A day In the life at creative writing summer camp: What to expect
Ever wondered what it would be like to spend a day at a creative writing summer camp? Explore this sample schedule from Interlochen Arts Camp, which includes a masterclass from a top author, focused writing periods, and plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors with new friends.
A creative writing student gives a reading at Interlochen Arts Camp.
Are you a young writer considering attending a creative writing summer camp? You might be writing a novel, building a collection of poetry, or dreaming of the day your work makes it into a big literary journal. If you’re ready to take your skills to the next level, a creative writing camp may be a fantastic way to spend your summer—supercharging your abilities, meeting fellow writers, and even finding clarity about whether you want to study writing in college someday. To see whether it might be a good fit, check out the day in the life video above in Interlochen Arts Camp’s creative writing program. If you could see yourself enjoying these classes and activities, there’s a good chance a creative writing summer camp could be perfect for you.
Morning: Breakfast, solo writing, and classes
It’s early morning at Interlochen Arts Camp. You wake up in a cabin with several other students from different arts disciplines and prep for the day. Every day you spend at arts camp starts with a good breakfast—you’ll need all the brain fuel you can get for a busy day of classes and fun! You can also stop by the Coffee Tent for specialty coffee drinks, tea, bottled beverages, and baked goods.
Feeling ready to write, you head to The Writing House, the nation’s only building dedicated to the craft of pre-college writing. It’s built in the style of a northwoods lodge, with soaring ceilings, a stone fireplace, and plenty of cozy nooks. You find your favorite spot and settle in with your laptop or notebook to compose your submission to the Camp anthology, which will be published at the end of your session.
After some quiet writing time, you head to your first class of the day. Depending on which program you choose—Comics & Graphic Narratives, Creative Writing, Novel Writing, Playwriting, or Spoken Word for high school students, or Creative Writing for intermediate students—you might take any of a wide variety of classes focusing on relevant topics such as creative nonfiction, playwriting, or poetry. Your classes are taught by instructors who are published authors and deeply familiar with the ins and outs of the industry. You ask questions, get feedback, and enjoy learning alongside other students your age who are passionate about writing.
Afternoon: The great outdoors, a master class, and more writing fun
After lunch in the cafeteria, you head to Environmental Explorations class. Unique to Interlochen, this class gets you away from the books and allows you to experience the incredible beauty of northern Michigan. It’s a great way to get more in touch with nature and your local surroundings, all while picking up inspiration for your next writing project.
Mid-afternoon brings a masterclass with a visiting writer. Today, slam poet S.C. Says shares selections from his work and offers insights into writing impactful sentences and performing with power. You purchase his book Golden Brown Skin and he autographs it, adding a note just for you. Thrilled by your experience, you head into your next class of the day, which focuses on a different style of writing than what you studied in the morning. The change-up sparks ideas about ways to combine elements of different genres in your work.
At 4 p.m., all of the Creative Writing students gather in the Great Room for an hour-long Forum. Styled like a master class, it’s a great way to dig deep into technique and get your questions answered. Today, it culminates in a submission party celebrating the forthcoming Camp anthology.
Evening: Recreation, sunset beauty, and time with friends
After dinner at the cafeteria, it’s time to relax. Evenings in northern Michigan usually bring a gentle drop in the temperature—perfect for enjoying some time outdoors. You end up swimming and playing water volleyball on the lakeshore with friends. (Depending on your age range, you can dive into a variety of recreational activities like soccer, basketball, tennis, and more.)
Afterwards, you grab snacks and ice cream at the Melody Freeze cafe and head back to the waterfront to chat and catch the sunset. At this time tomorrow, you might take part in a creative writing reading and share your work with an audience of fellow students. Or you might attend another performance: because Interlochen Arts Camp has seven different arts majors, you can cheer on your new friends as they excel in dance performances, gallery openings, theatre performances, chamber recitals, film screenings, and more. Whatever you choose, it’s the perfect end to a day filled with learning and fun. You’re already thinking about coming back next year.
Creative writing summer camp: Your next step
Does this sample day sound like fun to you? It’s just a taste of the excitement you’ll enjoy at a creative writing summer camp. A schedule like this doesn’t do justice to the incredible conversations you’ll have with students who share your passions—or the lightbulb moments you’ll experience in class. Along the way, you’ll be supported by incredible faculty who push you to reach your writing goals. If the idea of a creative writing summer camp piques your interest, spend some time looking into the different programs you can explore, and see what matches your talents best. Creative writing summer camp might be your next step towards becoming the author you want to be.
Interlochen Arts Camp is the nation’s premier creative writing summer camp. Guided by published authors, students in grades 6-12 study a variety of writing genres in a natural setting alongside like-minded peers. Learn more or apply today.
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