Come write with us this summer!
GrubStreet's Teen Summer Writing Sessions give writers aged 13 - 18 the opportunity to explore all different types of genres, topics, and styles of creative writing in the company of other teens who love words – written or spoken.
Our instructors are published authors and/or performers who’ve been recognized with fellowships, residencies, and awards across the state, region, and nation. They gather at GrubStreet to teach in a community that celebrates and supports writers of all ages and experience levels.
This summer, GrubStreet will be offering four two-week long Teen Summer Writing Sessions. Each session will give up to 60 teens the opportunity to work in small, genre-based cohorts for the majority of the day, with multiple touch points throughout the session to connect with teens across cohorts. Each session will include:
- Morning instructor-led check-in writing sessions with all cohorts
- Communal daily lunch provided by GrubStreet
- Daily free writing and office hours time at the end of the day, when students have the opportunity to write from anywhere in our Center for Creative Writing, and to seek 1:1 mentorship with any of the 4-5 instructors teaching in the session
- Open Mic Friday afternoons
- Guest speaker visit from an established author
- One college and professional writing immersive day
- All teen writers are invited to be published in the YAWP Anthology
- The last week of the summer is a free Anthology Session, open to all YAWP participants
Whether you’re seeking to express yourself or you want to get published, come write with us. You can take one class or join us for multiple classes over the course of the summer. We look forward to seeing you in Summer 2025!
Please see the Summer 2025 session dates below. Click on the links below to register:
- Teen Summer Writing Session One: June 23rd to July 3rd
- Teen Summer Writing Session Two: July 7th to July 18th
- Teen Summer Writing Session Three: July 21st to August 1st
- Teen Summer Writing Session Four: August 4th to August 15th
- YAWP Anthology Week (Tuition Free): August 18th to August 22nd
If you have questions or need help selecting a course, please email us at [email protected].
- Each morning begins at 10:30am in our Writer's Stage area, with a short craft or writing life snippet from an instructor, and a prompt
- Students will then go upstairs to participate in creative writing lessons and workshops with their genre-based cohorts from 11am-1pm
- From 1pm-1:45pm, all teens have lunch together, provided by GrubStreet
- Students go back to their workshops from 1:45pm-3pm
- 3pm-3:30pm is free writing time, with instructor office hours; students can seek one-on-one mentorship from any instructor, or work on their writing from anywhere in the space
- Fridays are Open Mic from 2:30pm-3:30pm
All teens aged 13-18! Even if you've never written creatively before, you are guaranteed to find a fun and inspiring environment at GrubStreet, where you will be taken seriously as an artist from day one. You will have many opportunities to connect and learn from local teen writers and established authors, and you will leave the program amazed at what you were able to write in two weeks.
Can my teen be in the same group as a friend?
Yes! Follow these steps:
1. Register both teens for the same session (either I, II, III, or IV)
2. Coordinate their top three genre preferences in the Teen Participation Permission Form.
3. Finally, email us at [email protected] to flag this request for cohort placement.
How do we apply for a scholarship?
We offer full and partial scholarships based on writing promise and financial need.
To apply:
1. Visit the session page and click the "Apply for a Scholarship" button (top right).
2. Complete the brief form:
• A parent/guardian should complete the Statement of Financial Need
• The teen should complete the Personal Statement (i.e. a short paragraph on their writing interests and what they hope to gain).
Note: Apply for a scholarship before registering. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively. You'll hear back within a week. Scholarships are limited, so apply early!
My teen is shy or worried about meeting new people. Will they make friends?
Yes! The Teen Summer Writing Sessions are designed with a focus on creating community. Daily cohort workshops (7-14 students) include community-building activities—writing games, group feedback, and shared craft lessons—all of which foster a sense of trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. Teens also connect across cohorts through:
• Morning writing check-ins
• Communal lunch
• Afternoon free-writing time.
What's for lunch?
Lunch is provided and includes:
• 2-3 hot meal days
• 1-2 sandwich/salad days
• 1 pizza day
Vegetarian and gluten-free options are always available. Be sure to share dietary needs in the Teen Participation Permission Form.
What is Anthology Week, and should we register early?
All registered summer session participants have the opportunity to submit their creative writing for publication in our YAWP Anthology. Anthology Week (Aug 18-22) is a free add-on for any participants who are registered for a summer session. With the guidance of instructors, teens help publish the YAWP Anthology, collaborating on editing, formatting, and design.
• First come, first served (up to 50 teens)
• Lunch included
• Great for students curious about publishing
We recommend applying early to reserve a spot (after you've registered for a summer session).
Can my teen bring a laptop?
We provide pens and notebooks, but teens are welcome to brings laptops if they prefer. A limited number of Chromebooks are available based on need, and you can request them by emailing [email protected]
What if my teen wants a genre like sci-fi or screenwriting?
We expect to offer fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and multi-genre cohorts in every session. If enough teens request it, we'll add sci-fi or screenwriting cohorts. If not, sci-fi or screenwriting participants will join either a fiction or multi-genre cohort, with their preferred genre included in the lesson plans.
Our aim is to be flexible based on what genres teens request most. For example, if a main genre, such as poetry, has low demand, writers may be placed in the multi-genre cohort, where poetry will be included in the lesson plans. Rest assured, whatever their preference, your teen will be able to pursue and workshop the genre that interests them most!
Participating in YAWP has given me more confidence as a writer and person, as well as introduced me to more people with similar interests.
Teen Testimonials
“It's given me joy and confidence in myself and as a writer.”
“This class has provided me with the support, encouragement, and community to explore my own identity and how that plays a role in the writing I create!”
“Participating in YAWP has given me more confidence as a writer and person, as well as introduced me to more people with similar interests.”
“I feel more confident in my ability to not only tell a story, but to shape how readers relate to it.”
“It's cool to be able to see others with the same interest in writing and the shared support that everyone gives about the work.”
“I’m so glad that I signed up for this camp because I now have a plot and scenes planned out for my story which feels soooooo awesome. I also feel so much more comfortable sharing my writing with others.”
“It allowed me to learn new things that I don't in school.”
“I met a bunch of cool people and got more confident in my writing skills.”
“I learned that it's good to step out of my comfort zone!”
YAWP scholarships are made possible, in part, thanks to the Boston Public Library Fund, the Calderwood Charitable Foundation, the Liberty Mutual Foundation, the Linde Family Foundation, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, the RBC Foundation, the Vertex Foundation, and donors like you.