lesson calendar, and more! It’s truly everything you need for an engaging 9-week elective course!

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Creative Writing Summer Program for High School Students

Why Take Creative Writing

Develop and amplify your writing voice in our immersive program. Guided by an outstanding faculty of published writers, you will experiment with multiple genres, deepen your understanding of the craft, and cultivate the confidence to share your work with the world.

What You'll Learn

During Interlochen's writing camp , you’ll focus intensively on two genres of creative writing. Genre workshops include: 

• Playwriting

In addition to exploring the fundamentals of your chosen genres, you'll discuss a wide range of published works, and craft your own pieces via in-class exercises and roundtable workshops with a class of dedicated peers. You’ll also experience the natural beauty of Northern Michigan via our Environmental Explorations class, attend readings by award-winning faculty and visiting authors, and learn to craft your work for publication and performance. Each session culminates in a camp anthology and student reading. 

Workshop Placement

Students benefit from exposure to a broad range of literary forms. By studying forms outside of your primary genre, you’ll gain new insight into the styles you love most. 

After enrolling, students rank the four genres in order of preference. We’ll do our best to accommodate the top two choices, however, space is limited. We encourage students to submit preferences as soon as possible!

Portfolio Requirements

• SESSION 1: June 23, 2024 to July 13, 2024
• SESSION 2: July 14, 2024 to August 4, 2024
• SESSION 1: Applications CLOSED
• SESSION 2: Applications CLOSED

Program Specialties

Fiction Workshop

Learn the fundamentals of narrative craft in addition to cutting-edge experimental techniques being used by contemporary fiction writers. Focus on the fundamental elements of writing short stories. You will explore story structure, point of view, characterization, plot development, setting, dialogue, and revision strategies.

Nonfiction Workshop

Survey a variety of subgenres in the the nonfiction mode, particularly lyric and hybrid essays. Studies in structure, point of view, characterization, temporality, setting, revision strategies, and the subversion of genre conventions and received voices will give students the flexibility to adapt to a wide range of nonfiction genres.

Poetry Workshop

Explore the fundamentals and contemporary techniques of poetic craft in the lyric, narrative, and dramatic modes, with particular attention given to imagery, voice, musicality, lineation, and forms—both received and invented.

Playwriting Workshop

Focus on character creation and dramatic structure. You will write scenes exploring conflict, action, dialogue, motivation, and stage directions while workshopping a scene in class.

"For me, writing feels like a release."

Learn more about Nailah's experience as a Creative Writing high school student at Arts Camp. 

Meet the Faculty

Our creative writing instructors are committed educators and accomplished artists with extensive experience in their disciplines. As mentors, they are dedicated to helping you develop your own unique voice.

Please note the gallery may showcase previous instructors.

All faculty

Megan Baxter

Instructor of Creative Writing

Reina Hardy

AM Ringwalt

Visiting Instructor of Creative Writing

Emily Pittinos

Heather Truett

Instructor of Fiction

Karyna McGlynn, Ph.D.

Director of Creative Writing

Program Highlights

Reading Showcase

The students will participate in a reading showcase in The Writing House Great Room at the end of the program.

Students contribute work to a print anthology that they can take home at the end of their session to remind them of a productive and inspiring summer.

The Writing House

During the three-week sessions, your artistic home will be the The Writing House. This comfortable space provides quiet work areas, ample seating for group projects, and a literary publications room with computer and printing stations. Take a 360-degree virtual tour .

Additional Opportunities

We have additional camp program opportunities for young writers, including our one-week Comics & Graphic Narratives , Performance Writing & Spoken Word , Novel Writing , and Screenwriting intensives.

Interlochen is also home to the Arts Academy boarding high school, which offers a Creative Writing major, as well as a post-graduate year.

Guest Artists

• Aja Gabel, author of The Ensemble
• Kaitlyn Greenidge, Harper's Bizarre features director and author of We Love You, Charlie Freeman
• Lily Hoang, associate professor of literature at University of California San Diego and author of Changing and A Bestiary
• Caitlin Horrocks, professor of creative writing at Grand Valley State University and author of Life Among the Terranauts and This is Not Your City
• Amy Kurzweil, The New Yorker cartoonist and author of Flying Couch
• Sarah Elaine Smith, author of Marilou is Everywhere and I Live in a Hut

This experience at Interlochen has been truly inspiring. I have seen and met so many people who have inspired me to continue with my own writing and explore other creative outlets like drawing and painting. The arts program at my own school is underfunded, so coming here has helped me really immerse myself in the arts.

Alexandra, Creative Writing

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Young Writers

Lighthouse's Young Writers Workshops are designed to foster creativity, self-expression, and excitement about writing. There are no grades here, just the stories. We offer workshops at Lighthouse including afterschool and weekend workshops, the Young Authors Collective, and summer camps, as well as youth outreach in schools, at juvenile residential treatment centers, and in collaboration with other arts organizations.

For the latest on workshops and events,  sign up for our Young Writers Program e-newsletter . 

Lighthouse connects kids and teens to words, new friends, and a writing community. We offer workshops in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, screenwriting, and many other genres and topics. Our classes are taught by published authors and are designed to foster creativity, self-expression, and excitement about writing.

Summer Writing Camps

Lighthouse's Young Writers Camps are led by published and award-winning writers, and each workshop is designed to foster creativity, self-expression, and excitement about writing in young writers aged 8 to 18. Registration for half-day camp and applications for full-day camp will open on January 1, 2019.

School Outreach

The Young Writers Program offers creative writing workshops in public and private schools as well as juvenile residential treatment centers throughout the Denver metro area. Led by working, published writers with a passion for sharing their craft, our outreach workshops provide access to our innovative creative writing programming for young people who cannot come to Lighthouse.

The Young Authors Collective, or YAC, is a group of talented, word-obsessed high school writers dedicated to experimenting with new creative forms, collaborating with other arts organizations, and writing a ton. We meet once a week at Lighthouse to generate new pieces, give friendly feedback, and work towards publication.

Support Young Writers

Our Future Scribes Depend on Your Support. Nearly all of the workshops and projects that will engage 2,300 students this year are free to attend, and for the sessions that do have tuition, such as summer writing camp, financial aid is available for any student who needs it. We want all young people who want to write to be able to do so and for them to be nurtured by the best instructors and mentors available. This only happens with the support of generous donors like you.

Creative Writing Unit for High School Students

My creative writing unit for high school students allows for adaptations and for fun! With plenty of creative writing activities, you’ll have flexibility. 

If you are looking for a creative writing unit, I have ideas for you. When I taught middle school, I sprinkled such activities throughout the school year. As a high school teacher, though, I taught an entire creative writing course. With no textbook and very little established activities, I largely worked from a blank slate.

Which. . . turned out well. I love teaching creative writing!

ELA Specific Classes

Older students often can choose electives for their ELA classes, and Creative Writing is a popular class. I’ve condensed my ideas into one post, so I organized the ideas by creative nonfiction and fiction writing and added pictures to organize this information for you.

EDIT: This post about my creative writing unit for high school writers has exploded and is about three times as long as a normal blog post. If you’d like to skip around to get inspiration for teaching creative writing, you can use the pictures and headings as guidance.

ANOTHER NOTE: I attempted to outline the days I spend on each topic, but several factors went into my estimates. First, each class differs in what they enjoy and what they dislike. If a class dislikes a specific topic, we will wrap it up and move on. If a class has fun with an assignment or needs more time to work, the days might vary.

What are the key elements of a creative writing unit?

Key elements of a creative writing unit include introducing different writing genres, teaching basic writing techniques, encouraging imagination and creativity, providing writing prompts and exercises, offering constructive feedback and revision opportunities, and fostering a supportive writing community.

How can we organize such activities?

Starting with creative nonfiction has worked for my classes, small pieces like paragraphs. I believe the success is because young writers can write what they know about. Then we can switch to fiction for the second quarter. Again, the days spent on each assignment varies, and I honestly do not stress about creative nonfiction being nine weeks and fiction being nine weeks.

All of the material listed below is in my newly updated Creative Writing Bundle . The pieces are sold separately, but that creative writing unit includes bonus material and a discount.

Ok, settle in! Here are my ideas about teaching creative writing with high school students.

First Week of School for a Creative Writing Unit

The first day of school , we complete activities that build awareness into the classroom environment about “creativity.” Do not shy away from setting a foundation of support and understanding as you engage with young writers. During my first creative writing classes, I neglected to spend time establishing expectations and community. The following semester, the time invested early paid off with engaged students later.

Those first days, we also discuss:

• Published vs. private writing. I tell writers they may share whatever they like with me and the class. As a community of writers, we will share with each other. Most of our writing will be public, but some will be private.
• A community of writers. Writing and sharing ideas requires maturity and acceptance. Not everyone will agree is largely my motto (about negotiables, not human rights), and I stress with students that they may read and provide feedback with topics in which they do not agree.
• Routines. Writers write. That sentence might sound silly, but some people believe that humans are born with a skill to write or they are not. Writing well takes practice. The practice can be short and unconnected to a larger product. I typically begin each week with a quick writing prompt , and we share our responses, which of course, builds that community of writers.

Whatever you are teaching—a creative writing unit or a creative writing class—spend some time establishing your expectations and goals with your students. Laying a foundation is never a waste of time! In fact, I believe so much in the power of the first week of a creative writing class that I have a blog post devoted to the concept.

Time: 2-3 days

First weeks: creative nonfiction

Creative nonfiction seems to be the genre of our time. Memoirs, essays, and hermit-crab essays flood bookstores and journals.

When students read captions on social media, profiles of their favorite artists, or long Threads, they are reading creative nonfiction. Not only should students be able to dissect this form of writing, but they should also be able to write in our society’s preferred genre.

Below, I’ve outlined creative nonfiction activities that work with teenagers.

Nonfiction Narrative Writing

Writing narratives (and meeting those standards) are trickier with older students. As a teacher, I struggle: Students will often tell me deep, meaningful, and personal parts of their lives, and I am supposed to grade those writings!

When students write a narrative , I address this situation immediately. Share with writers that their narrative ideas are strong (I believe that to be the truth!), and that in no way are we grading their ideas. Rather, we want their excellent narratives to be communicated in the best light; therefore, we will provide guidance about the structures of narrative writing.

The topic for a nonfiction narrative varies. Often, students write about themselves as learners or as community members. Framing students in a positive way allows them to explore their strengths in life and to build confidence as writers.

Time: 7-9 days

Object Essay

An object essay might sound like a “blah” type of assignment, but the simplicity allows students to push past their normal experiences. An object essay is simple, so they can experiment with their writing.

