If you’re a high school student in California who enjoys writing and wants to get better at it, a summer program can be a great way to learn and grow. You’ll get to try out different styles, from stories and poems to essays and scripts, while getting advice from professional writers and teachers.
California is home to a many prestigious universities and cultural institutions, many of which offer summer opportunities in writing. For local students, attending an in-state program can be a financially practical choice that still offers access to high-quality mentorship, university resources, and rigorous training.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 summer writing programs for high school students in California!
15 Summer Writing Programs for High School Students in California
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
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.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI is an online program created by Harvard graduate students for high school students who are interested in artificial intelligence. If you’re just starting, the AI Scholars program offers 10 online sessions where you learn the basics of AI and data science, and build your project using real tools and examples.
If you already have some background, the AI Fellowship pairs you 1:1 with a mentor from a top university. You work on your research project and can even submit it to high school research journals with support from the program’s publication team. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
3. California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) – Writing Program
Location: CalArts Campus, Valencia, CA (In-person)
Cost: $4,830 (California residents); fees for non-residents may vary
Dates: July 5 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 28 (late submissions accepted until June 1 if space allows)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 in the fall (including current 8th graders and graduating seniors)
CSSSA’s Writing Program is a four-week residential summer program at CalArts for high school students who want to develop their creative writing. You’ll live on campus and study fiction, poetry, memoir, and dramatic writing with students from across California. You start with a “Core Class” that covers different writing styles, then move into a “Focus Class” where you choose one area to go deeper.
Each day includes workshops, feedback sessions, and talks by authors and literary agents. You’ll get personal guidance from experienced teachers and time to work on your writing. By the end of the program, you’ll have a portfolio of your work, earn college credit, and be published in a printed anthology.
4. UCLA Writing Summer Institute
Location: UCLA Campus, Los Angeles, CA (Commuter only)
Cost: Not specified (costs for other UCLA summer programs range from $1,675+; financial aid may be available)
Dates: July 13 – July 25
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12
UCLA Writing Summer Institute helps high school students become stronger writers through daily practice, guided workshops, and personalized feedback from UCLA instructors. You’ll explore academic and creative writing, sharpen your voice, and learn how to write with clarity and purpose. By working on essays, narratives, and college application writing, you’ll build confidence and improve your skills in structure, style, and argumentation.
5. UCI Writing Project – Summer Youth Program
Location: Orange, California, Orange County
Cost: $650 (one course); $1,200 (full-day combination course)
Dates: Online: Session 1 – July 7–17, Session 2 – July 21–31
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 in fall
UCI Writing Project’s Summer Youth Program helps high school students improve their writing through workshops offered both online and in person. You can choose to focus on creative writing, academic writing, or both, whatever fits your goals. If you pick the online option, you’ll join live sessions with certified teachers. If you prefer in-person learning, you can attend 12-day workshops at Orange County schools, where classes are small and focused on collaboration and peer feedback.
6. UC Berkeley – Bay Area Writing Project (BAWP) High School Writing Courses
Location: UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA (In-person)
Cost: $600 (two-week course); $400 (one-week course)
Dates: Dream-Inspired Creative Writing: July 21 – August 1; The Art of Argument: July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling (early registration encouraged)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 in fall
The Bay Area Writing Project offers two summer courses at UC Berkeley designed for high school students who want to strengthen their writing. In the Dream-Inspired Creative Writing course, you’ll use dreams as a starting point to craft poems, short stories, and hybrid forms. With daily prompts, peer workshops, and guidance from published writers, you’ll build a chapbook of original work and explore new ways to express your imagination.
In The Art of Argument course, you’ll focus on building strong, evidence-based writing and speaking skills. Through interactive lessons and feedback, you’ll learn how to develop persuasive arguments and respond to opposing views with clarity and confidence.
7. Chapman University – Free Community Creative Writing Workshop with Richard Bausch
Location: Chapman University, Orange, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: September 2 – December 9
Application Deadline: August 22
Eligibility: Open to members of the Southern California community (including high school students)
This free creative writing workshop at Chapman University gives you the chance to study with Richard Bausch, a well-known American fiction writer. If selected, you’ll join a group of ten participants who meet weekly to read, write, and get detailed feedback. You’ll focus on building your storytelling voice in fiction or creative nonfiction through discussion, revision, and roundtable workshops. To apply, you’ll need to send up to 10 pages of your best work.
8. San Diego State University – Certificate in Professional Writing (Grant Writing Track)
Location: Online (via SDSU Global Campus)
Cost: $495 per course
Dates: Spring: GW 0002 – Feb 24 to Mar 30 | Summer: GW 0001 – May 5 to June 8, GW 0002 – June 16 to July 20 | Fall: GW 0001 – Sept 2 to Oct 5, GW 0002 – Oct 13 to Nov 16
Application Deadline: Registration opens Oct 9 (Spring), Feb 19 (Summer), and May 28 (Fall); deadlines vary by course
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
SDSU Certificate in Grant Writing is a fully online, 10-week program that helps students build real-world writing skills for careers in nonprofits, public service, tech, and business. It includes two short courses—one on finding funders and understanding grant opportunities, and another on writing persuasive, goal-driven proposals. You can take them in any order.
The program is part of SDSU’s Rhetoric and Writing Studies Department and focuses on clear, audience-focused communication. Once both courses are completed, you’ll earn a certificate from SDSU Global Campus and finish with writing samples that can support college applications, internships, and job opportunities.
