The Lighthouse Summer Writing Intensive is led by published and award-winning writers, and each workshop is designed to foster creativity, self-expression, and excitement about writing. During camp week, young writers will work at length with a number of published instructors in a variety of genres and will leave camp with new knowledge about the craft of writing, at least one completed piece of work, and enthusiasm about pieces-to-come. Campers will be invited, but not required, to share a piece of writing in a public reading at the end of the week. Writers of all experience are welcome to apply; we look for campers who are excited to write and spend a week as part of a writing community.        

This IN-PERSON camp is held at Lighthouse Writers Workshop at 3844 York Street, Denver, CO 80205. This is a NOT an overnight camp. Camp dates for 2025 are July 14-18 for middle school ages and July 21-25  for high school ages. Camp hours are 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.      

Our full day camps include a lunch hour for eating (please bring your lunch), free-writing, hanging out with new friends, and lawn-cartwheeling. The camp culminates each year in a public reading, where students have the opportunity to showcase their work.

Each camper will have the opportunity to submit their writing to the annual youth anthology, And We Created Worlds, to be published. Each student that submits to the anthology will receive a copy of the professionally published anthology in December of 2025. 

ADMISSIONS POLICY

Lighthouse staff and faculty review each application, looking particularly at a student's expressed interest in writing and writing sample. Beginning in January 2025, we'll review and accept applications on a rolling basis. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance status within two weeks of submitting their application. If a camp fills, we'll create a waitlist. If any student declines or cancels their acceptance, we'll contact the next student on the waitlist. If a camp is full, we'll post that information on our website. Currently, space is available in all camps.     

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We strive to fill our camp with students who show a passion for writing, a creative spark, a desire to explore new topics, and openness to discovering new things. Group dynamics are especially important in a camp as small as ours, so we expect that all applicants will be respectful of instructors and their peers, and motivated to write. We also welcome a diverse range of interests in our students—some are experienced writers with hundreds of pages under their belts, while others excel at sports, music, math, or science, but want to gain more experience in writing. We do not discriminate based on the need for financial aid.     

PAYMENT POLICY

The cost of the camp is $575.00. This cost includes a copy of a professionally published book after the camp weeks are completed for campers who submit work to be published. Payment is required to secure a spot once you have received an acceptance. After you’ve received an acceptance letter, please register online, call with payment, or send us a check. For cancellations and refunds, see our cancellation policy.      

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Lighthouse believes that all young people should have an opportunity to explore the world through creative writing. Therefore, we offer a sliding scale to families who need financial aid. To request financial assistance, please fill out the appropriate sections of the application form. We'll contact you about financial aid at the time of your acceptance to our camp.

Applications for Young Authors Collective are open for 2024-25 school year from December 18, 2024 - January 24, 2025.
       The Young Authors Collective (YAC) is a group of high school writers who meet to engage in a literary community and write. YAC Denver meets weekly from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. YAC Online meets weekly from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MDT. 

YAC Denver meets weekly on Wednesdays in-person at Lighthouse Writers Workshop at 3844 York Street. The first meeting for Spring 2025 is January 22, 2025.
       Dates:

• January 22, 29
• February 5, 12, 19, 26
• March 5, 12, 19 (we'll skip the 26, for DPS spring break)
• April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

YAC Online meets weekly on Thursdays via Zoom. The first meeting for Spring 2025 is January 13, 2024. 

      Dates:

• January 23, 30
• February 6, 13, 20, 27
• March 6, 13, 20, 27
• April 3, 19, 17, 24
   

YAC members must attend all meetings and respond to emails and/or text messages from the instructor and Lighthouse staff in a timely manner.
 

YAC is an ideal place to create long-lasting connections and develop as a writer. We’ll look to marginalized and traditionally underrepresented writers for examples and prompts as well as to expand our notion of the literary canon. Members of YAC build their skills across forms, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and hybrid/experimental; by workshopping (giving and receiving feedback) on their pieces; and engaging in craft lessons. They are also expected to meet deadlines, contribute to the group blog, and set writing goals. YAC members may also participate in Lighthouse community-based projects, which can include collaborating with established adult writers, joining the editorial board for the And We  Created Worlds and community anthologies, gaining non-profit management experience, and teaching young writers at the Free Creative Writing Lab through the Young Writers Program.
      YAC Denver Instructor: Gary Garrison
      YAC Online Instructor: Jesaka Long

Tuition is $550 per semester; full and partial financial aid is available. (Apply to YAC first, and after you are accepted, you can request financial aid.) YAC members make a year-long commitment to the program, but can pay by semester!

