TYWI Summer Programs For Writers are Open!

Apply by May 22nd, applications are rolling. Summer Camp and Workshop are the perfect way to spend your summer

Contrary to popular belief, writers need community and support, especially when they’re young. However, most young writers refine their craft in solitude, or worse, get discouraged too early and give up on their dreams.

TYWI was founded with the mission to fix that by providing opportunities and community for young writers all over the world, for free. For the past 6 years, TYWI has been running a summer-long program. For 2026, we’ve opened round II of applications for participants, and encourage you to apply by May 22nd (but earlier is better before we fill up!)

Summer camp and workshop are running from June 14 - July 24th. Summer programs are a lightweight opportunity that takes 3-5 hours a week (though you can certainly put in more!), so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a flexible opportunity to integrate writing and community more into your summer!

Goals of Summer Programs

Summer programs are grounded in the following goals:

1. Develop consistency and a habit of writing amongst young writers

2. Grow community and support systems for teen and young adult writers globally

3. Teach young writers the foundations of writing craft

4. Expose writers to publishing opportunities and writing professionals

Summer Camp vs. Workshop

The key difference between summer camp and workshop are the age ranges and styles. Camp is broken into two cabins: 13-15 y.o. and 16-19 y.o. There are daily camp writing challenges that campers share and receive feedback on, developing a habit of writing daily and receiving feedback in a safe space. Weekly, a seminar speaker that’s a professional writer runs a workshop. Some we have include how to break into publishing, a literary magazine panel, and poetry deep-dive, all with amazing external speakers! There are also daily writing sprints with fellow writers, open mics, games, publishing opportunities, and more!

Camp is run by counselors, who set up prompts, organize activities, and provide feedback to our participants.

Workshop is for young adult writers aged 20-30. Many advanced writing classes focus on refining craft through peer-feedback. Workshop does that by putting writers in groups of 4-6 with a designated workshop coordinator. Writers come in with pieces to submit for review, and take turns reading and providing feedback on each other’s writing. Alongside that, workshoppers also can participate in their own sprints and writing activities, and also have weekly seminars and similar opportunities.

Summer camp and workshop are genuinely wonderful and transformative experiences where you refine your craft, make progress on your writing, and get a writing family alongside it. Hear a little from our Summer Programs Director, Ruby Versele:

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As another summer dawns upon us, so does another summer of TYWI’s virtual writing summer programs, and we are so excited for what this year has in store for us.

Last year was our first year back after a season of hiatus, and it was more than I as a director could have ever imagined. We built community, wrote endlessly, and learned from one another and our amazing speakers. But, this year we are back and better than ever, and I want to invite you to come join our writing family.

One of the most special things about TYWI is the friendships you get to create. Our Summer Camp Director this year, Sara Ray, has been a friend of mine since I was 16 years old and we hosted a podcast together. One of our workshop coordinators also may or may not be a fellow Moving Write Along pal….

If you had told 16 year old me that Sara and I would be directing the summer programs together almost six years later, I would have absolutely believed you. Because the friendships we get to form and create, sustained by our mutual love of writing and craft, are ones that can last much longer than six years. Ask anyone who has been with TYWI for more than a few years; this is a ragtag, creative, and wonderful family we have. And we want you to know that there is an open invitation for you to come on in as well.

Applications are now open for our Summer Camp (Ages 13-19) and Summer Workshop (Ages 20-30) programs. It’s going to be a summer full of growth, community, fun, and words.

I hope to see you there,

Ruby Versele

Summer Programs Director