Juniper offers one-week and two-week programs, all of which are designed to help students take their writing to the next level.

Write-alongs are sets of writing prompts and challenges that guide participants through a daily writing practice. They are a chance for young writers to put into practice the lessons, techniques, and craft elements they have been learning throughout the week, or to simply write and explore on their own. The Write-along materials will remain accessible to participants after the program has ended.

The second week of the summer in-person program is what we call the “Intensive Week.” It’s designed for writers who have already established a regular writing practice and are ready to work on a longer project with the 1-1 guidance of a Creative Writing Instructor.

Here’s what the Intensive Week offers:

A Personalized Writing Plan: The Intensive Week schedule provides plenty of writing time alongside the necessary guidance to help participants construct their own writing routine and schedule for the week. Building on the generative and informative sessions from Week One, participants now have the space and time to transform their ideas and writing exercises into fully fleshed out pieces.

1-on-1 Meetings with Your Mentor: Because every writer has a unique project, 1-on-1 meetings allow instructors to provide more specific guidance. During these meetings, CWIs help participants create their individualized writing schedule, find inspiration for their project, make edits, and stay on track for project completion.

Small Group Accountability: To help participants finish their writing projects, they meet in small groups of 3 to 5 peers and their mentor every morning to check in and problem-solve. Everyone in the group is working with the same mentor, and in the same genre towards similar goals, so this is a chance for deeper connection and sharing.

Paths to Publication: At the end of the week, each small group will have an extended morning session with their mentor to learn about next steps for their projects. This could include advice about how to continue their project, publishing, submissions to literary magazines, and other ways to share creative work.

All programs offer the following:

Mentorship from working writers

Creative Writing Lab Instructors are professional teachers, published authors, and graduate students at UMass Amherst pursuing their Master of Fine Arts degrees in creative writing. With daily live meetings in Craft Sessions and Writing Labs, participants have the opportunity to discuss their work and in-depth writing topics with their Instructors and peers.

Inspiration for generating new work

Outside of Writing Labs, participants will have the opportunity to participate in guided group writing exercises and will also receive writing prompts to respond to on their own time or to stow away for later inspiration. We’ll also facilitate ways for participants to share their work and ideas generated during daily Write-alongs and Write-ins. The Writer's Life talks give participants a behind-the-scenes view on the Instructors' work and creative processes, which always ignite new ideas and provide invaluable writing tips.

Close-knit Community

All Writing Labs are capped at 10, allowing participants the time and space to develop closer connections not just with writing Instructors but also with fellow teen writers.

Written Feedback

At the end of the week, Writing Lab Instructors will provide a written summary of participants' work, evaluation of their progress towards writing goals, and future considerations for their writing.

Cost and Session Information

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

One-week in-person program will take place July 28–August 3, 2024.
Two-week in-person program will take place July 28–August 10, 2024.

One-week online program will take place August 5–9, 2024.

Tuition for the two-week program is $4,950 and includes room, board, field trips, and weekend activities. Tuition for the one-week program is $2,600 and includes room, board, and one field trip. Tuition for the online program is $1,280. Scholarships are available; see our website for more information.

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