What object? I have assigned this essay several ways. For instance, I have brought in a very plain object (like a rock) and had students explain it. I like this approach because students can work together to discover the best descriptions.

Another way, my preferred way, is to allow students to choose the object. Students write about a coffee cup, water bottle, car keys, or bus pass. When students choose, the essays are richer with meaning.

Neither approach disappoints me, though! With a plain object, students must stretch themselves to be creative. Judge what your class needs and get students writing!

Time: 3-4 days

How-to Paper

No, not a “how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich” paper. A fun and meaningful how-to paper can encourage classes as they see themselves as experts.

What I like about a how-to paper is students get to be the expert in their paper. Finding a used vehicle to buy? Shopping for a formal event? Saving money? Cleaning a closet? Selling at consignment stores? Each writer has an area in which they shine, and a how-to paper allows them to share their knowledge with others. They write about “behind the scenes” or little known secrets.

Of all the creative writing activities, I assign the how-to paper early. It builds confidence in young writers.

Time: 5 days

Sell this Apple

Why an apple? When I wanted students to creatively sell something, I searched for something they could all have in common but sell in different ways. I wanted classes to have one object but to witness the multiple approaches for advertising. Apples (which I could also afford to bring to class) fit nicely.

What do students sell when they “sell an apple”?

• Dips for apples.
• Apples for preschool snacks.
• Charcuterie apple boards.
• Apple crisp.
• Red and green apple rainbows.

Basically, students can create a marketing plan for multiple age groups and other demographics. For instance, they can write a blog post about safety in cutting pieces for young children (and complete some research in the process). They can then “promote” a local apple orchard or fruit stand.

Another advertisement is an apple pie recipe for a Thanksgiving brochure for a supermarket.

When I gave students something simple, like an apple, they ran with the idea. Then, we can share our ideas for selling apples.

A profile is difficult to write, so this assignment is normally my last assignment of the quarter. Before we switch to writing fiction, we apply all our concepts learned to writing a profile.

Profiles are more than summaries of the person. Writers must take an angle and articulate the person’s traits utilizing Showing vs. Telling. Of all creative writing assignments, the profile, might be the most difficult. I place it in the middle of the semester so that writers understand our goals in class but are not tired from the end of the semester.

Time: 10-12 days

Final weeks: fiction

Fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, romance: Students consume a variety of fiction via books, movies, and shows. Fictional creative writing activities invite young writers into worlds they already consume.

Below, I’ve outlined some that work with teenagers.

Alternative Point-of-View

Grab some googly eyes or some construction paper and send students loose. (A few guidelines help. Should students remove the googly eyes from the principal’s office door?) Have them adhere the eyes to an inanimate object to make a “being” who learns a lesson. They should snap a picture and write a quick story about the learned lesson.

What type of lesson? Perhaps an apple with a bruise learns that it still has value and is loved with blemishes. Maybe a fire extinguisher realizes that its purpose is important even if it isn’t fancy.

Honestly, the creativity with the googly eyes adhered to inanimate objects is so simple, but it always is my favorite event of the semester. I officially call it the “ alternative point-of-view ” activity, but “googly eyes” is how my writers remember it.

Time: 2 days

Create a Superhero with a Template

A superhero does not need to wear a cape or fancy shoes. Rather, in this creative writing activity, students build a superhero from a normal individual. When I created the activity, I envisioned students writing about a librarian or volunteer, but students often write about a grandparent (adorable).

Since students enjoy graphic novels, I wanted students to experience making a graphic novel. The colorful sheets allow students to add their ideas and words to pages that fit their messages.

After students create a comic book, they will also write a brief marketing campaign for a target audience. Learning about who would buy their graphic novel typically leads them to parents and librarians which should lead students to discover the importance of reading. The advertising campaign additionally serves as a reflective component for the initial activity.

Product Review

Product reviews and question/answer sections are a genre all their own. SO! Have students write reviews and questions/answers for goofy products . Students will find a product and write several reviews and questions/answers.

This quick activity lends itself to extension activities. Once, a teacher emailed me and said her school bought some of the goofy products for a sort of “sharing” day with the school. Since students have access to pictures of the item, you can make a “catalog” for the class out of a Canva presentation and share it with them and your colleagues.

Here are a few examples:

• Banana slicer .
• Horse head .
• Wolf shirt.

Aside from the alternative point-of-view activity, the product reviews remain my personal favorite part of a creative writing unit. Writers find random products and write goofy workups that they share with the class.

Time: 3 days

Character Creation

Creating a well-rounded and interesting character requires prep work. The brainstorming part of the writing process, the pre-writing? We spend lots of time in that area as we create fleshed out characters.

I like to start with a multiple-choice activity. We begin my imagining the main character. Next, students take a “quiz” as the character. How does the character eat? What sort of movies does the character enjoy? hate? After the multiple-choice activity, they can derive what those pieces explain about their characters. Finally, they can begin to brainstorm how those pieces will develop in their story.

Flash Fiction

Flash fiction is a simple, short story. Writers might cheer when they hear I expect a 300-word story, but often, they discover it is a challenging assignment from class. A large part of a creative writing unit is giving students a variety of lengths so they can practice their skills under different circumstances.

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is a popular genre, and classes are familiar with many popular historical fiction books. I find it helpful to have several books displayed to inspire students. Additionally, I read from the books to demonstrate dialogue, pacing, theme, and more.

Since my historical fiction activity takes at least two weeks to accomplish, we work on that tough standard for narrative writing. To that end, these activities target the hardest components:

• Pacing within a narrative.
• Developing a theme .
• Building imagery .
• Creating external conflicts in a story.
• Establishing a setting .

First, I used pictures to inspire students, to get them brainstorming. Second, I created those activities to solve a problem that all writers (no matter the age!) have: Telling vs. Showing. I found that my writers would add dialogue that was heavy on explanation, too “world building” for their narrative. The story sounded forced, so I took a step back with them and introduced mini-activities for practicing those skills.

Third, the above creative writing activities can EASILY be assignments independently for short and fun assignments. I teach them with historical fiction because that activity is at the end of the semester when my expectations are higher, and because students enjoy writing historical fiction so they are invested.

But! You can easily add them to another narrative activity.

Time: 10-12 days 

A clean tabloid! Tabloids are largely replaced by online social sharing creators, so they are fun to review with students. Students might not be familiar with tabloids at the grocery store checkout, but they are familiar with catchy headlines. They will be completely ready to write a tabloid !

To ensure a clean tabloid, I ask students to write about a children’s show, something scandalous happening from a cartoon. The results are hysterical.

Time: 4 days

Children’s Book

I have two introductory activities for the children’s book. One, students answer questions about a mentor text (another children’s book). Two, students evaluate the language of a specific book to start them in their brainstorming.

My students write their children’s book as a final activity in class as it requires all the elements of creative writing. When a school requires me to give a final exam, students write a reflection piece on their children’s books. If you are looking for a finale for your creative writing unit, a children’s book is a satisfying ending as students have a memorable piece.

Time 10-12 weeks

Final note on creative writing activities and bundle

I intended for this post to inspire you and give you ideas for teaching either a creative writing unit or a creative writing class in ELA. My first time through teaching creative writing, I worried that my lessons would flop and that students would not find their groove with me. I found success, but with modifications, I formed a cohesive semester.

The first time through, I did not frontload information and expectations. (Spending time at the start of class is my biggest message! Please establish groundwork with students!) I also did not provide concrete enough guidelines so students understood the differences between the assignments. After a few semesters, I developed my creative writing unit . With a variety of activities and an appropriate amount of structure, I found success, and I hope you do too.

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Extracurriculars.

Creative Writing Opportunities for High School Students

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If you’re a high school student interested in creative writing, you may or may not have a number of broad extracurricular options to pursue during the school year, depending on your school. You might be a part of your school’s literary magazine, or participate in creative writing workshops. Maybe you are lucky enough to attend a school with dedicated creative writing classes or poetry electives.

But what if your school doesn’t seem to offer much for students who want to pursue creative writing? Or what if you don’t even know where to begin looking? How can you keep your momentum headed towards your goal or otherwise use your time productively if you passionate about creative writing?

There are many activities available to high school students who enjoy creative writing. Some might be available through your school, but many are out there waiting for you to pursue them independently.

In this post, we’ll outline how you can take the initiative to pursue multiple creative writing opportunities both in and out of school. Keep reading to learn more about what opportunities are out there for high school-aged creative writers.

Why Pursue Creative Writing?

There are many reasons to pursue extracurriculars in general. They can serve to strengthen your academic profile, they allow you to pursue interests not otherwise available through traditional classwork, and they can provide valuable, real-world experience.

Creative writing is an extracurricular that is closely tied with your academic coursework in English and Language Arts and in fact is probably a partial requirement of at least some of your English classes. Pursuing it further exemplifies your commitment to the craft and gives you some insight into writing as a possible career path.

It might be easy to think of creative writing as nothing more than a hobby, but in reality many careers exist in which strong writing skills are coveted. By pursuing creative writing, you become well equipped for a career as not only an author or poet, but also in many other fields. We’ll discuss these more in depth at the end of this post.

Opportunities to Pursue Creative Writing

Literary magazine:.

This is the most obvious and most common way to study and produce creative writing in a formal setting at school. Many schools already have a literary magazine established and likely have regular meetings and a faculty adviser equipped to lend insight and advice.

You can usually join your school’s literary magazine at the beginning of a new school year, though you may also be able to join mid-year in some circumstances. Contact the editor or faculty advisor if you want to become involved. Over time you may even be able to take on a leadership role yourself. To learn more about the importance of this, check out CollegeVine’s Your Resume, Revamped: Securing Leadership Positions and Perfecting Your Extracurricular Profile . 

Another way to be involved with the literary magazine, even if you aren’t a part of its team, is to become a regular contributor. This isn’t always easy; some schools have highly competitive literary magazines or only produce one printed edition per year. If this is the case at your school, don’t get discouraged. Submit your best work, learn from feedback, and keep trying.

If your school does not have a literary magazine, you might consider starting one. Begin by talking to other students who have expressed interest in creative writing. Once you have a strong group of interested students, approach a member of your school’s faculty who would make a good adviser.

Your faculty adviser should be someone who has worked closely with you in the past and has some level of expertise in creative writing. Be clear what sort of commitment you are asking for from this person. You may need him or her to be present at every meeting, or you might simply need his or her signature and sporadic stamp of approval. Also remember that you will have some associated costs so having a faculty adviser who can help with fundraising could be important.

