May 12, 2015

Spots available for Young Writers Workshop

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Aspiring authors have a summer camp all their own at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The 17th Annual Young Writers Workshop is set for June 23-27, an intensive camp for high school sophomores through seniors (ages 15-18) who want to learn more about writing poetry and creative prose in a professional environment. 

The enrollment deadline for the camp is June 5, and several spots are still open. The five-day program is open to commuter students, though residential participation enhances the workshop experience. 

Students participate in writing workshops on topics including poetry forms, small-press publishing, narrative techniques and playwriting. SIU creative writing faculty and graduate students act as instructors and mentors, and read from their own work during the workshop. 

Students should send a writing sample of either up to three poems or three to five pages of prose in a story or an essay. Camp staff use the writing samples to determine which workshops are most appropriate for the young writer to attend. In addition, they will consider all writing samples for possible scholarships. 

Register online, or fax a registration form to 618/453-5680. Residential fee is $400 and includes four nights lodging, all meals and materials. Housing is in SIU’s Brush Towers residence halls. The commuter fee is $350 and includes lunch, dinner and materials.