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“The workshop was awesome. We had an extremely engaging class and fantastic, lively discussions.” —’08 participant
The Institute curriculum provides a rich blend of opportunities for students to write, read, discuss ideas, and learn from accomplished writers. College credit is available.
Workshops
At the heart of the Institute are daily workshops in poetry and fiction. Working with faculty and a core group of peers, participants generate new work, revise work in progress, and form a supportive community of writers committed to sharing and receiving feedback on their writing. Enrollment is limited so that each writer has ample opportunity to present his or her work.
“The workshop environment felt very safe and welcoming. We learned to take risks, explore language, and expect more of ourselves.”
–’09 participant
Q&As and Studio Courses
Q&As with faculty and writers in residence from the concurrent Juniper Institute for adults give participants the chance to explore the creative process and the writing life with world-renowned authors.
Through hands-on studio courses, participants explore new aspects of their work and experiment with creative ways to reach readers and audiences. “Writing for Performance” offers students an opportunity to create ambitious and unpredictable theatrical texts. “Bookmaking” provides students with the experience of making their own writing into a beautiful physical object.
“The studio course was a great way to broaden my horizons…I thought more of possibility and less of constraints, both in my writing and in other artistic explorations.” –’09 participant
Readings
Participants experience the transformative power of poetry and prose presented live each evening, as the acclaimed Juniper Institute faculty and writers in residence—including Mark Doty, James Tate, and Joy Williams—read aloud from their work. You can find the reading schedule here.
College Prep & Recreational Activities
In partnership with Commonwealth College, UMass’ honors college, the Institute offers a range of activities designed to introduce students to different aspects of college life. Facilitated by specially-trained honors college Program Assistants (PAs), students will engage with a range of topics and opportunities such as an introduction to college writing and residential life. Activities may include field trips to area museums and hikes, as well as tours of the five colleges in the Amherst area—Amherst, Smith, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke, and the University of Massachusetts.
“It was so much fun to be around young people who are as passionate about writing as I am. There was a great balance between social and academic.” —’09 participant
Faculty
Workshops are led by top MFA candidates from the renowned University of Massachusetts MFA Program for Poets and Writers who design curricula especially for the Institute setting. Studio courses are facilitated by artists and experienced teachers in the forefront of their fields. Young writers additionally have the opportunity to interact with the acclaimed faculty and writers in residence of the concurrent Juniper Institute for adults through Q&A sessions and evening readings.
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