Juniper Institute for Young Writers

Juniper Institute for Young Writers looks for writers whose work shows curiosity and risk-taking, who are eager to experiment with forms and ideas new to them in the company of their creative peers.

Juniper’s in-person and online creative writing programs for high school students are dynamic and community-building. We bring teens together who want to share their poetry and prose with others who are as passionate about writing as they are. We look for writers whose work shows curiosity and risk-taking, and who are eager to experiment with forms and ideas new to them in the company of their creative peers. Our talented, devoted and empathetic instructors help motivated young writers take their creative work to the next level. High school students who are seriously considering a major or minor in creative writing or English will have the opportunity to work with talented and devoted creative writing instructors who are working on their Masters of Fine Arts degrees at one of the top creative writing graduate programs in the country. Our participants leave the program with revised work, new drafts, and plenty of inspiration to sustain them once the program ends.

Applications open for all Juniper Young Writers programs on February 1, 2024. The application deadline for all programs is March 7. There are no application fees!

Summer at UMass

The Juniper Institute for Young Writers in-person program takes place on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, in Amherst, MA. 

The one-week in-person program will take place July 28–August 3, 2024. Tuition for the one-week program is $2,600 and includes room, board, and one field trip.

The two-week in-person program will take place July 28–August 10, 2024. Tuition for the two-week program is $4,950 and includes room, board, field trips, and weekend activities. 

Scholarships are available; see our website for more information.

*Acceptance to Juniper’s in-person program will be competitive this summer; admissions from our general applicant pool are limited to 25 for our one-week program and 25 for our two-week program, for a total of 50 students attending at least week one. Applicants for the in-person Juniper Institute for Young Writers can indicate in their application if they would like to be considered for acceptance to Juniper Young Writers Online if they are not admitted to the in-person program.

Summer Online 

This summer’s online Institute will provide young writers with community, mentorship and inspiration, delivered remotely.

The one-week online program will take place August 5–9, 2024. Tuition for the online program is $1,280.