"To get the right word in the right place is a rare achievement."

This summer writing program for teens is inspired by Mark Twain’s life as a working writer, someone who wrote in a variety of genres and cultivated a range of skills in order to sustain a career in a challenging publishing world.

Under the guidance of writer and teacher Victoria Nordlund and program coordinator Dr. Erin Bartram, participants will produce a variety of pieces in forms inspired by Twain’s writing career. They’ll explore travel writing, journalism, personal essays, poetry, short stories, and creative non-fiction, culminating in a polished personal portfolio. In addition to the program leaders, a variety of writers and editors from around the country will join participants for workshops on different genres and forms, as well as career paths in the field. Click here to learn more about last year’s guests.

Participants will also work collaboratively to publish the summer issue of the NWFC’s online literary journal Journey75, featuring a selection of the writing produced during the program. As the editorial board for the summer issue, participants will select the pieces to be published, engage in extensive peer review, design a marketing campaign for the issue, and learn how to publish new pieces to the journal’s website.

Four participants from this summer’s workshop will be offered the opportunity to act as the editorial board for Journey75‘s first winter issue later this year. This winter issue will accept submissions from writers age 14-18 throughout Connecticut; with support from program leaders and a special guest editor, the four student editors will have complete editorial control over the winter issue.

2023 Program Details

The 2023 program will run from 9AM to 3PM every weekday from June 27 through August 3. Each Thursday during that time period will be reserved for individual participant work from home. All other days the program will take place on site at The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford—including daily writing inside the historic home itself!

Program Dates: June 27 – August 3. On site in Hartford M-W and F, individual work from home on Thursdays. Participants must be able to attend the program on site in Hartford on the required days for the duration of the program.
Eligibility: Students must live in Connecticut and must be between 14 and 18 for the duration of the program.
Cost: $150 for all Connecticut residents and free for Hartford residents. All proceeds and donations from our May 19th Blackout Poetry Workshop will also go towards reducing the cost for participants.

After applications close, selected applicants will be contacted to schedule a virtual interview with the teaching artist and program coordinator. If you are selected for an interview, you will be asked to submit a writing sample. Contact erin.bartram@marktwainhouse.org with questions about the program, the application, or individual participant eligibility.

Applications must be submitted by Sunday May 7.

 

Apply Now!