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Jan. 15 is the Priority Application Deadline for Interlochen Arts Camp and Arts Academy. Programs fill quickly—submit your app today!
Novel Writing Intensive
Why Take Novel Writing Intensive
Join a community of young writers all working toward finishing their novels. Our intensive gets your manuscript to the next level with the support of fellow young writers and the hands-on instruction of a published novelist.
What You'll Learn
In our one-week program, you'll be in workshops with other dedicated young writers who have completed at least 50 pages of a novel manuscript. The sustained focus on novel writing will help you shape and improve upon your own project long after you've left our beautiful campus.
As a student at Interlochen's creative writing summer camp, you will:
- Develop foundational skills and strategies like dramatic structure, character-building, and plot
- Participate in guided readings, writing exercises, and one-on-one consultation sessions with your instructor
- Workshop an excerpt of your novel
- Craft an individualized plan for completing your manuscript
- Gain insight into the ins and outs of the publishing world through Q&As with professional novelists
Program Highlights
The Writing House
During the one-week session, your artistic home will be The Writing House. This comfortable space provides quiet work areas, ample seating for group projects, and a literary publications room with computer and printing stations. Take a 360-degree virtual tour.
Reading
Our students celebrate the end of the week with a reading from their novel hosted right on our gorgeous campus.
Additional Opportunities
In addition to our one-week intensives, we also offer our multi-week Creative Writing camp program for high school students. Extend your stay on our beautiful campus, continue writing your novel, and push yourself outside your "genre comfort zone."
Interlochen is also home to the Arts Academy boarding high school, which offers a Creative Writing major, as well as a post-graduate year.
Alumni Stories
From Camp to Academy to Presidential Scholar
Learn more about former Novel Writing Intensive student Sophie Paquette and her journey to becoming a Presidential Scholar.
Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Camp with a free digital viewbook
In our free informational booklet, you'll learn more about:
- Each of our seven arts areas
- Various programs
- Renowned faculty
- A day in the life of a student
- How to apply and financial aid information
- And more