Literary magazines provide students interested in creative writing with some general insights into a formal writing publication, a glimpse at the process for submitting work and receiving feedback, and the opportunity to have their writing published for all to see.

Creative Writing Club:

If your school does not have a literary magazine or you are interested in pursuing creative writing in a less formal setting, a creative writing club might be a good bet for you.

These clubs generally operate as regular writing workshops during which students respond to prompts or practice free-writing, and then share their work and offer feedback to others. It is often similar to the submissions approval process at a literary magazine without the stress of possible rejection.

In addition, a creative writing club does not generally produce a publication, though some might print a collection of work at the end of the school year. Again, this differs from the traditional literary magazine because work is selected by the author rather than submitted for acceptance or rejection.

If your school does not have a creative writing club, it is easy to start one. Because there is no associated publication as in the case of a literary magazine, the process is generally less formal. You could meet before or after school and sometimes you don’t even need a faculty adviser; you just need a teacher who’s willing to share classroom space outside of school hours.

Alternatively, you could form a writing club that is completely independent of your school by meeting at the library or a friend’s house. Simply gather creative writing exercises from books or online searches and then gather on a regular basis to respond to them, share work, and offer constructive criticism.

A creative writing club can also be an important accountability tool for students who are working on independent creative writing projects. If you’re writing a longer piece or even a novel, or working on a collection of poetry, meeting regularly with like-minded writers can help to keep you on track and provide outside feedback that might otherwise be unavailable.

Creative Writing Tutor:

If creative writing is your passion and you want to share it with others, you might consider becoming a creative writing tutor for younger students.

Contact a local elementary school and ask if you might be able to volunteer. If so, arrive prepared to lead a small writer’s workshop. Bring any handouts you might need and practice your oral presentation ahead of time. If you need some inspiration for activities, check out the Creative Writing for Children page at PBS parents or the Story Starters page at Scholastic . These kid-friendly writing prompts are sure to inspire even the youngest authors.

If you can’t find a volunteer position at an elementary school, you could try reaching out to other local organizations. Girl or boy scout troops, community centers, or the local library are all possibilities.

Leading a creative writing group for younger students is a great way to hone your own thinking about creative writing, to practice your teaching and leadership skills, and to give back to your community.

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Writing Contests:

If you’re looking for more direction for your writing, and the idea of fame and fortune intrigues you, you should consider entering some writing contests. There are many to choose from, and most offer either cash prizes or scholarship money. Some are also quite prestigious.

For a list of some of the most respected writing contests open to high schoolers, check out The CollegeVine Ultimate Guide to High School Writing Contests .

Summer Programs:

As is now the case for most extracurriculars, there are many strong summer programs to choose from if you’d like to pursue creative writing during your school break. These programs can be competitive to get into and you will usually be required to submit a writing portfolio as a part of your application.

Programs such as these also strengthen your college application and reinforce your commitment to writing. A few of the strongest are:

• Interlochen
• Kenyon Review Young Writer’s Workshop
• California State Summer School for the Arts (Primarily for California residents, but a small number of non-residents are accepted each year.)

Many of these programs have scholarships available, so if finances are a concern, be sure to research a few options before ruling anything out.

In addition, many colleges offer summer programs in creative writing as well. These are usually similar in format to any of the aforementioned summer programs, with the added bonus of allowing you to build connections at colleges or universities that you might wish to attend. 

See if any schools on your list of potential colleges or universities offer summer programs and look into attending those. Otherwise, consider one of the following, which are known for their high quality instruction:

• Duke Young Writer’s Camp
• Carleton College Summer Writing Program
• Stanford Summer Institutes
• Lewis and Clark Fir Acres Workshop
• University of Iowa Young Writer’s Studio

Start a Blog

If you find that you are writing often but have nowhere to showcase your work or have trouble holding yourself accountable for producing work on a regular basis, starting your own blog might be a good fit. A blog is a great way to share your writing on a public platform, it can act as an informal portfolio of your work, and it helps to hold you accountable to a larger audience.

Many blogs are easily set up and hosted for free on websites such as WordPress , Blogger , LiveJournal , or Weebly . Share a link to your blog on your social media accounts or send out a group email to let friends and family know about it. As is the case any time you add to your online presence, be sure to discuss your plans with a parent or guardian ahead of time. 

Get Published Elsewhere

A blog isn’t the only platform for publishing your work. Many magazines and periodicals accept submissions from high school students. A long list of publications reviewing high school submissions can be found in the NewPages Young Authors’ Guide . 

You can also check with local publications like newspapers, smaller regional magazines, or even blogs you follow that might accept a guest post.

There are a myriad of ways to get your work to a bigger audience, and if that’s something you’re interested in doing, don’t be shy about asking or even sending unsolicited submissions. All it takes is one person to take a chance on you before you can call yourself a published author.

Career Aspirations for the Creative Writer

It’s easy to think of creative writing as the entry point to becoming a novelist or poet. You might even think that these are your only long-term career options should you choose to pursue creative writing seriously.

This is definitely not the case. Many, many career paths incorporate writing, and while you may not be writing fictional works the entire time, that does not mean that you won’t be incorporating your background in creative writing. All strong writing benefits from creativity.

Writers are especially valued in the fields of:

• Advertising
• American Literature
• Digital Media
• Educational and Instructional Technology
• Media Studies
• Public Relations
• Radio and Television
• Sports Communications
• Technical and Business Writing
• Webpage and Multimedia Design    

Remember, pursuing creative writing doesn’t necessarily mean you have to write a novel or publish a collection of poetry. Writers have valuable skills that can be applied broadly depending on their others skills and interests.

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Creative Writing: Complete 9-Week Class & Curriculum for High School

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Description

Take the stress out of planning a high school Creative Writing class with this complete, 9-week elective course curriculum bundle! This Complete Creative Writing Class Bundle includes everything you need to teach creative writing skills, poetry analysis, and engage students in a variety of writing at the high school level!

In this engaging 9-week elective creative writing class, students will learn and apply literary terms, analyze mentor texts, and write their own original poems and stories. This full course bundle includes daily warm-ups, projects, individual poem writing activities, mini lessons, and more--everything you need to create a creative writing class that is low-stress and works for both you and your students.

The included bundle-only bonus calendar is flexible. Choose from two different bell ringer or warm-up activities. Move lessons and projects around to suit you or your academic calendar. Plus, most activities and lessons include a digital version, so you and your students can stay on track no matter what! (Writing mini lessons are printable only .)

These lessons and activities are the same curriculum and lessons that I've personally used with my high school creative writing students. My students are usually a mix of low-level 11th and 12th graders. Depending on your students' ability levels, these lessons could work for middle school through high school (look through resource previews to get an idea of rigor).

This Resource Includes:

• Journal Prompts
• Poem of the Week Activities
• Figurative Language Mini Unit
• Writing Workshops and Mini Lessons
• Poetry Writing Activities
• Fairy Tale Retelling Project
• Author Study Project
• 2-Sentence Horror Stories
• "Nicholas Was..." Holiday Analysis and Activity
• Literary Terms Test
• 9-week Suggested Course Calendar
• Day 1 Google Slides Presentation
• Directions for a Storytelling Game
• Create Your Own Poem of the Week Project (from the Poem of the Week bundle)

Please look at each of these resources individually prior to purchase . Each resource includes an extensive preview, and I want you to be sure that these products will work for you and your students prior to purchase!

***This bundle consists of a mix of editable and non-editable resources, as well as a mix of Zip folders and Google folders. In order to access your purchase, you will need to give Teachers Pay Teachers access to your Google Drive. Before purchasing, please review the preview to make sure these resources support your and your students' needs. The whole of each resource, with the exception of any answer keys, is included in each activity's preview--please look at each product to make sure you'll be happy with your purchase.

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Creative Writing Academy

• How to Apply

Summer 2024 Applications are CLOSED. Summer 2025 Applications will open in late Fall.

Transform your dreams, ideas, and stories into organized, compelling, creative written works with dynamic lectures in craft topics, workshop sessions with graduate student instructors, and insightful, productive feedback from your peers. This combination of instructional approaches will help you generate and polish a wealth of new poems, stories, and essays, and allow you to experiment with innovative forms in the field of creative writing. The Academy will also focus on the publishing and professionalization aspects of the industry, exploring what markets are available for your writing, what jobs are available to creative writers, funding opportunities for your work, undergraduate and graduate programs in writing, and how to get published. Topics for discussion will include literary form and targeted craft points, often in relation to social, political, and environmental themes. In addition, this week-long program will feature excursions to sites around Washington, D.C., including an exercise in ekphrastic writing at the National Gallery of Art and the chance to read your work aloud at Busboys and Poets, a famous D.C. literary hub.

Estimated Tuition:

Price includes tuition, housing, and meals. Commuter Student tuition is $2,625.

How You'll Benefit

• Participate in writing workshops
• Awaken your powers of observation, imagination, and description
• Learn concrete elements of the craft of writing in daily workshops
• Attend readings from published authors, who will lead interactive classes and conduct group discussions
• Work with Georgetown's expert creative writing faculty to bring out your most creative ideas
• Read excerpts from award-winning works and use them to develop your own original works
• Visit local monuments, world-renowned theaters, museums, and literary organizations
• Take part in peer critiques and learn how to revise and refine your writing

Program Format & Subject Areas

As a student in the Creative Writing Academy, you'll spend your day immersed in a blend of classroom lectures, field trips, hands-on activities, and group discussions. Throughout the week, you'll have the opportunity to explore the following subject areas:

• Personal prose
• Literary history
• Technique (story structure, character development, theme, description, dialogue)
• Finding good ideas and turning them into polished pieces
• Using great literature and art for inspiration

All in all, I fell in love with the program. I got to meet so many amazing people not only from the D.C. area but all around the country.

Having the chance to experience once in a lifetime opportunities and getting to meet people from around the world made it so I got to really experience what college life was like.

My #SummerHoya experience was enriching, inspiring, and rewarding; if I could turn back the clock, I’d do it all over again.

It was amazing to be surrounded by such high caliber students and staff who were all encouraging and fabulous to work with. I took away many positive things from my week as a Summer Hoya.

As I am filling out my college applications, I am able to think back to my memories from the summer and I am reassured that I am pursuing the right educational path.

The program offers so much–from the off-site visits to the daily lectures and the on campus activities. The lectures were interesting, meeting new people was great and the off-site visits were interactive and intriguing.

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Your generosity funds scholarships and free programs, allowing more teen and adult writers to participate in creative writing workshops at our new center in the Seaport, in neighborhoods around Boston, and online.

