Coursework and Daily Schedule

Course

For 2023, the Ithaca Young Writers Institute will award three college credits to those who complete the following course.

Imaginative Writing: Stories and Poems from True Life and Fantasy
Instructor: Dr. Katharyn Howd Machan
3 credits

Drawing from fact and fiction, guided exercises in the power of words will lead students to generate new fiction (mainstream and SF), personal essays, and poetry for self and to share with others in this college-level course. A variety of short readings will contribute to inspiration. Emphasis will be on experimentation and taking risks. The final grade will be determined by participation and a portfolio containing the best work written during the three weeks.

To learn more about Dr. Katharyn Howd Machan, click here.
 

Daily Schedule

Classes are held Monday through Friday. Over the weekend, students will enjoy more writing time and more opportunities to see Ithaca—including the Farmers Market and Taughannock Falls State Park—as well as to interact with students in the Summer College for High School Students and Summer Theatre Conservatory, who share the campus with Institute students.

Outside of workshops and classes, students are chaperoned by Ithaca College students some of who also work in the classroom as teaching assistants. These experienced undergraduates are available to guide students in their writing throughout the day, starting with a morning warm-up session in the writing lab. And in the evening, the Institute's reading series brings students, TAs, guest authors, and faculty together to share their work.

What follows is a general schedule of day-day activities for participants in this program.

Time Activity
08:00 - 09:30 Breakfast
09:30 - 11:30 Class
11:30 - 01:00 Lunch
01:00 - 02:30 Class
02:30 - 03:30  Special topics or optional meetings with faculty/teaching assistants or downtime
3:30 - 5:30 Campus Activity
5:30 - 7:00 Dinner
7:00 - 9:00 Readings, Homework, or Social Activity

A final schedule will be shared with participants and families about one week prior to the program start date.