Experience Creative Writing Academy

(for ages 15 to 18)

Do you love creative writing? Are you keen to learn from the best? Oxford Scholastica’s Experience Creative Writing Academy will develop your writing prowess while giving you an authentic university experience, and introducing you to the study and career options writing offers.

You’ll have the chance to experience all of this while studying on the campus of the beautiful Oxford University. Oxford has long inspired many of the greatest writers – from C.S. Lewis to J. R. R. Tolkien. Spend your summer with us and give yourself the chance to let the city of Oxford’s magic work its way into your own writing skills too.

writing summer course

Key Facts

Location: University of Oxford campus
Ages: 15–18
Class size: Maximum 15 students
Fees: £6,495
Length: 2 weeks
Dates: 30th June-13th July, 14th-27th July, 28th July-10th August 2024
Receive: Graduation Certificate & Letter of Recommendation


Learn

Our courses combine tutorial-style teaching with practical challenges and debates. Small class sizes and expert tutors help you dive deep into your chosen subject area.

By taking our Experience Creative Writing course, you’ll get to:

  • Master key concepts such as how to write effective dialogue, create fictional worlds and develop a book series – all under the guidance of one of our expert tutors from leading universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.
  • Have the chance to quiz a successful young writer about how they built a flourishing career from writing, gaining key insights into the future study and career options should you wish to pursue writing beyond school.
  • Put your creativity and knowledge to the test in our Book Series Challenge, in which you will come up with ideas for an outline of a book series, including characters and storylines.
  • Develop skills in high demand by universities and employers, such as public speaking, critical thinking and teamwork, via our Masterclasses.
  • Build your global professional network by meeting students from all over the world and joining our alumni community.
  • Attend our Graduation Ceremony at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, and get a Graduation Certificate and personalised Letter of Recommendation from your tutor.
creative writing summer course

See

What better way to learn about a career than to talk to someone who’s living it? Our Heroes programme invites you to meet a successful young writer and:

  • Learn more about what a day in their life looks like
  • Understand more about the cutting edge aspects of the sector that they work in, and hear their top career tips
  • Ask them your burning questions about their university and career path

Do

Challenges are one of the most exciting parts of our programme! Halfway through our Experience Creative Writing course, you’ll be given the chance to put your writing skills to the test during our Book Series Challenge. It’s certainly not the only practical activity you’ll do on your course – the course is full of opportunities to apply your skills – but for many of our students, it’s their highlight! You’ll get to:

  • Puzzle through the challenges that writers face when writing a book series.
  • Work collaboratively with your peers in a “writer’s room” to come up with elements for an ongoing book series.
  • Feel the buzz of working to a strict editorial deadline as you enhance your ability to cooperate in a team with different responsibilities. Can you create what could be the next Harry Potter, Maze Runner, or His Dark Materials?
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Hear from parents

Entrusting your child to a summer school can be a big decision.

Hear from parents about why they chose Oxford Scholastica, and how they found the experience. 

If you'd like to find out more about how we'll look after your child please click below to arrange a call.

Course programme

Course Outline

On our Experience Creative Writing Academy programme, you’ll cover a range of challenging topics across nine classroom sessions.

Class 1: The Nature of Creative Writing

Explore the key characteristics of creative writing and how to escape the dreaded “writer’s block”.

Class 2: Storytelling

What are the ingredients that make a story work? Test out these techniques with a piece of your own writing.

Class 3: Explore Stories and Novels

Find out more about Christopher Booker’s thesis of seven basic plots in literature.

Class 4: Character Development

How do you develop a character your readers will believe in? We’ll examine different texts and you can have a go with a character of your own creation.

Class 5: Discover Genres

Explore different types of genre and what gives each one a distinctive feature.

Class 6: World Building

How do you build a fictional world? Explore the techniques used by writers to “build a world” in their work, and in their readers’ minds.

Class 7: Constructing Dialogue

Review classic examples of dialogue from famous novels, plays and films to see common themes.

Class 8: That’s a Wrap

Learn how to ensure writing becomes part of your fabric and daily routine, and discover techniques to help you start and finish a story.

Class X
Your final class is based on your tutor’s personal expertise in the field, focusing on cutting-edge research that they’re passionate about.

Please note this course outline may be subject to change.

More information

Want to know more about attending our Experience Creative Writing Academy? Learn about what your schedule will look like, where you’ll stay, our entry requirements and some of the fun activities that will round out your academic experience.

Reserve Your Spot

Ready for a life-changing educational experience? Apply in minutes and reserve a spot for Oxford's #1 rated summer school and online programmes.