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Young Adult Writer's Program

Calling all lovers of words–written, spoken, drawn, or performed on stage!

Come find your people! Join GrubStreet’s Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP), where high school students from all over the greater Boston area gather to craft their stories, share their ideas, and cheer each other on! YAWP offers three types of programs: free Saturday writing sessions, Teen Writing Classes (during winter, spring, and summer vacations), and a three-week summer Teen Writing Fellowship .

Want to find out more about our teen programs? Join our YAWP mailing list for all the latest news, and read former teen fellow Ruth Ballard's blog on the GrubWrites about why Grub's teen programs have been so important to young writers like her.

Teen Summer Writing Classes Learn More

Our summer weeklong classes take place Mondays through Fridays from 10:30-3:30pm in-person at our beautiful new Center for Creative Writing or online via Zoom, so you can join the YAWP summer experience however you want! Scholarships are available and abundant for every single class.

Teen Summer Writing Fellowship Learn More

YAWP's Summer Teen Writing Fellowship immerses high school students in the writers' world of creative craft and publishing. During three intensive weeks at GrubStreet, teens work with published authors on original prose and poetry, meet with literary agents and editors, take field trips to inspirational locales like the ICA, and chat with popular contemporary authors. In the spirit of writers' residencies for adults, all teens will receive a $625 stipend for their commitment to the program and their time spent as working writers.

If you have questions or need help selecting a course, please call (617) 675 9632, or email us at [email protected] .

YAWP scholarships are made possible, in part, thanks to The Calderwood Charitable Foundation, The Vertex Foundation, The Linde Family Foundation, The Boston Public Library Foundation, The Mabel Louise Riley Foundation, Liberty Mutual Foundation, MassHousing, The 'Quin Impact Fund, The RBC Foundation, and donors like you.

UW Youth & Teen Programs

Writers workshop for high school.

This course serves as an introductory-level creative writing workshop. You’ll explore and develop your own voice across various genres, including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, spoken word, visual or multimodal media and/or hybrid mediums. You’ll read, share and constructively critique each other’s work in a supportive writing community and build toward composing a final portfolio of creative work. The workshop culminates in a class reading that's open to family and friends. 

What You'll Learn

• How to write across multiple modes of discourse
• How to give and receive feedback one-on-one and with groups
• Strategies for exploring and developing your individual creative voice
• How to create a portfolio of your work

Who Should Register 

This course is for ninth to 12th graders who are interested in creative writing and eager to gather with peers to share inspiration, ideas and approaches to writing. Creative writing experience is not necessary. This course is not for those who need remedial writing help, and all students should have a high level of English language proficiency.

Jessica Holmes

More Information

This online course is taught via Canvas and/or Zoom video conferencing. Classes meet in real time and are not recorded. Activities are held both synchronously and asynchronously. To participate, you should have access to a computer with a high-speed internet connection, a headset and a webcam. 

See the Policies  page for details about registration, refunds, waitlists and more. 

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After participating in this course, you can claim a  Youth & Teen Programs digital badge  that you can share with prospective colleges, universities and employers and on social media.

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DON'T MISS OUT

The Craft of Magazine Writing

Learn the skills and insights you will need to jump-start your career as a magazine writer. This course will teach you how to get your work published and turn your writing skills into an easy source of extra income.

Details + Objectives

Course code: mw1.

Have you ever thought about writing for magazines? Turn your dreams into bylines and help yourself to a bright future as a magazine writer. It is fun, easy, and a great source of extra income. If you are a determined new writer, or if you haven't written for magazines in years, this class will jump-start your career. You will learn plenty of powerful brainstorming techniques designed to get those creative juices flowing with articles that practically write themselves.

What you will learn

• Learn how to find ideas for articles
• Understand how to use your market guidebook
• Get an overview of production tips and grammar rules
• Learn how to interview various subjects
• Understand how to write for a reader in a clear crisp way
• Learn how to do research for your writing

How you will benefit

• Become more confident in your ability to build a career as a magazine writer
• Learn ways to keep the creative juices flowing so you're never without new ideas
• Understand the magazine writing world so you can be more successful

How the course is taught

• Instructor-Moderated or Self-Guided online course
• 6 Weeks or 3 Months access
• 24 course hours

Did you know that you don't have to be an expert on a topic to write a magazine article about it? You don't need a wall of diplomas to be a writer, either. If you think it's necessary to have taken formal courses in writing, journalism, or communications to write, reconsider that idea. In this lesson, you'll discover where ideas originate and get started as a writer of nonfiction magazine articles.

Ask a magazine writer about the genres available to this profession and you'll learn about consumer topics, informational pieces, question-and-answer formats, true crime articles, and a bunch more. You'll hear about how-to articles, too. If you've been seriously thinking about writing for magazines, then you need to know about the categories. You'll begin that investigation in this lesson.

You've just purchased the latest market guidebook with the writing guidelines for oodles of magazines. It's awesome, complex, and exciting. If you feel overwhelmed, you're not alone. Some new writers get copies of market guidebooks and, once they've thumbed through them, put them aside. The books can be intimidating. But after this lesson, you'll be a pro at selecting magazines that want articles from you. By the end of it, you'll be able to use an innovative outlining tool, called The Bubble Method, which will help you make every single topic a potential article.

What is a query letter? Do nonfiction article writers really need them? How can you write one that will capture the interest of editors? That's what this lesson will discuss: giving you a foundation for writing a query that sells your ideas.

In this lesson, you'll get a quick review of production tips and grammar rules. But the gem is a section on how to interview the people, experts, and celebrities that you'll be writing about. Whatever type of article you write, you may have occasion to interview someone. Not being an effective interviewer will diminish your chances of success. However, what you learn in this lesson will make interviewing fun and easy.

Money. It's the topic of this lesson and will be discussed in depth. The lesson will then debunk that bugaboo, "writer's block". Yes, writer's block is out there, waiting to get your attention and stop you in your tracks, but in this lesson you'll learn how to simply acknowledge it and then get writing once again.

Do you know your reader? Most new writers say, "Hey, of course I do". But unless you know who you're writing for and write in a fashion that captures and sustains a reader's interest, you'll find writing for magazines a huge challenge. So, this lesson will talk about writing for a reader, ways to create clear and crisp writing, and writing fillers and essays.

Have you ever wondered how magazine writers know how many words are right for a specific topic? Have you thought about where sidebars come from? Do you want to gain credibility for a nonfiction book and further your profession, cause, or company? You'll get answers to those questions and much more here in this lesson.

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to research topics for articles and understand how to get yourself into the research picture. It's nearly painless and really fun once you know the techniques professional magazine writers use.

Do you need to interview an expert or get a quote from one to make your article sparkle? You probably have a book in your house right now that would supply what you're looking for. This lesson will talk more about finding experts to make your articles sizzle. Then you'll examine the tools you need to self-edit. Self-editing is the polish that turns okay writing into publishable words.

Recycle your research and you'll be able to sell and resell ideas without reinventing the wheel. That's the focus of this lesson. The lesson will also discuss writing about theme and seasonal articles, locating regional publications that would be crazy not to have you write for them, and networking with others to increase the number of articles you sell.

Imagine you're about to print an article that you've been working on for a week. It's dynamite and headed for publication in a major magazine. This is your lucky break. As weird as it seems to a cyber-savvy writer like you, the editor wants a printed manuscript. After thinking, "this magazine is still in the dark ages", you smile and comply. However, you've run out of paper (or need a printer cartridge) or stamps or some other indispensable writing supply. If this hasn't happened to you yet, it may, unless you realize that time is money. Time management is the final topic and since there's only so much time in the day, you'll learn how to use what you have, and use it well.

Instructors & Support

Eva Shaw, Ph.D., is a full-time working writer. She has authored thousands of articles, essays, short stories, and more than 70 books, including "Writing the Nonfiction Book," "Insider's Guide to San Diego," and her latest release, "The Pursuer." Her work has been featured in USA Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Publisher's Weekly, and others. She has won several awards, including the Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 8 or later.
• Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader .
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

When can I get started?

Instructor-Moderated: A new session of each course begins each month. Please refer to the session start dates for scheduling.​ Self-Guided: Your course begins immediately after you enroll.​

How does it work?

Instructor-Moderated: Once a course session starts, two lessons will be released each week for the 6 week duration of your course. You will have access to all previously released lessons until the course ends. You will interact with the instructor through the online discussion area. There are no live sessions or online meetings with the instructor. Self-Guided: You have 3 months of access to the course. After enrolling, you can learn and complete the course at your own pace, within the allotted access period. You will have the opportunity to interact with other students in the online discussion area.

How long do I have to complete each lesson?

Instructor-Moderated: The interactive discussion area for each lesson automatically closes two weeks after each lesson is released, so you're encouraged to complete each lesson within two weeks of its release. However, you will have access to all lessons from the time they are released until the course ends.​ Self-Guided: There is no time limit to complete each lesson, other than completing all lessons within the allotted access period. Discussion areas for each lesson are open for the entire duration of the course.

What if I need an extension?

Instructor-Moderated: Students enrolled in a six-week online class benefit from a one-time, 10-day extension for each course. No further extensions can be provided beyond these 10 days.​ Self-Guided: Because this course is self-guided, no extensions will be granted after the start of your enrollment.

Dr. Shaw is a wonderful instructor. From the start of the course she made a comfortable environment which encouraged students to submit their assignments and participate in the discussion areas. I will definitely be taking another one of her classes.

It may sound corny, but I feel that someday I'll look back and know "this is the course that got me started". Thanks to Eva.

I took this course because I wanted to improve my chances of getting published. I had already read a book by Dr. Eva Shaw and had found it the most practical book on writing I had ever read. Consequently, I was excited to take this course. This class has not only given me new insight but renewed confidence as well. I would highly recommend any class taught by Eva Shaw.

Thanks so much for your inspiration. I have learned so much. Thanks for getting me so jazzed about writing.

There is great news: I got the job! My future boss loved my writing (many of the samples I gave him were from your courses). Thank you so much for helping me put my future back on track. I am so excited about this new start, and I wanted to thank you again for helping me to make it possible!

This class was all that I had hoped and so much more. The instructor made it a pleasure, and the information was extremely helpful.

This class was the kick in the pants that I needed to get started as a freelance writer.

What a unique class! This was my first-ever online class. And I did not expect the whole process of learning to write for magazines to feel so natural. This was sooo cool! Many thanks to Eva and all the classmates. I printed and saved several of the discussions because they had such useful ideas.

The editor of a magazine has asked me to proceed with my article on discrimination for their upcoming issue. I am so excited!!! Thank you so much, Eva. This would never have happened if I had not taken your class.

