16 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students in California
Summer writing programs are a great way for high school students to sharpen their skills, explore new genres, and gain experience. These programs often focus on developing both the craft and discipline of writing while offering mentorship from experienced writers, professors, and industry professionals. Many of these programs are hosted by respected universities, arts organizations, or literary nonprofits, making them credible and enriching without being too expensive.
Alongside improving your portfolios and boosting college applications, you will also have the chance to build lasting connections with peers and mentors who share your interests. Whether you write fiction, screenwriting, poetry, journalism, or creative nonfiction, there’s a summer program in California that’s right for you. We’ve curated a list of 16 summer writing programs in California that offer high school students an introduction to writing.
16 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students in California
1. Los Angeles Times - High School Insider Summer Internship Program
Location: Hybrid. In-person at Los Angeles Times, El Segundo, CA.
Stipend: $16.90 per hour.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: June 16 - August 1.
Application Deadline: February 26.
Eligibility: High school students residing in Los Angeles County and Orange County, California who are able to make the commitment to work in the El Segundo office, are eligible to apply.
The Los Angeles Times High School Insider Summer Internship offers aspiring student journalists a chance to gain hands-on newsroom experience over a seven-week period. You will report on stories relevant to youth audiences, cover breaking news, and produce feature articles with multimedia elements. You will receive mentorship and training from experienced journalists, gaining insight into professional reporting practices. Your responsibilities will include sourcing and interviewing subjects, drafting and revising stories, and collaborating with editors to produce polished, engaging content.
2. Veritas AI - Writing Track
Location: Virtual.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including summer.
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. May.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Founded by Harvard graduate students, Veritas AI offers specialized online programs for high school students interested in academic writing for artificial intelligence and machine learning. The AI Scholars program introduces you to foundational concepts over ten sessions, combining theory with hands-on projects. For more advanced learners, the AI Fellowship offers 1:1 mentorship with researchers from top universities, culminating in an independent research project. You will also receive guidance on publishing your writing in high school research journals. These programs aim to provide rigorous academic writing exposure while supporting students in exploring potential research or career interests in AI and computer science.
3. 826 Valencia - Young Authors' Workshop
Location: 826 Valencia, San Francisco, CA.
Stipend: $500.
Cohort size: 25 students.
Dates: July 21 - August 8.
Application Deadline: Check here for updates.
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders are eligible to apply.
The Young Authors' Workshop is an intensive summer camp for high school students interested in exploring a variety of writing genres and refining their work through peer workshops. You will receive instruction from professional writers, poets, and spoken word artists, and are supported by volunteer tutors during the revision and editing process. The program emphasizes both creative exploration and collaborative feedback.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. UCLA Writing Project - College-Ready Writing
Location: Virtual or in-person at University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: $650.
Dates: In-person: June 23 - July 3 | Online: July 14 -25.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Rising 9-12th graders are eligible to apply.
This writing workshop offers students an opportunity to strengthen their writing skills while engaging with contemporary social issues. The curriculum spans multiple genres, including poetry, narrative essays, and argumentative writing, with an emphasis on developing a strong personal and academic voice. You will read thought-provoking texts, take part in discussions, and follow a structured writing process that includes peer and instructor feedback. While guidance is provided, you will retain full creative control over your work.
6. California State Summer School for the Arts - CSSSA Writing Program
Location: California State Summer School for the Arts, Sacramento, CA.
Cost: CA State Residents: $4,830 | Out-of-State and International Students: $9,977. Financial aid is available for California residents.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 70 students.
Dates: July 6 - August 1.
Application Deadline: November 1 - February 28.
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 8 - 12 are eligible to apply.
The California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) Writing Program offers high school students an intensive, four-week residential experience focused on literary craft. Led by a team of professional writers and educators, the program offers instruction in fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and dramatic writing through both core and specialized workshops. You will rotate through all major genres while also selecting a focus area for more in-depth exploration. The curriculum includes rigorous writing exercises, peer workshops, and presentations by guest authors, editors, and agents. Weekly readings allow you to share your work, and select pieces are compiled in a program anthology.
7. Bay Area Writing Project - Multimedia Storytelling: Creative Writing & Technology
Location: University of California, Berkeley, CA.
Cost: $750. Need-based scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate: Selective.
Dates: July 7 – 25.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply.
This three-week workshop explores the intersection of creative writing and digital media. You will develop a varied portfolio, including nonfiction scripts, fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and visual storyboards suitable for adaptation into digital formats such as video essays or short documentaries. The program introduces tools like the Daily Write web app and examines the ethical use of generative AI for writing support. You will also learn to utilize accessible media resources to enhance the impact of your writing in digital spaces.
8. University of Southern California - Sports Journalism: Multi-Platform Storytelling
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Residential: $11,347 | Commuter: $7,812.
Acceptance rate: Selective.
Dates: June 15 – July 12.
Application Deadline: May 2.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least the 9th grade by June 15 are eligible to apply.
This summer program offers an immersive learning experience that blends classroom instruction with practical fieldwork and studio production at the Annenberg Media Center. You will develop skills across various formats, print, web, photojournalism, radio, podcasting, and digital media, while examining sports from multiple perspectives. The curriculum emphasizes both creative and analytical storytelling, guided by experienced faculty and guest speakers from the sports and media industries. By the end of the program, you will complete a comprehensive sports journalism project that reflects your proficiency in multi-platform storytelling and understanding of the sports media landscape.