Please take your time with this application. Answer the questions as fully and thoughtfully as possible.

The Writing In Color Fellowship for Emerging Writers is awarded annually to a writer of color who demonstrates a passion for writing, a commitment to developing their craft, and a dedication to community service. This fellowship provides financial support for writers who would benefit from a year of involvement at Lighthouse but would not be able to do so without financial support. The goal is to support emerging writers of color who have limited access to traditional literary opportunities. BIPOC+* writers who reside in the United States and have participated in Lighthouse programming in the past or are planning to participate in the near future are eligible to apply.

In order to support the skills and creative passion of emerging writers in the Lighthouse community, this fellowship is intended for emerging writers of color who have not had significant access to or experience with traditional opportunities to learn and grow in the literary world. 

While Lighthouse has always emphasized accessibility, this award offers a depth and consistency of engagement to the fellowship recipient. The year-long award period not only engages the writer in directed literary activities, but also allows for full immersion in a project or body of work.

The Fellowship will provide access to:  

• Four multi-week courses 
• Participation in the annual Writing in Color Fest including a featured reading
• Up to 5 hours access to a Lighthouse faculty member for mentorship 
• One-year membership at Lighthouse Writers Workshop 
• Opportunity to support a Lighthouse community outreach program, helping to facilitate, administrate, or teach in the program. 

*BIPOC+ includes but is not limited to: African, Indigenous, Native, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Arab, and Multiracial heritage.

DEADLINE TO APPLY:  February 10, 2025 at 11:59 pm MST
FELLOWSHIP DATES:  April 2025–April 2026
NOTIFICATION: Applicants will be notified of submission status via email in the beginning of April 2025.

 WHO’S ELIGIBLE:

• Writers identifying as BIPOC+* who reside in the United States and have participated in Lighthouse programming in the past or are planning to participate in the near future.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older

APPLICATION GUIDELINES: Please read these guidelines carefully. Submissions that do not meet the requirements below will not be considered.

Your submission should comprise a cover letter including your name, the name of the genre you are applying for, and your contact information. Your cover letter is the only place where your name should appear. Paginate your document, and use legible, 12-point font and standard margins. Upload your writing sample as a single .pdf, .doc, or .docx document. 

Recommendation letters are not required.

WRITING SAMPLE FORMAT:
Poetry: Six-to-eight pages of poems. Only one poem per page is permitted, though you may submit multi-paged poems. Insert hard page breaks between every page.

Prose: Excerpt or combination of pieces to equal no more than 2500 words. More is not necessarily better. Please use standard manuscript format, double-spacing and ensuring page numbers are visible.
 

To complete your application via Submittable you will answer fellowship specific questions, submit your writing sample, cover letter, and pay the application fee of $25. If the application fee is prohibitive, please e-mail us at info@lighthousewriters.org to discuss alternatives.

Cover letters should be typed into the corresponding box on Submittable. Include your full name, address, email address and telephone number. Please respond to each question in the corresponding text box explaining why you wish to apply for the fellowship and what you expect to accomplish over the course of the year.
 

One application per candidate. Please do not wait until the last day to apply in case you have technical difficulties submitting your application. Please note that we will not be able to respond to inquiries regarding applications that are not accepted, nor will we be able to provide feedback on those entries. 

Lighthouse Mission: The mission of Lighthouse Writers Workshop is to provide the highest caliber of artistic education, support, and community for writers and readers in the Rocky Mountain Region and beyond. We strive to ensure that literature maintains its proper prominence in the culture, and that individuals achieve their fullest potential as artists and human beings.

QUESTIONS?
Email our Community Engagement Program Manager, Marissa Morrow at marissa@lighthousewriters.org

Lit Fest features weeklong and weekend advanced workshops in novel, short story, and hybrid genres. Participation is by application only. Weeklong workshops meet five times, Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 11:30 AM MDT and include a one-on-one meeting with the instructor. The weekend workshop meets twice, Saturday and Sunday, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM MDT or 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM MDT each day. All workshops are scheduled to be held in person in Denver.