Eva, at your suggestion, while I was in your Writeriffic class that ended in October, I submitted an article to my local newspaper when they put in a call for guest writers. I just received confirmation that I will be one of three guest columnists for 2011—I will have 4 articles published! I spent time yesterday talking with the editor and she got me in touch with a writer's group in this area. This new world of writing is opening up to me. I'm very excited and I have you to thank for the nudge! This course will help me to refine my work and the feedback will give me the confidence to turn it in, not just to the newspapers, but also to magazines.

Related Courses

U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Russia

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Yekaterinburg

Statement from Consul General Amy Storrow – U.S. Consulate General Yekaterinburg

The United States has informed the Government of the Russian Federation that operations at the U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg will remain open instead of being suspended, as had been previously announced in December 2020.  However, the consulate will cease offering visa and American Citizen Services because of the severe limitations on the number of Russian visas for U.S. diplomatic personnel.  This decision was made following a lengthy review of …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 1 April, 2021 | Topics: Consul General , Yekaterinburg

Demonstration Alert: U.S. Mission Russia

Location: Russia Event: Media sources indicate that on Saturday, January 23, demonstrations are being planned throughout Russia in support of an opposition activist. These demonstrations are likely to be unauthorized. Given the likely substantial police presence and possible dispersal of demonstrators into other areas of the cities, U.S. citizens should avoid these demonstrations and any …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 22 January, 2021 | Topics: Alert , Messages for U.S. Citizens , Moscow , News , St. Petersburg , U.S. Citizen Services , Vladivostok , Yekaterinburg

Security Alert: U.S. Mission Russia

Event:  The U.S. Consulate General Yekaterinburg has reviewed security measures due to a potential security incident and threat.  Russian authorities are undertaking appropriate action to investigate. 

By U.S. Mission Russia | 12 January, 2020 | Topics: Alert , Messages for U.S. Citizens , News , Yekaterinburg

Celebrating 295th anniversary of Yekaterinburg

On August 18, U.S. Consul General Dr. Paul Carter, together with the diplomatic representatives of other foreign countries in the Urals, congratulated the city of Yekaterinburg on its 295th anniversary. The U.S. Consulate General was the first diplomatic mission to open its doors in Yekaterinburg in 1994, and since that time the Consulate has worked …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 21 August, 2018 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

American Diplomat in Russia’s City of Steel

On June 25-26, Consul General Paul Carter visited Magnitogorsk.  Vice-Mayor Valeriy Izmalkov spoke on the huge effort of the Magnitogorsk Metallurgical Plant (MMK) to improve the ecological situation in the region and on city’s plans for the future.  In the MMK Museum the Consul General learned about the history of the city and the plant, …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 8 August, 2018 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Taganay National Park and Traditions of Zlatoust

Consul General Dr. Paul Carter visited the city of Zlatoust and Taganay National Park July 22-23.  Taganay Park was in many ways similar to American national or state parks, and the guests enjoyed a hike on a mountain trail.  The next day the local Center for Developing Tourism and the Stroytekhnika Company provided a tour …

Consul General Paul Carter Visited the Innoprom Exhibition

Dr. Paul Carter visited INNOPROM – 2018, an annual international industrial trade fair that Yekaterinburg hosts July 9 through 12.  He stopped by the booths of Cisco, Penetron and many other companies.  When talking to the Head of the Yekaterinburg City International Department, Maksim Dokuchayev, CG Carter emphasized the high level of organization of the …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 11 July, 2018 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General Paul Carter met with American business representatives

On July 9, The American Chamber of Commerce hosted a dinner for American businesses working in the Urals and participants of the INNOPROM international exhibition.  CG Dr. Paul Carter made a presentation on activities of the U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg.  The participants talked about business environment and consular services.  Alexis Rodzianko, President of the American Chamber …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 10 July, 2018 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General Paul Carter met with the Metropolitan of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye

On June 18, 2018, Consul General Dr. Paul Carter met with the Metropolitan of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye. Over a cup of tea, Metropolitan Kirill spoke about the events that will mark the 100th anniversary of the murder of the Russian Tsar’s family this year, the annual service on the night of July 16-17, and the …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 27 June, 2018 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General Paul Carter visited the City Day in Perm

On June 12-13, 2018, at the invitation of the Mayor of Perm, Dmitry Samoylov, U.S. Consul General Dr. Paul Carter took part in the celebration of the City Day. Perm celebrated its 295th birthday. During the official meeting, Mayor Samoylov told the Consul General about the city and its prospects for economic and social development. …

Consul General Paul Carter took part in the commemorative ceremony on June 22

On June 22, 2018, U.S. Consul General Dr. Paul Carter, along with other representatives of the diplomatic corps in Yekaterinburg, took part in a ceremony dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Great Patriotic War. The Consul General was deeply touched by the broadcast of the historical record of the announcement of the …

Three For Silver Discovers Traditional American Music has a place in Ural Hearts

In May, Three For Silver, a folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, spent ten days in the Urals giving a great number of concerts, talking about America’s folk traditions, conducting workshops for students at local music schools, and also going on radio shows in Perm and Yekaterinburg. Three For Silver’s original music captured audiences immediately, …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 16 June, 2017 | Topics: Art & Culture , News , Public Affairs , Yekaterinburg

Child Protection Day in Yekaterinburg

On May 28 PAS Yekaterinburg organized an American cookie decoration workshop for local children and their families as part of the Child Protection Day festival at a major city landmark – Mayakovskiy Park for Culture and Leisure. The event, organized by the local expo company “Expert” brought together local food vendors and companies as well …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 2 June, 2017 | Topics: News , Yekaterinburg

Russia’s Entrepreneurship Day

On May 23, Consul General Marcus Micheli and Ural Chamber of Commerce President Andrey Besedin introduced Thomas Bruns, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and Dan Caffee, a leading entrepreneur from the state of Utah.  They both spoke at the Ural Chamber of Commerce and Industry at an event dedicated to …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 26 May, 2017 | Topics: Consul General , News , Yekaterinburg

American Football on the Snowy Fields of the Urals and Western Siberia

From April 6-11, 2017 a spring training camp on American football, featuring the coaches Billy Elmore and Michael Haynes, gathered more than 100 participants in the Urals and in Western Siberia.  Billy Elmore is the Head Football Coach at West Memphis High School (Arkansas), a two-time state champion.  Michael Haynes played football at Penn State and …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 17 May, 2017 | Topics: News , Yekaterinburg

US Consul General visited UMMC’s Museum of Military Technology and Automobile

On March 9 U.S. Consul General Marcus Micheli visited UMMC’s Museum of Military Technology (also called the Ural Military Glory Museum) and its Automobile Museum in Verkhnaya Pyshma. With one of the most extensive and interesting collections of military equipment in all of Russia, the Museum of Military Technology consists of two major parts – …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 17 March, 2017 | Topics: Consul General , News , Yekaterinburg

Consul General Marcus Micheli visited Ufa

Consul General Marcus Micheli traveled to Ufa, the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan, from January 31 to February 2, 2017.  In Ufa, CG Micheli met with representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development of Bashkortostan, the MFA Office in Ufa, and the Republican Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  CG Micheli also met with the leadership …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 14 February, 2017 | Topics: Consul General , News , Yekaterinburg

An Exhibition of U.S. Universities

On January 25, an exhibition of American universities and colleges was organized by EducationUSA and took place in Yekaterinburg. Representatives of four American educational institutions – John Cabot University, Auburn University at Montgomery, Shoreline Community College and American University in Bulgaria – consulted students and their parents on the diverse educational opportunities they offer. At …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 27 January, 2017 | Topics: Education , News , Yekaterinburg

Carol Salmanson’s Work Decorates a Famous Constructivism Monument in Yekaterinburg

Bravely enduring the truly severe Urals winter weather conditions, Brooklyn-based artist Carol Salmanson presented her installation of light Water Bubbles on the famous Yekaterinburg UNESCO-recognized monument of constructivism The White Tower (architect Moses Reischer, 1931).  Carol was invited to create this work by the organizers of the International Festival of Light Art UnDark.  The Festival …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 22 December, 2016 | Topics: News , Public Affairs , Yekaterinburg

World AIDS Day – 2016 in Yekaterinburg

Photo: US Consul General opens the World AIDS Day Gala at Yeltsin Center with Izumrud musical group on stage (Photo belongs to the US Dept of State) A World AIDS Day gala arranged in collaboration with the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Museum, and Consulates General of the United States of America, Republic of Cyprus, Federal Republic …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 5 December, 2016 | Topics: News , Public Affairs , Yekaterinburg

Consul General visits Irbit

In November, Marcus Micheli, the U.S. Consul General in Yekaterinburg, and Michael Ritchie, Consul for Political and Economic Affairs, visited Irbit, Sverdlovsk Oblast.  The Ural motorcycle is one of the Oblast’s most iconic brands, and is loved and collected by enthusiasts around the world, including in the United States.  Vladimir Kurmachyov, the CEO of the …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 22 November, 2016 | Topics: News , Public Affairs , Yekaterinburg

International Education Week-2016 celebrated in the Urals

From November 14-18 the U.S Consulate General in Yekaterinburg and local partners celebrated the International Education Week – 2016 with a number of events including lectures and online presentations, discussions in English on educational issues and film showings. Chief of the Consular Section Rafael Gonzales spoke on U.S. student visas and the Summer Work and …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 20 November, 2016 | Topics: Education , News , Public Affairs , Yekaterinburg

U.S. Consul General in Yekaterinburg Marcus Micheli visited Chelyabinsk

On November 15, 2016 U.S. Consul General in Yekaterinburg Marcus Micheli visited Chelyabinsk. The Consul General presented at a conference entitled “International Programs to Support Scientific and Technical Cooperation: Transfer of Technology and the Search for Partners.”  Later that day, the Consul General also greeted the participants of the 7th International Environmental Forum of Chelyabinsk, …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 15 November, 2016 | Topics: Consul General , News , Yekaterinburg

Woven Together Travelled Around Urals Consular District

An exhibit of Native American arts and crafts put together and curated by professor Susan Fricke toured Surgut, Chelyabinsk, Izhevsk, Glazov, Salekhard and Orenburg, allowing Russian art fans to better understand the contemporary native American art scene. Three native artists visited the hosting cities:  Diani Whitehawk Polk  traveled to the Arctic city of Salekhard and …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 16 July, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

