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Your Journey Into the World of Words
Interlochen Arts Academy is known as one of the nation’s best schools for creative writing.
The high school years are an ideal time to explore your own creativity in the art of written expression. For decades, Interlochen Arts Academy has provided young writers with an enrollment opportunity that is unique among U.S. high schools. As a boarding school located between northern Michigan lakes and staffed by a faculty of experienced career writer-educators, Interlochen offers teens the chance to focus on their craft, develop their writing style, and advance their potential for a career in creative writing.
Embrace Your Inner Wordsmith
Writers come to Interlochen Arts Academy with a variety of goals. Perhaps you’ve been honing your composition skills as a younger child and had little coaching during your elementary and middle school experiences. Maybe you’re highly interested in more feedback and want to share your work with professionals and improve your writing based on their criticism. You might be looking for a community of young writers who enjoy language arts as you do. Or you’re interested in attending high school away from home where you can focus on perfecting your craft.
If these or any other thoughts are part of your experience as a young writer, Interlochen Arts Academy—recognized as one of the best high schools for creative writing—is the place for you. As one of the few high schools offering a focused and prestigious creative writing program, Interlochen hosts young students with high motivation to improve their creative skills and deep interest in learning from some of America’s best modern writing instructors.
Thriving as a Young Writer
The Arts Academy works as a “greenhouse” of sorts—where young people thrive and grow within a safe environment that is intentionally focused on their development to help them reach their next stage as a young artist. Multiple factors combine to make Interlochen one of the best schools for creative writing in the country.
Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Academy with a free digital viewbook
Our faculty are dedicated to their craft.
Interlochen’s creative writing instructors are both verbal artists and expert educators. Each faculty member brings deep experience and personal love of writing to the Arts Academy classrooms. They are committed to inspiring young writers to advance in their technique, and they do so by exposing them to well-known published literature of all eras, helping them hone their own written expression, and urging them towards constant improvement of their creative work.
Transformative learning with renowned guest artists.
Interlochen’s creative writing program features world-class guest artists—award-winners, professors, and career writers who love their craft and are eager to inspire young artists. Their work is in a variety of genres—poetry, novels, criticism, essays, journalism, nonfiction, short stories, humor, biography, and playwriting. Many have experience in publishing and editing, have earned degrees in writing, or currently teach at leading arts institutions. They share their own journey as writers with Interlochen students, helping young artists flourish, working with them through personal writing challenges, and preparing students for success as creative writers.
Instruction is delivered with the future in mind.
Known as one of the best creative writing high schools in the country, Interlochen Arts Academy provides a rigorous educational experience that is carefully structured to prepare students academically and artistically for college and beyond. Developing portfolios—filled with diverse, high-quality work—enables students to be well prepared to apply to leading college and university programs. Taking college credit classes through Interlochen’s partnership with Indiana University or completing advanced placement (AP) courses allows students to get a jumpstart on college coursework. Students in the creative writing program will be ready to take on their chosen future careers, both inside and outside the arts.
Discover the Art of Writing
At Interlochen Arts Academy, faculty provide a beautiful combination of individualized coaching, deep literary studies, developmental workshops, community sharing, extensive writing practice, and exposure to a huge variety of styles and genres. Our creative writing program helps high school students discover creativity, writing style, and themselves in the process of their four years of learning on campus. Students come away with a thorough understanding of the general process of composition and their own interests as a writer. It’s a versatile program with mentorship that is tailored to the individual’s imaginative style and future interests.
Enroll in one of America’s best high schools for creative writing. Study at Interlochen Arts Academy and enjoy the benefits of a focused arts school experience.
Dive deeper into Interlochen Arts Academy with a free digital viewbook
In our free informational booklet, you'll learn more about:
- Each of our seven arts areas
- Renowned faculty
- College-preparatory academics
- How to apply and financial aid information