Please use this form to apply for an advanced workshop in fiction with:

• Steve Almond, Mat Johnson, Elizabeth McCracken, Helen Phillips, Douglas Stuart, Tony Tulathimutte (Monday–Friday, June 9–13)
• Katie Kitamura (Saturday–Sunday, June 7–8)

Please remove all identifying information from your 10-page writing sample. You'll need to complete a separate application if you're applying for multiple workshops (which is not the same as listing alternate workshops if you don't get your first choice). Applicants for the Lit Fest Fellowship for Emerging Writers in fiction, Veterans Writing Award, and LARRK fellowship for writers with physical disabilities should also use this form. 

This year's judge for the emerging writer fellowship in fiction is novelist Megha Majumdar (A Burning).

Please see our website for the workshop descriptions and tuition information.

The priority deadline for applications is March 8. Applications after that date will be considered on a rolling basis, space permitting (all of the classes have filled in past years). No fellowship applications will be considered after March 8.

Lit Fest features weeklong and weekend advanced workshops in memoir, narrative nonfiction, hybrid genres, and essay. Participation is by application only, and courses are limited to 10 participants each. Weeklong workshops meet five times, Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 11:30 AM MDT, after which there's time for one-on-one meetings with the instructor. Weekend workshops meet twice, Saturday and Sunday, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM each day. All workshops are scheduled to be held in person in Denver.

Please use this form to apply for an advanced workshop in nonfiction, memoir, or essay with:

• Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Alex Marzano-Lesnevitch, and Eileen Myles (Monday–Friday, June 9–13). You're also welcome to indicate a preference for Elizabeth McCracken.
• Nicole Chung and Claire Dederer (Saturday–Sunday, June 7–8)

Please remove all identifying information from your 10-page writing sample. You'll need to complete a separate application if you're applying for multiple workshops (which is not the same as listing alternate workshops if you don't get your first choice). Applicants for the Lit Fest Fellowship for Emerging Writers in Nonfiction, Veterans Writing Award, and LARRK Fellowship for Writers with Physical Disabilities should also use this form. 

The emerging writer fellowship for nonfiction will be judged this year by Mark Sundeen (Delusions + Grandeur,The Unsettlers, The Man Who Quit Money, The Making of Toro, and Car Camping). 

Please see our website for the workshop descriptions and tuition information.

The priority deadline for applications is March 8. Applications after that date will be considered on a rolling basis, space permitting (all of the classes have filled in past years). No fellowship applications will be accepted after March 8.

Lit Fest features weeklong and weekend advanced workshops in poetry. Participation is by application only, and each class is limited to 12 poets (14 for a generative workshop). Weeklong workshops meet five times, Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 11:30 AM MDT,  and include a one-on-one meeting with the instructor. Weekend workshops meet twice, Saturday and Sunday, from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM MDT. All workshops are scheduled to be held in person in Denver.

Please use this form to apply for an advanced workshop in poetry with:

• Eduardo Corral (Monday–Friday, June 9–13)
• Solmaz Sharif (Saturday–Sunday, June 7–8)
• Matthew Zapruder (Sunday afternoon–Thursday morning, June 8–12)
• You can also list Eileen Myles's poetry/nonfiction hybrid workshop (Monday–Friday, June 9–13), here

Please remove all identifying information from your 3-to-5-poem writing sample. You'll need to complete a separate application if you're applying for multiple workshops (which is not the same as listing alternate workshops if you don't get your first choice). Applicants for the Lit Fest Fellowship for Emerging Writers in Poetry, Veterans Writing Award, and LARRK Fellowship for Writers with Physical Disabilities should also use this form. 

This year's fellowship judge for emerging writers in poetry is Rowan Ricardo Phillips (The Ground, Heaven, Living Weapon, Silver, When Blackness Rhymes with Blackness, andThe Circuit: A Tennis Odyssey). 

Please see our website for the workshop descriptions and tuition information.

The priority deadline for applications is March 8. Applications after that date will be considered on a rolling basis, space permitting (all of the classes have filled in past years). No fellowship applications will be accepted after March 8.