The Student Loan Stringband Brings Newgrass Music to Russian Audiences

Portland-based Student Loan Stringband spent two weeks in Russia as cultural ambassadors supported by the U.S. Department of State. From June 28 through July 10 the band had an intensive schedule, playing shows almost every night.  Their performances at official Independence Day receptions in Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg brought an authentic spirit to the American …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 15 July, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

International Young Physicists Tournament in Yekaterinburg

From June 26-July 3, a group of high school physics students and their team leaders from around the United States traveled to Yekaterinburg to participate in the International Young Physicists Tournament. During the tournament, teams from 29 countries competed to solve challenging physics problems while sharing their cultures and their love of science. Congratulations and …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 6 July, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

U.S. Independence Day Reception in Yekaterinburg

On June 29, 2016, the U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg held a reception in honor of Independence Day at the Hyatt Regency Ekaterinburg. Representatives of the region’s official, cultural, educational, and business spheres attended the celebration. Following the American and Russian national anthems, Consul General Marcus Micheli highlighted the connections between the United States and …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 29 June, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

U.S. Consul General Marcus Micheli visited Tyumen

On June 7, Consul General Marcus Micheli visited Tyumen.  He met with Tyumen oblast and city officials, as well as a representative of the Tyumen Oblast Chamber of Commerce, to discuss areas of possible cooperation between the United States and Tyumen, including in the commercial and cultural spheres.  During his visit to Tyumen, CG Micheli …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 10 June, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General and Minister Counselor of Economic Affairs visited VSMPO-AVISMA and UBM

On May 26,  Consul General Marcus Micheli  and Embassy Moscow Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs Karen Enstrom visited the Verkhnaya Salda Metallurgical Enterprise (VSMPO-AVISMA) and Ural Boeing Manufacturing (UBM), the joint venture between VSMPO-AVISMA and the Boeing Company.  Both are located in Verkhnaya Salda, Sverdlovsk Oblast.  At VSMPO-AVISMA, the world’s largest producer of titanium and …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 26 May, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General visits Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company

On May 10, the Consul General Marcus Micheli  met with Andrey Kozitsyn, General Director of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company (UMMC), and toured the company’s historic copper production facility in Verkhnaya Pyshma. The site visit included a discussion of the cooperation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in World War II, the workings …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 23 May, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

U.S. Consul General Marcus Micheli Visited Orenburg

On May 18 U.S. Consul General Marcus Micheli visited Orenburg. During meetings with Acting Minister of Culture and External Affairs Aleksander Kalinin, Deputy Mayor Yaroslav Moiseev, and MFA Representative in Orenburg Aleksander Kuznetsov, Consul General Micheli highlighted the importance of maintaining and strengthening productive ties between Orenburg region and the United States through cultural projects, …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 18 May, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General visits Penetron Production Facility

On April 26,  U.S. Embassy Moscow Deputy Senior Commercial Officer Scott Pozil and Consul General Marcus Micheli visited Yekaterinburg’s Penetron production facility.  Their visit was hosted by Igor Chernogolov, President of Penetron Russia Group of Companies.  Penetron is a joint venture of ICS/Penetron International Ltd. of New York, a prominent world producer of materials for …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 5 May, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Lehrer Dance to Visit the Urals

Lehrer Dance is an exciting and innovative professional dance company based in Buffalo, NY.  Under the direction of Jon Lehrer, the company embodies his definitive style.  The Lehrer Dance style is based on three main elements of movement: Circularity, 3-Dimensionality, and Momentum.  These combine to create a form that is best described as “Organically Athletic,” …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 29 April, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Spring Scavenger Hunt

On April 23rd, 60 people took part in our annual scavenger hunt, highlighting Russian-U.S. ties in Yekaterinburg. Over the course of two and half hours, students and teachers visited ten stations in the center of Yekaterinburg to complete various challenges about Russia, the U.S. and the English language.  They caught a football in full American football …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 23 April, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Academic Writing Centers to appear in the Urals and Western Siberia

April 11-16, Yekaterinburg English Language Specialist Eve Smith led intensive training sessions in Tyumen State University, Urals State Pedagogical University and Urals Federal University for English teachers who will work as consultants in the newly opened writing centers.  Academic writing centers are aimed at providing assistance to scholars and students on their papers, projects, articles, …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 21 April, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

In a League of Their Own at Dom Pechati

Doug McDonald, ISO, opened In a League of Their Own at Dom Pechati in March.  The film, which is based on real-life story of the first women’s baseball team, was screened in honor of Women’s History Month in the United States.  After the film, attendees participated in a discussion about the movie in English, led …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 20 April, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Sustainable Design Expert Visits Yekaterinburg

April 11-13, Stephen Roosa, PhD, visited Yekaterinburg to share information about sustainable design and energy efficient technologies.  An expert in green building, Mr. Roosa spoke with university students and ecological experts in Perm, Nizhniy Tagil, Tyumen and Chelyabinsk.  He also gave a public lecture at the Museum of Architecture and Design and spoke at the …

Woven Together Opens in Salekhard and Dyani Whitehawk Polk Offers Workshops on Porcupine Quilling

Continuing the Consulate’s efforts to highlight diversity in the United States, on March 26 the Consulate was delighted to open Woven Together in Salekhard, the capital of Yamal Nenets Autonomous Okrug.  Dyani White Hawk Polk, a Lakota artist, visited the opening and offered workshops on porcupine quilling techniques to local artisans, students and indigenous tribes. …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 18 April, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Ilya Itin Visits Yekaterinburg

World-renowned pianist Ilya Itin performed at the Urals Musical College on April 8 and the Philharmonic on April 10.  Born and raised in Yekaterinburg, but having lived in the United States for many years, Mr. Itin’s visit highlighted the strength of cultural ties between Russia and the United States.  During his visit, he also offered …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 10 April, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General Micheli Hosts Reception in Honor of Ilya Itin

On April 6, Consul General Micheli hosted a reception at his residence in honor of Ilya Itin. Guests from the cultural scene in Yekaterinburg enjoyed the opportunity to converse with Ilya Itin, a world-class pianist and cultural ambassador uniquely able to represent U.S.-Russia cultural ties.  Mr. Itin, was born in Yekaterinburg and educated in both …

Let’s Talk about U.S. Elections!

March 31, the Public Affairs Officer (PAO), Sarah Saperstein, hosted 15 university students for a discussion about U.S. elections. The students and the PAO talked about the Electoral College, the primaries and the basics of a political campaign in the United States.

By U.S. Mission Russia | 31 March, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

PAO Visits Smart Teen!

March 31, teen participants in Smart Teen! Camp hosted by Global Ambassador and the Public Affairs Officer (PAO), Sarah Saperstein, discussed intercultural communication and the life of a diplomat.  During the presentation, they explored the many ways in which we communicate beyond just verbal ques by creating their own culture and set of communication tools.

Spring American Football Camp in Yekaterinburg

March 8-13, 80 football enthusiasts from around the Urals, representing different teams and skill levels, traveled to Yekaterinburg to participate in intensive training and practice sessions lead by Mike Haynes, a former defensive player with the Chicago Bears and first round draft pick, and Billy Elmore, coach at West Memphis Arkansas high school and the …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 9 March, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Roomple.ru Interviews PAO

Roomple.ru, an internet TV site, spoke with the Consulate’s PAO, Sarah Saperstein, about her experience in Yekaterinburg as a foreigner.  You can hear more about what Americans think of business lunch, a foreigner’s take on crossing a frozen river, and a story about a Yekaterinburg taxi driver and Venezuelan cat by watching the video on …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 25 February, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

PAO Discusses Black History Month with Students

On February 19, the PAO  Sarah Saperstein spoke about Black History Month and diversity in the U.S. with students in Novouralsk as part of the Consulate’s Ask America program.  During the course of the activity, the students discussed the civil rights movement in the United States, famous African Americans, the purpose of history months in …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 20 February, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consulate Hosts Young Diplomats Day

On February 19, the Consulate hosted 11 university students from Izhevsk and Yekaterinburg as part of our Young Diplomats day program. Throughout the course of the day, the students met with U.S. diplomats, solved real-world problems diplomats face, conducted mock visa interviews, and learned about E-library USA resources.  In addition, the students learned about different …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 19 February, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Monthly Discussion Club Focuses on Black History Month

Monthly Discussion Club Focuses on Black History Month. On February 18, PAO Sarah Saperstein lead Post’s monthly English discussion club at Simple Coffee. In honor of Black History Month in the United States, participants of the club explored the history of the civil rights movement in the U.S. and the themes of diversity and tolerance. …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 18 February, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

EducationUSA Hosts International Education Fair in Yekaterinburg

On February 15, EducationUSA hosted an international education fair for local students who were interested in educational opportunities in the U.S.  At the fair, students were able to meet with representatives of American universities to learn about application processes, exchange programs and financial aid packages.  In addition, attendees listened to presentations about how to apply …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 15 February, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

PAO Discusses Black History Month with Russian High School Students

On February 8, the PAO, Sarah Saperstein, visited a local school to discuss Black History Month with students in grades 9-11.  During the course of the visit, the students discussed famous African Americans who inspire them.  In addition, they talked about travel, tolerance and Russian holidays that are celebrated in February.

By U.S. Mission Russia | 8 February, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Selma Screening Draws a Crowd

On January 28, the Consulate, in partnership with Dom Pechati, screened Selma to the public for free.  Based on true events, the movie tells the story of Martin Luther King’s civil rights movement and its epic march from Selma, Alabama.  60 people attended the free screening and discussed the film afterwards with the PAO, Sarah …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 28 January, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Echo-Moskvy Yekaterinburg Interviews CG Micheli

On January 25, Echo-Moskvy Yekaterinburg aired an interview with CG Micheli about his career, experience in Yekaterinburg, and the mission of the U.S. Consulate.   You can learn more about CG Micheli and his work at the Consulate by listening on the Echo-Moskvy website .

By U.S. Mission Russia | 25 January, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Protest Demonstrations in Yekaterinburg January 23 – 24, 2016

U.S. Consulate General Yekaterinburg, Russia  U.S. citizens should be aware that Russian government authorities have granted permits for two separate demonstrations in Yekaterinburg on January 23 and 24, 2016.  Organizers from the National Liberation Movement (NOD) in Yekaterinburg claim that they will protest against an alleged “fifth column.”  Additional police presence is expected in and …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 23 January, 2016 | Topics: Security & Emergency Messages , Yekaterinburg

Filligar Visits Old New Rock Festival and the Urals!

