Writing camps fall under many guises. Some are summer-long programs that offer intensive college-level coursework in creative writing, while others are week-long camps that combine writing workshops with time spent outdoors. Summers in the Colorado mountain areas feature wide-open blue skies and an abundance of scenery to inspire your writing or offer you a break from working on your words. Several writing opportunities are available for aspiring writers in Colorado each summer.
Located in the small resort town of Steamboat Springs in northwestern Colorado, Arts for the Soul is a writing retreat that offers a variety of summer workshops, including a creative writing workshop. Professional authors guide attendees through courses on fiction, nonfiction, children's books, poetry and journaling during a session that occurs in August each year. Writing workshop registration fees are charged per hour-long course, and participants may sign up for 4 to 12 courses. The camp is brief and intensive, covering a four-day weekend. Writing classes take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon, after which participants can enjoy the Steamboat Arts Festival's offerings, explore the natural surroundings or work on their writing in private. Housing for participating writers is available in local condos that feature private baths and full kitchens; meals are not included in the registration fees.
Arts for the Soul
P.O. Box 883367
Steamboat Springs, CO 80488
970-879-9381
artsforthesoul.net
The Lighthouse Writers Workshop offers a five-day summer retreat in the scenic town of Grand Lake, Colorado. Several professional writers work with students during hands-on workshops each day. The retreat is held at the Shadowcliff Lodge, and participants have several room and board options. Workshops include courses in short and long-form fiction, nurturing creativity as a writer, characterization, and incorporating writing into an author's daily life. Book discussions are also a part of the retreat experience, but participation in the discussions is optional, and the reading is not required. Courses are offered in three daily sessions, and evening events such as student readings and movie nights keep workshop attendees busy after dinner. Exploration of the area around the lodge is encouraged as well.
Lighthouse Writers Workshop
2123 Downing St.
Denver, CO 80205
303-297-1185
lighthousewriters.org
The Aspen Writers' Foundation sponsors the Aspen Summer Words program each year in Colorado's upscale ski town of Aspen. Called "One of the nation's top 10 literary gatherings" by USA Today, the five-day program combines writing workshops with a literary festival and private meetings with agents and editors. Workshops include writing exercises presented by professional writers, manuscript critiques and daily readings. A youth program is also available for teen writers. The youth program and interactive writing discussion workshop tracks are open-registration, while the juried, critique-based workshop track requires a manuscript submission for entry. Courses in fiction, poetry and memoir writing are available, and registration includes daily breakfast. All other food and lodging are not included. Scholarships are available for the juried and youth workshops.
Aspen Writers' Foundation
110 E. Hallam St., Ste. 116
Aspen, CO 81611
970-925-3122
aspenwritersfoundation.org
