The Longfellow Young Writers’ Camp is a week-long, residential Creative Writing camp for high school students held on the campus of the University of Maine Farmington.
The week-long Longfellow Young Writers’ Camp introduces you to the art of creative writing, giving you the chance to hone your writing skills in various genres (fiction, poetry, screenwriting, memoir) while allowing you to get a feel for what college life is like.
You’ll have the opportunity to connect and collaborate—in person—with like-minded high school students, receive feedback from award-winning authors, and most importantly—have fun! Longfellow offers a wide range of enriching activities led by UMF student mentors and faculty.
Here’s the schedule on a typical day at Longfellow
7:45am-8:45am Breakfast in Scott North outdoor common space
9am-11:30am Generative Workshop
Ron Currie with Rock (006 Ed Center)
Kristen Case (Fusion 003)
Jaed Coffin (114 Ed Center)
12-1 Lunch in the dining hall
1 – 2:30 Check in with your counselors / writing time / explore
2:30-4:00 counselor-led electives
Autumn–zine making and journaling (Fusion 003)
Tori–sewing and secrets (Ed Center 343)
Leo–explore the Sandy River and/or thrift stores
Dex & Katherine–fantasy & map making (Ed Center 013)
Manu–character profiling (Ed Center 114)
Horisun–Improv games and cupcake decorating (Ed Center 107)
4:00-5:00 Ava Anderson presentation on writing horror (Ed Center lobby)
5:00-6:00 Dinner in the dining hall
7:00-8:00 Counselor reading, Emery Center
8:00-10:00 students return to Scott lounge for free time
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Cost
Longfellow’s all inclusive Cost: $725 (need-based scholarships available)
This includes Tuition and Room & Board (on-campus housing + meals)
All participants have the option of earning three Early College credits. Need-based scholarships are available.
Scholarships (full and partial) are available! Contact Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Lewis Robinson for details lewis.robinson@maine.edu
Our application deadline is May 15th, 2024.
Please note: The Application Form will ask you to upload a writing sample of any genre along with your application (try to limit the piece to approximately 1,000 words). It also asks you to provide the name and email address of a teacher or advisor who can provide a reference for you. You’ll want to gather these items before you begin filling out the Application Form.
Here’s what some previous Longfellow Campers said about their experience
Longfellow gave me insight into the unique benefits of a close-knit Creative Writing BFA program. Getting to meet some of the professors in the program and participating in the variety of workshops that Longfellow offered was an invaluable opportunity. For the first time, I had a community of writers and mentors who were interested in my creative ambitions. Longfellow gave me my first feeling of belonging as a young writer and showed me exciting possibilities for my future in the writing world.
— Hannah Binder, UMF ’21
Author of 30 Feet Strong and Late Magnolias
Longfellow had a huge impact on my future. Not only did I meet some of my closest friends there, but I found my passion for writing. I didn’t consider creative writing as a career path until I attended the camp. Now here I am, having published my first few pieces and working on my first novel.
— Leo Goddard
Second year Creative Writing student at UMF
Faculty
Kristen Case (poetry) is Professor of English at University of Maine Farmington. She is the author of the poetry collections Little Arias and Principles of Economics, both of which received the Maine Literary Award in Poetry.
Ron Currie (fiction) is the author of four novels that have been translated into fifteen languages. His next novel will be published by Farrar, Strauss & Giroux in 2023.
Jaed Coffin (non-fiction) is the author of the memoirs A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants and Roughhouse Friday. He teaches writing at the University of New Hampshire and lives with his family in Maine.
Amy Neswald (screenwriting) is a fiction writer, screenwriter, and short filmmaker. Her debut novel-in-stories I Know You Love Me, Too, was a recipient of the New American Fiction Prize. She teaches creative writing at the University of Maine Farmington.
Hannah Paige (fiction and non-fiction) is the author of the novels Why We Don’t Wave, 30 Feet Strong, and Late Magnolias. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maine Farmington, and is currently attending Lindenwood University for her MFA in Writing.
Aaron Wyanski (songwriting) is a composer, pianist, and educator who has been a featured composer at the Hartford New Music Festival. In 2022 his song cycle, Three Benedictions, was premiered at Carnegie Hall by Yoon Sun Choi and Jacob Sacks.
Have questions? Contact us
Lewis Robinson
Assistant Professor of Creative Writing
Dept. of Creative Writing
University of Maine at Farmington
111 South Street
Farmington, Maine USA 04939
tel 207-778-7419
TYY (via Maine Relay Service) dial 711
lewis.robinson@maine.edu