Below you'll find frequently asked questions, rules, and important information for parents and guardians.

FAQ | Rules | Info for Parents & Guardians

The following questions are among those most frequently asked by students and their parents.

Students participate in three ninety-minute workshops each day—two in the morning and one after lunch. The pace and content of the three workshops varies. Group writing activities are balanced by class discussions of assigned readings, by the sharing of writing, and by frequent work in small writing or inquiry groups (which often meet outdoors); also by time for individual writing. The atmosphere is informal. The workshop leaders write with the students.

Yes. Opportunities exist for composing in all of these forms, and you will probably end up feeling that you have done a good deal of “creative writing” by the end of the two weeks. But the workshop also focuses on other uses of writing. For example, we practice ways of using writing as a learning tool, whether one is exploring history, art, one’s personal experience, or natural phenomena.
Students devote a significant part of their time to writing about what they observe and what they read, and then use these pieces of informal writing as starting points for discussion, further inquiry, and possibly more extended pieces of exploratory or interpretive writing. Free-writing, focused free-writing, and process writing (observing and writing about one’s own composing and learning experiences) are among the techniques most frequently used in the workshop.

The workshop is ungraded. Students’ work is not evaluated in any formal sense. Instead, both students and workshop leaders practice responding to one another’s writing in ways that help others to extend their thinking and engage in revision. Through immersing themselves in language and thinking, students leave the workshop with a clearer, more self-directed sense of what they need and want to continue working on in their writing.

There is a strong social dimension to the workshop, both in and out of class. Students regularly share their work in progress, both in class and in small, peer writing groups. The focus is on working together as a writing and learning community. This sense of community is strengthened outside of class by dormitory life, recreational activities, and the opportunity to attend various cultural or sporting events. The presence on campus of other high school students in other programs contributes to the social and academic diversity.

Classes end at 4:00 each day, leaving ample time for recreational activities such as swimming, volleyball, hiking, art programs, and so on. Students normally have some writing and reading to do each evening and over the weekend. Although the work in the classroom is often demanding, overall the pace of life is fairly relaxed compared to the normal school year.

Our students are a diverse group, representing a wide range of academic and personal interests. Some are experienced writers who are hoping to expand their range and their knowledge of technique. Others might be skilled in math and science and are looking to gain more experience in the ways that writing can empower learning in all fields. Overall, the student who will benefit most from the workshop is one who likes to work with other people and who isn’t looking for a traditional approach to writing and learning. Being open to experimenting with new approaches, willing to be playful and take some risks as a learner, interested in the process of learning more than final goals—these qualities characterize the typical student in the Young Writers program.

Our participants tend also to be multi-talented, and we encourage them to organize a talent show or dance or other creative recreation. These student-run activities are opportunities to have fun, share talents with friends, and to develop new interests as well.

1. Your dormitory room is your home for two weeks and must be treated responsibly. You will be held accountable for any damage to college property.
2. Boys are never allowed in girls’ corridors or rooms; girls are never allowed in boys’.
3. No alcohol, tobacco, or drugs are to be used at any time.
4. No one is allowed to leave campus without permission.
5. At no time should any student visit a dorm other than the one reserved for Young Writers.
6. Quiet hours begin at 11:00 p.m. You must be in your own room and quiet until morning. Be smart and get some sleep—you can’t write, think or have fun if you’re exhausted.
7. During the week, everyone must attend all meals.
8. You are responsible for your room key. Replacement is $50.
9. Anyone who deliberately violates the rules and the spirit of the Young Writers program, including the respect and tolerance we owe each other, will be sent home.

parents & legal guardians: what you need to know | return to menu

You know your child loves to write. Our workshop is a wonderful introduction to college-level courses in creative writing. Many of our instructors are graduates of Kenyon College’s Department of English and have earned or are working toward MFA’s in creative writing from universities around the country.

Our Resident Advisors, who live with the students in the residence hall and supervise after class activities, are all Kenyon students majoring in English or recent graduates. They serve as role models and mentors to aspiring writers, in addition to making sure that the students get to bed by the 11 PM curfew and are up for breakfast and the day’s first class, which starts at 8:30 AM.

Students are housed in a Kenyon College residence hall with boys on one floor and girls on another. The residence is air-conditioned and most students will have roommates. Careful supervision is provided by the site director, staff and resident advisors.

Daily meetings led by the program site director, and attended by instructors, resident advisors and students, ensure that all students know what is expected of them (hard work, promptness, respect and civility toward all) and any problems or questions are dealt with during these meetings. If your child violates any of the rules, he or she will be sent home and not permitted to complete the program.

The Kenyon College Office of Security and Safety is on call 24 hours a day for any emergencies and the local hospital emergency room is seven minutes away. Believe it or not, even writers can get injured at the workshop, spraining an ankle playing basketball during free time, for example.

Once your child has been accepted to the program, we ask that you complete a Confidential Health Form for your child. It is very important that this form is filled out completely. We have found that some students are taking prescription medications for depression and anxiety-related illnesses. We must have this information so that our staff and the Kenyon College counselor can effectively respond to any medical-related issues that may arise during the two-week session. Our first priority is the safety of your child. Failure to disclose a mental health condition can result in your child being sent home.

Questions? Concerns? Please feel free to contact us at 740-427-5207 or email youngwriters@kenyonreview.org.

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Kenyon Review Young Writers
104 College Drive
Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio 43022-9623
Telephone: (740) 427-5207
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