Filligar, one of the leading Indie rock bands in the U.S., toured the Urals as U.S. Cultural Ambassadors January 11 – 18, 2016. They played as a headliner at the Old New Rock festival and offered free performances to enthusiastic Yekaterinburg crowds at the Yeltsin Center and Dom Pechati club. In addition, Filligar visited Alapayevsk, …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 19 January, 2016 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

American Christmas in Yekaterinburg

On December 27, the U.S. Consulate General presented American Christmas traditions to the people of Yekaterinburg at a street festival, called Christmas Trip, which was organized by Stol food magazine. U.S. Consul General Marcus Micheli greeted guests and the Consulate staff conducted a series of master classes for the public. Children and adults assembled bookmarks …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 27 December, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Company E wins more Russian Hearts

Washington-based and world renowned contemporary dance group Company E conducted its second educational and concert tour in Russia’s Urals region.  In their first week the dancers led workshops on contemporary dance technique for students of dance and choreography in the Liberal Arts University, Urals State Pedagogic University and Yekaterinburg Academy of Contemporary Arts.  They also …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 8 December, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General Micheli Visits Chelyabinsk

December 4, Consul General Micheli traveled to Chelyabinsk to visit South Urals State University.  During the trip, he met with students who had graduated from a joint degree program between South Urals State University and Clark University in the United States.

By U.S. Mission Russia | 4 December, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

DVC in Honor of World AIDS Day took Place in Yekaterinburg

As part of the Consulate’s World Aids Day outreach, December 2, 2015 a group of medical professionals from Yekaterinburg participated in an hour and a half long conversation via digital video conference (DVC) with Dr. Lamont Scales, Public Health Analyst, Office of Health Equity, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention,  National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 2 December, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General Micheli Travels to Chelyabinsk

November 17-19, Consul General Micheli traveled to Chelyabinsk to support the Chelyabinsk Ecological Forum.  The Consulate is pleased to regularly support a range of programs, such as speakers programs and exchanges, that connect Russians and Americans and help us work together to protect our planet.

By U.S. Mission Russia | 19 November, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General visited Verkhnyaya Salda

On October 28, Consul General Micheli visited the town of Verkhnyaya Salda, Sverdlovsk Oblast, the home of the world’s leading titanium producer VSMPO – AVISMA. In Verkhnyaya Salda he toured the VSMPO plant and visited the successful Russian –American joint venture of VSMPO and the Boeing Corporation – Ural Boeing Manufacturing (UBM). UBM does the …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 28 October, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

U.S. Sports Envoys Visited Tyumen

Coach of the U.S. National Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Team Trooper Johnson and coach of Miami Heat Wheels – the 2015 National Championship winner team, Parnes Cartwright spent a busy week in Tyumen, West Siberia, Russia October 20-25 as part of the Sports Diplomacy Program of the U.S. Department of State.  Johnson and Cartwright were invited …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 23 October, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General Micheli Travels to Perm

October 15, Consul General Micheli opened an exhibit dedicated to Sister Cities during World War II at the Museum of Fine Arts in Perm.  During the course of his visit to Perm, CG Micheli meet with members of the business community and government representatives.  He also toured the museum of contemporary art.

By U.S. Mission Russia | 15 October, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

The Headhunters in the Urals

September 22-28, the legendary jazz band the Headhunters toured the Urals.  They began their tour in Yekaterinburg and offered workshops to young students of music at the Kamerton Jazz Academy. They later participated in the first Inclusive Jazz Festival in Yekaterinburg at EverJazz that included collaboration with student bands. The proceeds of the festival will …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 29 September, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Woven Together: The Works of Contemporary Native American Artists in Surgut

On September 3, Woven Together:  Celebrating Spider Woman in Contemporary Native American Art opened at the Surgut Regional Studies Museum. Suzanne Newman Fricke, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor at the Art History Department at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, who curated the exhibit, explained, “grandmother Spider Woman, in many Southwestern cultures, wove the world into being, creating the Earth and the stars and the …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 3 September, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Triumph and Tragedy Exhibition opened in Chelyabinsk

On August 12, the photo exhibition Triumph and Tragedy opened at the Chelyabinsk Regional Studies Museum, commemorating the shared history and victory of the Soviet Union, Great Britain, the United States and other Allies in World War II.  The images remind us of the human element in war and of the atrocities of World War …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 14 August, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Louisiana Zydeco Adds Sunshine to Siberian Sky

Two time Grammy-award winners Terrance Simien and Zydeco Experience brought a flavor of a genuine Creole culture to Tyumen and Tobolsk during their visit July 23-25.  In Tyumen, the band performed for tourists with disabilities at the annualRobinzonada Disability Hiking Festival near Krivodanovo village, excited the guests of the Tyumen City Day celebration at the …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 24 July, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Independence Day Celebration Highlights People-to-People Ties

July 4, 2015 marked the 239 anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On this day, Americans celebrate the principles on which our nation was founded. As our founding fathers famously remarked in 1776, “We hold this truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 2 July, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Young Diplomats Day at the Youth Forum in Tyumen

As part of the International Platform of the UTRO Youth Forum, a large annual forum that gathers 1500 students from across the Urals region, Consulate Staff lead a Young Diplomats Day workshop. During the workshop, 25 motivated university students spoke with American diplomats about life in the foreign service, the various sections of the U.S. Consulate …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 28 June, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General visits Udmurtia

On June 11-12 Consul General Otto Hans Van Maerssen visited the Udmurt Republic.  In Udmurtia he met with representatives of the Udmurt Republic’s government and the Izhevsk Municipal Administration, and discussed educational and exchange programs with the leadership of Udmurt State University.  The Consul General also visited regional museums, including Kalashnikovs’ Museum, the Tchaikovsky Estate-Museum, …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 23 June, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Navajo Artist Nani Chacon creates a Mural in Udmurt Capital City Izhevsk

A prominent native artist from Albuquerque, New Mexico Nanibah Chacon has created a mural on the wall of the Municipal Arts Gallery on Izhevsk’s central square. The artwork was finished and unveiled on Izhevsk City Day which coincided with the Day of Russia and the Udmurt ethnic holiday Gerber. The mural was appreciated by and …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 16 June, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Round Table “Modern Models of Support for HIV-Positive Children”

On June 9, U.S. Consulate Yekaterinburg representatives attended a Round Table “Modern models of support for HIV-positive children” in Yekaterinburg.  The round table was organized on the basis of a one year Russian-American cooperation project “ASSET” (Advanced Support Services, Education, and Treatment) run  by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) from the United States …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 10 June, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Sports Envoys come to Omsk

On June 3 – 6 internationally renowned American flying disc golf champions Nathan Doss and Valarie Jenkins visited Omsk. They held several disc golf clinics for the local community, PT coaches, and kids, held workshops for children with disabilities at two Omsk orphanages and finished their program with an inclusive disc golf fest at Omsk’s …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 6 June, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

U.S. Film Director Screened a Film at the Environmental Film Festival

A U.S. film director Suzan Beraza recently screened her “Bag it: is your life too plastic” movie at the Environmental Film Festival in Khanty-Mansiysk. The audience ranging from university to elementary school students applauded the film maker and her documentary exposing the effects of plastic bags and other plastic consumer goods on the environment, wild life and …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 5 June, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

The Consul General Visited Omsk

The Consul General on June 4 visited Omsk, where he supported a visit of U.S. disc golfers and opened the 2nd Annual Omsk Public Arts Festival. The Consul General visited a workshop for schoolchildren conducted by Valarie Jenkins and Nate Doss, world champions of disc golf and Sports Envoys to Russia. The Consul General also joined …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 4 June, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Sweet and Healthy Food at a Master Class for Children

On May 31, Marcus Lamb and Sarah Saperstein offered a workshop on cookie decorating to celebrate the International Day of the Child. In Mayakovsky Park, they offered children the chance to decorate sugar cookies using traditional American buttercream icing. The icing is a home-made recipe from North Carolina, Marcus’ home state. In addition, children made fruit sticks, …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 31 May, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

The Consulate Staff Ran a Relay with the Sun Kids

On May 30th the U.S. Consulate staff took part in the charity event, called Sport for Good, and ran the 1000 m relay, each sprinting 250 meters. This relay is an annual event launched by the Sun Kids NGO to support people with Down syndrome.

By U.S. Mission Russia | 30 May, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Videoconference with American Entrepreneur Terry Jones

On May 19, the Ural Chamber of Commerce, with the cooperation of the U.S. Consulate General, hosted a videoconference with American entrepreneur Terry Jones.  In his career, Mr. Jones was involved in the startup of ten different companies, including founding a three billion dollar company, Travelocity.com, and co-founding Kayak.com, which is now part of a …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 19 May, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Choral Music Brining Inspiration

May 13-16 American choir director Brian Winnie visited Yekaterinburg and conducted workshops with choirs from local schools and universities.  The workshops were part of the Choral Music Conference arranged by Arts School 11 and Yekaterinburg Department of Culture.  Students of Sviridov School of Arts #14, Rakhmaninov Music School #7, Youth Arts School #11, Urals State …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 16 May, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

On May 14 Consul General Van Maerssen visited Irbit District.    Irbit District is well known as a cultural and agricultural center. The Consul General met with Irbit City and Irbit Municipal District authorities with whom he discussed opportunities for economic and cultural cooperation. He also visited several area museums, including the museum of the …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 14 May, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

World Without War is Diverse and Beautiful

Over 200 students from 19 Art Schools of Yekaterinburg and Sverdlovsk oblast took part in the International Contest of Youth ArtWorld Without War devoted to the 70th Anniversary of the Meeting on Elbe. In partnership with the United States Consulate General in Yekaterinburg the contest and final exhibit was organized by ShlemGraphic Arts Fund, Union of …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 6 May, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Triumph and Tragedy Photo Exhibit is on Display at Kosmos Cinema Theater until May 28th

On April 27, Triumph and Tragedyopened at Kosmos, commemorating the shared history and victory of the Soviet Union, Great Britain, the United States and other Allies in World War II.  The images remind us of the human element in war and of the atrocities of World War II that should never be repeated.  Photos about …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 27 April, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Inspiring through Dance – REVolutions Dance visits the Urals

Dwayne Scheuneman and REVolutions Dance, an inclusive dance company that comprises one wheelchair dancer and three dancers without disabilities, visited the Urals April 21-29, promoting diversity in the arts. They offered workshops for Russian youth and adults in Yekaterinburg and Perm, challenging children and adults of all abilities to be creative together. In Yekaterinburg the …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 24 April, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Henhouse Prowlers Steal Hearts of Urals Music Fans