9. University of California, Santa Cruz – WRIT 2: Rhetoric and Inquiry
Location: Online (Asynchronous, offered by UC Santa Cruz)
Cost: $1,739.90 (includes tuition for 5 credits at $279/credit and a campus fee of $344.90) Note: Although the course runs for 10 weeks, the cost is based on credit hours, not course duration.
Dates: June 23 – August 29 (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Early June
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 in Fall (by exception; the course is typically for continuing UCSC students)
WRIT 2 – Rhetoric and Inquiry from UC Santa Cruz is a 10-week online course that helps motivated high school students get a jump on college writing. You’ll work on research-based essays, learn how to write for different audiences and sharpen your argument and analysis skills. The course is fully asynchronous, so you can complete assignments on your schedule. UCSC faculty guide the experience with clear instruction and personalized feedback. While WRIT 2 is usually for undergrads, high school students can request special permission to enroll.
10. Loyola Marymount University – Beginning Screenwriting (Online)
Location: Online (Zoom platform)
Cost: $2,425
Dates: June 23 – July 3
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
LMU Beginning Screenwriting is a two-week online program that introduces high school students to the fundamentals of screenwriting. You’ll learn how to structure your story, build characters, write realistic dialogue, and format scripts professionally—all with guidance from LMU’s School of Film and Television faculty.
The program includes hands-on writing workshops, peer collaboration, and feedback sessions that mirror how professional writers work. You’ll finish with a complete short script and a deeper understanding.
11. WriteGirl – Workshops & Mentoring for Teens
Location: Los Angeles, CA (online workshops nationwide; in-person events in Los Angeles)
Cost: Free
Dates: Year-round online and seasonal in-person workshops
Application Deadline: Varies by session—check the teen registration page
Eligibility: You must be a teen girl or gender-expansive youth, ages 13–18
WriteGirl is a creative writing program that connects high school students with professional women and gender-expansive writers for mentorship and support. You can join online workshops held weekly, where you’ll write from prompts, learn new techniques, and be part of a supportive writing community.
If you’re in Los Angeles, you can also attend in-person events at cultural spaces across the city. You can work one-on-one with mentors, join leadership training through the “Bold Leaders” track, and get help with college essays, scholarships, and public speaking. You’ll also have the chance to be published in WriteGirl’s literary journal and take part in public readings.
12. Youth Writers Camp – Riverside, CA
Location: Bourns Family Youth Innovation Center, Riverside, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 7 – August 9
Application Deadline: June 7
Eligibility: Youth ages 12–18
Youth Writers Camp is a free, 10-week creative writing and poetry program for high school students, held every Saturday at the Bourns Family Youth Innovation Center. It’s designed to help you grow as a writer while also supporting your personal development, identity exploration, and leadership skills. You’ll work with poetry coaches, mental health professionals, and publishing experts as you use writing to express yourself and tell your story.
Each session includes writing activities, discussions on identity, and emotional support. By the end of the program, you’ll even have a chance to become a published author through a group book project that highlights youth voices. Spots are limited to just 15 students, so early registration is key.
13. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes – Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry
Location: Remote
Cost: $3,080
Dates: Session 1: June 16–27; Session 2: July 7–18
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Current 8th–11th grade students
Stanford’s Creative Writing course is an online summer program for high school students who want to explore poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. You’ll read short stories, poems, and essays to learn how great writing works and then practice writing your pieces. Each day includes live workshops, group discussions, and peer feedback to help you strengthen your voice, tone, and storytelling skills. You’ll finish the course with a capstone portfolio of your writing, plus a chance to reflect on your writing process.
14. USC Pre-College – Screenwriting: From Ideation to Writing Your First Script
Location: Online (USC Pre-College Online Programs)
Cost: $1,990 (plus a $35 application fee)
Dates: Multiple four-week sessions beginning on June 9, June 23, July 7, July 21, August 4, August 18, September 1, September 15, September 29, October 13, October 27, November 10, November 24, December 8, December 22
Application Deadline: Five days before each session start date
Eligibility: You must be at least 14 years old and enrolled in a high school or secondary program (exemptions available)
From Ideation to Writing Your First Script is an online course that helps you write your first short-film screenplay. You’ll learn from Gabe Sachs, a USC alum and TV writer-producer, through 20–25 hours of recorded lessons, readings, and assignments. The course takes you step by step; from coming up with story ideas to writing a full script.
You’ll build characters, structure scenes, write strong dialogue, and revise your work. While the course is designed to be finished in four weeks, you’ll have access to the materials for 90 days. At the end, you’ll complete a finished script and learn how to pitch your story and you’ll also earn a certificate from USC to add to your resume or college applications.
15. Summer Mentorship Program: The Adroit Journal
Location: Virtual
Cost: $450/student, financial assistance is available
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: Mid-late June to early August
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 9-12 can apply to the program (including graduating seniors and gap year students)
The Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program is a six-week online program for high school students, recent graduates, and gap-year students. You choose one genre—poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction—and work one-on-one with a published writer. If you’re in the poetry track, you’ll send your mentor new work each week.
If you’re in fiction or nonfiction, you’ll share work every other week. You’ll also exchange feedback with other students. Past students have gone on to universities like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Oxford, and many have received awards from Scholastic, YoungArts, and the U.S. Presidential Scholars program.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – California Institute of the Arts