Iowa Young Writers' Studio
“The Iowa Young Writers' Studio is a creative writing program for high school students at the University of Iowa, housed in The Frank N. Magid Center for Undergraduate Writing. The Iowa Young Writers’ Studio offers a summer residential program as well as online courses. The Studio gives promising high school-age creative writers the opportunity to share their writing with teachers and peers, receive constructive critique, participate in writing exercises and activities, and attend (actually or virtually) readings and literary events.
If you’re accepted to the Iowa Young Writers’ Studio's summer residential program, you will choose a single Core Course of study—Poetry, Fiction, or Creative Writing (a survey that includes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction)—as your focus for the two weeks of the program.”
How do I get started? Go to their website and get started.
How do I expand this narrative arc? Check out some of the many other publications and competitions we have found for you.
If you are writing non-fiction, you should be submitting it to one of the many competitions and journals aimed at teens such as the Curieux Academic Journal.
The New York Times runs many student competitions through the year for all different types of writing. Consider submitting an entry.
The New York times also runs many summer programs for aspiring journalists.
Get involved in your school newspaper in a leadership role.
HOT TIP: This is an extremely prestigious writing program with rigorous admissions standards. It is a fabulous opportunity for an aspiring young writer to both expand talents and gain access to top writers and writing instructors (as well as to potential publication opportunities). See below for more information about summer programs in general.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SUMMER PROGRAMS: College admissions officers are very adept at identifying “resume padders”: expensive, one-off programs paid for by your parents which do not mesh with your narrative arc. Therefore, make sure any summer program or course you consider falls into one (or more) of these four buckets:
Highly selective/competitive
Totally unique + linked to your narrative arc
Evidence of adulthood (long hours, multi-year commitment or simply hard work)
A jumping off point or expansion for an authentic narrative arc.
If none of the above apply, a program could still have value to you if it allows you to test a potential interest. However, if it does not end up being a jumping off point for further interests, then you may not want to mention it in your high school resume