About

The Creative Writing Workshop at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, is a two-week residential pre-college program (July 4 – July 17, 2026) designed for high school students entering grades 9–12 who seek concentrated study in the craft of writing. Participants live in iconic Smith College houses, dine in campus facilities, and engage in intensive workshops led by published authors and Smith classroom assistants. The curriculum explores diverse mediums, including Poetry, Fiction, Science Fiction, Screenwriting, and Journalism.

Tuition for the 2026 session is $4,985, which includes room, board, and all program activities. Need-based tuition assistance is available, with a priority application deadline of March 1, 2026. Admission is determined on a rolling basis, but students are encouraged to apply by the February 1 priority deadline. Applicants must submit a creative writing sample, a personal statement responding to one of two prompts, a transcript covering two full years of grades, and one academic recommendation.

Daily life is structured around morning and afternoon sessions (9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.), blending drafting, workshopping, and revising. The 2026 pedagogy emphasizes a "design model" for writing—an open, multi-draft process that encourages unpredictability and creative risk-taking over the pursuit of immediate perfection. Specific courses for 2026 include "Novel Writing," where students build the structural foundations of a book-length work, and "Journalism," which focuses on digital media storytelling and news features.

Beyond the classroom, the program integrates a reading series, open mic nights, and workshops on the publishing industry. Students also have the opportunity to explore downtown Northampton, a renowned literary hub filled with independent bookstores and coffee shops. Participants conclude the program with a personal anthology of their work and a burgeoning digital portfolio. While the workshop does not confer academic credit, it offers a rigorous immersion in early college writing culture, fostering a global community of young writers.