<p>Also, to contribute to the intended purpose of this thread, here's an inexpensive program in the Midwest:</p>
<p>Southern Illinois University Young Writers' Workshop
Young</a> Writers Workshop Home Page
I haven't taken it, so I can't give first-hand advice.</p>
<p>Oh, what's everyone, if you're willing to say, writing about for you statement of purpose. I'm so stuck. There are so many things to say, but I'm not sure what I want to. I hate writers block and it only comes when I need it the least.</p>
<p>Oh wow, the SIU workshop looks promising (and affordable, which one cannot say for Innerspark if OOS). I'm off to investigate. And best of luck with the Alpha application if you do decide to apply!</p>
<p>Thanks.
I'll probably apply to either Alpha or the SIU program.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm having trouble with my statement of purpose too. I don't know how to start it off... I'm just introducing myself and explaining why I want to go there.</p>
<p>Maybe your statement of purpose could also include a mention of your favorite writers, genres, why you love writing, what your goals are for your writing, and how the program can help you grow as a writer... </p>
<p>Just think about what your dreams for your writing have been and take it from there. As someone who writes, you have sth special to say that others can't, and you have a special message you can send to the world--what is that message?</p>
<p>^ Ya, I know all that, it's just putting it into words correctly. That's the hardest part for me- being such a perfectionist.</p>
<p>oh, wasn't meaning to say you didn't know that or anything,</p>
<p>just that sometimes when it comes to writing these things</p>
<p>I know that my mind can become very blank in a scary way :P</p>
<p>& if it's any motivation--just finishing it is better than</p>
<p>trying to make it perfect and not getting it done on time :)</p>
<p>Now I have it written, it's just crap.</p>
<p>eek, it can't have been that bad.</p>
<p>anyways, good luck with it=)</p>
<p>My sci-fi story I'm writing for Alpha is becoming very dialogue-heavy, and I don't know how to fix that. D:</p>
<p>^ When are the applications for alpha due?</p>
<p>I'm not really interested in applying. I'm more of a commentary (I'm not sure if you'd call it commentary. My English teacher and I both were trying to find a genre for it, and that's the closest we could get.) writer. It just seems a little late to keep working on a piece for an application. </p>
<p>My Iowa Young Writers' Studio app went out yesterday. Uhg. I'm so nervous to know if I made it!</p>
<p>The Alpha deadline is March 1st.</p>
<p>I'll jump on the Alpha boat, just for fun. I attended for two years, and will be returning this year on staff. The thing that makes Alpha different from other workshops I researched in high school is the emphasis on publishing and networking in addition to lectures and critiques. I'm in college now, and I recently began an internship that I heard about through Alpha contacts. Similarly, the workshop closes with a literary convention frequented by additional writers and editors. It's some pretty cool stuff.</p>
<p>So! Good luck if anyone decides to apply, and good luck with your other programs!</p>
<p>^ Is it worth it if you're not a genre specific writer?</p>
<p>^ No. I love Alpha to pieces, but it is strictly for genre--in fact, you won't get in on a non-genre story--but if your heart is with lit-fic, you probably won't be happy at Alpha. The networking is also genre-specific and the staff doesn't have much expertise with mainstream markets.</p>
<p>Hmm, perhaps not, although my own writing leans toward what might be "literary" fiction with fantastic elements. That said, it is a genre workshop. For you (musicallylatin) specifically, does your "commentary" fit into a category of speculative fiction? ("What if" this was different? etc.) If you think it might fit into the spectrum of sci-fi/fantasy/horror, then I would guess you'd get quite a bit from the workshop. If not, well, then it's probably not a great match.</p>
<p>Ha, I think that’s a long way to say that it would be worth it if you have an interest in genre, even if everything you write doesn’t fit into that category. If you don’t write anything of that nature, then probably not.</p>
<p>(Edit): That said, Keilexandra's exactly right.</p>
<p>I do kumquat rlm7. Don't feel like you have to write quest fantasy or hard SF--but you should definitely be interested in reading and writing genre.</p>
<p>Ha. I don't fit then. Oh well. :)</p>
<p>Here are a couple more I tracked down that haven't been mentioned:</p>
<p>University</a> of St. Andrews (Scotland) Creative Writing Summer Program</p>
<p>Bard</a> College at Simon's Rock Young Writers Workshop</p>
<p>Writers</a> Workshop at Susquehanna University</p>
<p>If anyone's interested in journalism (it will certainly improve your writing and researching skills, even if there aren't any newspaper jobs left), there are summer institutes at Princeton[/url</a>], [url=<a href="http://cronkite.asu.edu/beyond/hs_inst.php%5DArizona">http://cronkite.asu.edu/beyond/hs_inst.php]Arizona</a> State and U</a> of Indiana, but I'm partial to the NHSI</a> program at Northwestern.</p>
<p>Anybody know of any writing programs for essayists?</p>