This Year's Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop

The 2010 Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop is July 11–17 at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. The Workshop gives students with an interest in writing the opportunity to explore that interest and to devote time to their work in a unique environment with an outstanding faculty and supportive peers.

Students who attend the workshop do not have to be experienced writers; they must only have an interest in writing and a desire to develop that interest. The development of writing skills has a positive impact on all areas of a student's academic life, from writing papers and reviews to preparing college essays. The opportunity to work in small groups and in one-on-one sessions with faculty that are gifted writers themselves is tremendously beneficial to student writers.

The maximum student:teacher ratio at the Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop is 12:1. Students attend writing classes during the day and spend their afternoons and evenings in individual writing time, recreational activities, and presentations by visiting authors, songwriters, and performers. Class sessions are geared toward both general writing assignments and students' specific interests, including poetry, short stories, playwriting, memoir, fiction, and essays.

Students live with Workshop counselors in supervised residence halls on Austin Peay State University campus. Roommates are assigned based on age and gender, and roommate requests will be honored when possible. There is a maximum of two people per room. Recreational facilities are available to students on campus, including an indoor pool, basketball and tennis courts, and the university library and computer lab.

The Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop brings students together for one week, but the impact of the experience is lifelong. When Workshop participants return to their hometowns and classrooms, they remain connected to their new friends and instructors through email and group discussion lists on the web. This regular interaction helps to continue to improve students' writing throughout the year by offering writing prompts, exercises and pointers, and publishing opportunities for teens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to attend the TN Young Writers' Workshop?
Students who have just completed grades 7-12 are eligible to attend Young Writers' Workshop.
What is the cost?
Workshop tuition is $650. This includes all costs for the entire week - room and board, all class materials, any field trip expenses, a workshop T-shirt, and access to the Young Writers' e-mail discussion list and the online anthology.
How do I apply?
Send in a completed registration form (PDF, 208kB; requires the free Adobe® Reader®) and send it along with one sample of your writing and a $150 deposit.

The writing sample may be a poem, short story, play, fragment of a play, or a fiction or non-fiction piece. All fees may be paid by check, money order, MasterCard or Visa. The deposit will be applied to the total fee, which must be received in full by June 30. Students will be notified of their acceptance as soon as possible following the receipt of a complete application. Should a student not be accepted into the program, the deposit will be refunded.

May I apply for a scholarship?
Yes. Humanities Tennessee is committed to ensuring that the Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop is available to students from all backgrounds. All scholarship applicants must demonstrate both financial need and merit. Scholarships are available to Tennessee students only.

Interested students should send a complete application including a writing sample, a letter from an English teacher outlining the applicant's qualifications, and one complete copy of the family's most recent 1040 statement submitted to the IRS. Scholarship applicants need not send the deposit along with their application.

The postmark deadline for submitting all scholarship applications is in mid-May. Students will be notified of their acceptance by mid-June. Scholarship assistance varies from $100 to full coverage of tuition.

When are the application deadlines?
May 15 - postmark deadline for scholarship applications
June 30 - postmark and payment deadline for all other applications
May I be a day student?
Yes. Day students may attend the workshop for classes and evening presentations. Day student tuition is $450 and includes all classes, field trips, workshop T-shirt, materials and lunch and dinner meals daily.
What is a typical day like at the TYWW?
Sample Student Schedule
8:00-9:00 a.m. Breakfast in the cafeteria
9:00-9:30 Large group meeting and writing prompt activity
9:30-12:00 Fiction, Songwriting, Poetry, or Memoir class
12:00-1:00 p.m. Lunch in the cafeteria
1:00-3:00 Fiction, Songwriting, Poetry, or Memoir class
3:00-3:30 Large group meeting
3:30-4:30 Afternoon free time & activities
5:00-6:00 Special Workshop (poetry slam, graphic novel)
6:00-7:00 Dinner in the cafeteria
7:00-8:30 Evening Activity - William Gay reads and discusses his latest book
8:30 Impromptu writing workshops (comedy writing, screen writing)
10:00 Room check
10:30 Lights out
Other questions?
For more information about the Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop, please call Lacey Cook, Program Officer for Humanities Tennessee, at 615.770.0006, ext. 19, or email Lacey@HumanitiesTennessee.org.