“The level of cohesion and harmony in your music is beyond comprehension… Simply amazing!”, “Fantastic performance!”, “Wish you played more” – these are only a few remarks of the overwhelmingly  enthusiastic reception of the Chicago-based bluegrass quartet Henhouse Prowlers’ music by Russian audiences.  From April 8-21, The Henhouse Prowlers toured the Urals in Russia at …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 23 April, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Ambassador Tefft Visited Yekaterinburg

In his visit to Yekaterinburg on April 13 – 15, U.S. Ambassador John F. Tefft re-affirmed his commitment to supporting people-to-people, cultural, educational and business ties with Russia. He also laid a wreath at the World War II memorial in Dendro Park to honor the region’s soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Great Patriotic …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 16 April, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General visits Salekhard

The Consul General trekked to Salekhard, which is positioned precisely on the Arctic Circle within Russia’s Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YaNAO), on April 3-4, 2015. Various officials from YaNAO’s regional government, as well as from Salekhard and Priuralsky District’s municipal administrations, discussed opportunities of cultural and educational exchange programs.  In meetings with representatives of cultural establishments …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 10 April, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Chris Merrill visited Yekaterinburg

Chris Merrill – an author, poet and translator, Founder and Director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa  visited Yekaterinburg on March 30-31. He met with the members of the Yekaterinburg division of the Russian Writers Union and young playwrights – pupils of Nikolay Kolyada. He also made a presentation on using …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 6 April, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

MOOC on Academic Writing with Melissa Hauke

English Language Fellow Melissa Hauke led two groups of interested citizens from Yekaterinburg and PhD students of Urals Federal University through the 5 week Mass Open Online Course (MOOC) on Academic Writing offered by UC Berkley in partnership with the U.S. Department of State.  The course participants learnt about vocabulary development; tone & diction; common …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 25 March, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General visits Orenburg

The Consul General visited Orenburg on March 18-19 to take part in the special events devoted to the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Orenburg Oblast Museum of Fine Arts.  The Consulate has partnered with the museum  in a number of cultural projects.  In 2014, the Consulate presented  a photo exhibition of the American-Italian …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 23 March, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Planned March and Demonstration in Yekaterinburg

U.S. citizens should be aware that Yekaterinburg city authorities have issued a permit for a demonstration to recognize the one-year anniversary of  Russia’s occupation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.  Beginning at or near 1700 on March 18, 2015, more than 1,000 participants may assemble at the location known as “Ploshad Truda,” or “Labor Square.”  This small …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 17 March, 2015 | Topics: Security & Emergency Messages , Yekaterinburg

South Urals Rock-n-Roll Festival Hails The Spyrals

Thanks to the State Department’s cultural exchange program, San-Francisco based rock-n-roll band The Spyrals headlined the International Music Festival – Spring Beat – that took place in Chelyabinsk, Russia February 28 – March 1, 2015.  More than ten bands participated and more than 2,000 rock-n-rollers of all ages attended the shows.  Deputy Chief of Mission …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 3 March, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Sports and Friendship: Top WNBA Players lead a Master-class for Russian Students

On February 12, as part of the Consulate’s Sports and Friendship program and UGMK’s outreach program, American basketball superstars Candace Parker Williams, Diana Taurasi, Kristi Toliver and Deanna Nolan and American coaches Todd Troxel and Jenny Moshak visited School 99.  They challenged students in a series of athletic drills, gave tips on the technique to …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 12 February, 2015 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Guests at the Consulate: “Korifei” Gymnasium

U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg has hosted the 3d grade students of Koriphey gymnasium.  They enjoyed free communication with Consul General Otto Hans Van Maerssen, quest on American traditions and  a short tour of the Consulate.

By U.S. Mission Russia | 15 December, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

U.S. Consul General visits Perm

Consul General Otto Hans Van Maerssen visited Perm to present the American repertory company, film-making group and educational organization, Company E.  Following master-classes with students of dance in Perm, Company E performed on December 5 to demonstrate the artistic excellence that graces the Washington DC dance scene.  The Consul General also met with the Deputy …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 12 December, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Visit to Ural Humanitarian University

On December 9, the Consul General visited the Ural Humanitarian University to deliver a lecture on the common law approach of jurisprudence (the theory of law) in the United States. He outlined the basic foundation of the United States legal system, including the reliance on judicial precedent, with the Law Faculty students, shared his personal …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 9 December, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Magia Krause brings world’s first 3D printing pen to Yekaterinburg

World’s first 3D printing pen came to Yekaterinburg recently. Magia Krause, Information Resource Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, visited Yekaterinburg last week to hold a series of workshops on 3D-modeling and LED bracelets. During her workshops, she also discussed the maker movement and “fab labs” – workshops that provide a space for inventors …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 20 November, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Young Diplomats Day

On October 3, the U.S. Consulate invited ten high school students from Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and Lesnoy to spend the day learning about diplomacy. The students toured the consulate, learned the inner workings of the Consular Section, tried their hand at designing a cultural program, and had lunch with Consulate staff. The program, conducted mostly in …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 6 October, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Potential Demonstrations in Yekaterinburg for September, 21, 2014

Media reports indicate that “March for Peace” demonstrations may be planned to take place in the center of Yekaterinburg on Sunday, September 21.  There have also been reports of the possibility of “Anti-March” counter demonstrations in the same area.  According to the reports, the marches did not receive approval from local authorities, but marchers may …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 20 September, 2014 | Topics: Security & Emergency Messages , Yekaterinburg

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: New Information on Demonstration in Yekaterinburg

Russian government authorities have granted a permit for a demonstration to take place near the center of Yekaterinburg on September 21st, 2014. Russian civil society activists are organizing a “Peace March” to oppose the conflict in eastern Ukraine.  Participants will gather at 15:45 at Ploshad Oboroniy. As authorized, the demonstration meeting is to be stationary …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 19 September, 2014 | Topics: Security & Emergency Messages , Yekaterinburg

Amy Ballard visits Yekaterinburg

Amy Ballard, a senior specialist for historic preservation at the Smithsonian Institute, visited Yekaterinburg this past weekend.  During her visit, Ms. Ballard spoke with enthusiastic university students in Chelyabinsk, Tyumen and Yekaterinburg about the Smithsonian and about similarities between Russian and American architecture.  On Monday, Ms. Ballard and her colleague, Sally Yerkovich, conducted a workshop …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 16 September, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Discover America in Yekaterinburg!

The U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg is pleased to announce the “Discover America in Yekaterinburg!” City Quest.  The contest will take place on October 18, 2014, at 14:00 and is open to interested high school students (10 and 11 grades). Students may participate in the competition in teams of three.  To enter, please submit your team …

VisitUSA RoadShow in Yekaterinburg

The VisitUSA RoadShow, a public event about traveling to the U.S., took place at the Ural Economics University on September 15th.  The Consul General and representatives from the Foreign Commercial Service and Consular Section gave presentations on tourism in the U.S. and how to obtain a visa to travel to the U.S.   They also …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 15 September, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General visits Agroindustrial firm “Artyomovskiy”

The Consul General visited Artyomovsky district of Sverdlovsk oblast to further mutual understanding in Russia’s rural communities.  During his visit, he was shown various sites, including an agro-business, “Artyomovskiy,” which is involved in poultry, cattle and crops.  He also visited Pokrov Cathedral. Pictured here is his visit to a school in Artyomovsky, where he explored …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 12 September, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Diplomacy Day at Camp: U.S. Consulate Staff Conduct Workshop on What It Takes to be a Diplomat

Twenty-five students at English Drive Summer Camp learned what it takes to be a diplomat on Monday, when the Public Affairs Officer and staff from the U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg visited.  The students participated in role plays, in which they reacted to common situations faced by consular, management, political and public diplomacy officers.  In addition, …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 19 August, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Jeopardy! At Hilton Summer Camp

Approximately 120 campers at Hilton Summer Camp partook in “Jeopardy,” a popular American quiz game, with the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) from the U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg.  On August 11, summer campers competed against each other and tested their knowledge of U.S. geography, society, schools and history.

By U.S. Mission Russia | 17 August, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

“As We See It” Opens at the Yekaterinburg Fine Arts Museum

“As We See It,” a photography exhibit by Native American artists about modern Native American life in the United States, opened at the Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts on August 8.  The U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg was delighted to be able to sponsor the exhibition, which depicts modern triumphs and struggles in the Native American …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 8 August, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Omsk City Day Celebration

On August 2-3 the Consul General participated in Omsk’s City Day Celebration. The Consul General attended a variety of cultural events, including participation in a traditional tree planting ceremony. In his congratulatory remarks to Omsk City Mayor, Vyacheslav Dvorakovsky, the Consul General noted Omsk’s positive socio-economic dynamics, conveyed appreciation for the continuous support of the …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 4 August, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Consul General visited American Manufacturing Firms in Chelyabinsk Oblast

On July 15, Consul General Otto Hans Van Maerssen visited American manufacturing firms in Chelyabinsk oblast.  Emerson-Metran is a leading manufacturer of technical equipment for the oil & gas sector and other industries. The company provides customers with 24/7 support through its Eurasia Customer Support unit.  Carbo Ceramics is one of the world’s leading manufacturers …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 17 July, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Iftar in Yekaterinburg

Continuing a tradition of many of his predecessors, the Consul General hosted an Iftar meal last night at his residence during this month of Ramadan. Representatives of the Muslim faith attended, shared in a halal meal, and engaged in a friendly exchange about customs and traditions in the Muslim world, including in the USA. The …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 14 July, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Perm and Louisville, KY Continue Academic Exchanges

Cooperation between the Perm State National Research University (PSNRU) and the University of Louisville is growing.  As part of that cooperation, three American students studied the Russian language from February to June 2014.  The students resided on the university campus, attended Russian classes daily, and explored the city and life in Russia during their free …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 8 July, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Meeting with the Metropolitan

The Consul General met with the Metropolitan of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye, His Holiness Kirill, to discuss benevolent activities and religious issues.  His Holiness Kirill also outlined the religious history of Yekaterinburg, and offered a visit of the last Russian Tsar’s Saint Family Museum.  

By U.S. Mission Russia | 7 July, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Independence Day

On the 4th of July, the U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg gathered friends and partners to celebrateAmerica’s Independence Day. This jubilee, the 20th Independence Day celebrated in the Urals and the 238th in American history, featured an official speech by the Consul General, a cake cutting ceremony and, of course, American music.  Classic swing, Latin, …

By U.S. Mission Russia | 4 July, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

Independence Day Present

In expectation of the upcoming American Independence Day celebration, employees at the U.S. Consulate General in Yekaterinburg share a delicious cake, prepared and donated by our next-door neighbor, the Novotel.

By U.S. Mission Russia | 3 July, 2014 | Topics: Yekaterinburg

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