9. UCLA - Content Creation and Scriptwriting Summer Institute
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: $3021. Need-based scholarships are available to California students.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: July 13 - 25.
Application Deadline: June 13. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: High school students in 9th-12th grade in Spring are eligible to apply.
The Content Creation and Scriptwriting Summer Institute is a two-week, credit-bearing program designed for students interested in writing for digital platforms, film, and theater. You will engage in courses such as webisode writing, screenwriting, playwriting, improv, and sketch comedy, guided by experienced faculty. The program emphasizes both the technical and creative aspects of storytelling across multiple formats. You will complete three short-form writing projects and gain collaborative experience through guest workshops.
10. San Diego Area Writing Project - Young Writers' Camp
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA.
Cost: $800. Need-based scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate: Selective.
Dates: July 7 - 18.
Application Deadline: June 30.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-10 are eligible to apply.
The San Diego Area Writing Project’s Young Writers’ Camp is a ten-day summer program aimed at helping students develop confidence and creativity in their writing. The camp encourages exploration across multiple genres and writing styles for different audiences and purposes. You will engage in the full writing process, from drafting, revising, to sharing in a supportive, community-oriented setting. Led by credentialed instructors, the program emphasizes self-expression and a passion for writing through small-group instruction and peer collaboration.
11. Stanford University - Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $3,080. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 15 students.
Dates: Session I: June 16 - 27 | Session II: July 7 - 18.
Application Deadline: March 20.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8-11 at the time of application are eligible to apply.
This intensive summer program offers high school students a focused study of the craft of creative writing through reading and analyzing works by established authors. Emphasizing the relationship between reading and writing, it helps you develop a personalized writing process and understand how creative texts operate on their own terms. Through discussions, exercises, and peer workshops, you will strengthen your creative thinking, learn foundational techniques, and produce a portfolio of original work.
12. University of Southern California - Screenwriting: From Ideation to Writing Your First Script
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $1990.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: Multiple starts dates from June through August.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the program start date.
Eligibility: Students who are at least 14 years old or older and enrolled in a high school or secondary program are eligible to apply.
Screenwriting: From Ideation to Writing Your First Script is a four-week, self-paced course designed for students interested in developing a short film script. Taught by industry professional Gabe Sachs, the course guides you through the entire screenwriting process, from generating story ideas and building compelling characters to writing dialogue and structuring a cohesive narrative arc. You will gain insight into industry practices and receive exercises drawn from real-world screenwriting experience. By the end of the course, you will have a complete short film script and knowledge in pitching and navigating the film industry. The course includes recorded lectures, readings, and assignments totaling 20–25 hours, with 90 days of access for completion.
13. University of the Pacific - Creative Writing and Storytelling
Location: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA.
Cost: $3,650.
Acceptance rate: Selective.
Dates: June 17 - 27.
Application Deadline: May 25.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9 - 12 are eligible to apply.
This two-week summer program explores the role of storytelling across various forms, literature, spoken word, media, and more. It introduces techniques for crafting and sharing original narratives, both individually and collaboratively. You will engage in close reading, brainstorming, editing, and design, using digital tools to create a final multimedia project. The program also focuses on audience awareness and stylistic choices, encouraging you to reflect on how storytelling can shape perspectives and evoke empathy.
14. Creator School - College Essay Camp
Location: Cubberley Community Center, Palo Alto, CA.
Cost: $575.
Cohort size: 12 students.
Dates: Session 1: June 23 - 27 | Session II: August 4 - 8.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors are eligible to apply.
The College Essay Camp is a one-week program designed to help high school students approach their college essays with confidence and clarity. You will explore what admissions officers look for, analyze strong essay examples, and develop original content through guided writing and revision. The small class size ensures personalized feedback from both peers and the instructor. By the end of the course, you will leave with stronger drafts, improved writing strategies, and a clearer sense of how to approach various application prompts, including the Common App, UC personal insight questions, and scholarship essays.
15. California Scholastic Press Association - Summer Journalism Workshop
Location: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.
Cost: $2,500. Need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Selective.
Dates: July 13 - 25.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old at the start of the workshop are eligible to apply.
The California Scholastic Press Association offers a 12-day intensive journalism workshop for high school students. Taught by professional journalists and educators from leading media outlets such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and NBC News, the program emphasizes real-world reporting and writing skills. You will engage in hands-on classes modeled on professional newsroom scenarios, covering topics such as breaking news, feature writing, court and police reporting, public records, photojournalism, and television production. The curriculum begins with journalism fundamentals and progresses to specialized reporting areas like politics, business, and entertainment. Each class includes deadline-driven assignments.
16. University of Southern California - Creative Writing Workshop
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Cost: Residential: $11,347 | Commuter: $7,812.
Acceptance rate: Selective.
Dates: June 15 – July 12.
Application Deadline: May 2.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least the 9th grade by June 15 are eligible to apply.
This four-week creative writing workshop is intended for students who are interested in exploring different forms of writing. You will engage in collaborative exercises and structured activities aimed at developing creativity and technical skill. The program covers four key genres: personal essay, creative nonfiction, flash fiction, and the short story, dedicating one week to each. You will study the techniques of established authors, practice critical reading and writing skills, and receive feedback to help refine your work. The course includes opportunities to write a personal essay suitable for college applications, develop a portfolio, and take local field trips.
Explore 16 top summer writing programs in California designed for high school students. Unleash your potential and elevate your writing this summer!