Sarah Lawrence College

Writing Institute story

Writers Week 2026By Avery Barrett, Graduate Office Assistant, Writing Institute

A group of young people sitting on indoor stairs, talking and holding notebooks. Backpacks and water bottles are nearby.
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A group of people sits around a table with papers and laptops, while one person stands and speaks, holding a document.

This year, the Writing Institute hosted more young writers at Writers Week than ever before. We welcomed 204 high school students, coming from 30 states and five countries. I had the privilege of watching these students learn and grow, both as the Graduate Student Assistant for the Writing Institute, working behind the scenes, and as a Lead Teaching Artist in Session Two. I was floored by the work the students produced, their genius insights in class discussion, and the friendships I saw develop in a matter of days. It felt like I was watching each student’s life change—finding their voice, and learning the importance of literary community. Some of these brilliant students have shared with us just how special this program was to them:

Writers Week is an amazing opportunity to participate in complex discourse analyzing poetry, exploring the intricacies of writing, and sharing your work. It is a community built on love for the arts and creating unity through writing and expression.

Writers Week worked as both a massive inspiration for my writing and an amazing way to meet new people. It was such a cool experience to be in the same room as people that care about writing and creativity as much as I do.

Three people sitting together, smiling and engaged in conversation. One has curly hair and raises a hand, wearing a blue shirt and green lanyard.

Writers Week at Sarah Lawrence rekindled my love of writing. Thanks to this week, I found a new passion for reading and writing poetry and was encouraged to pursue a future in writing, encouragement that was in large part thanks to the amazing faculty, instruction, and community of students at Sarah Lawrence Writers Week.

Writers Week helps you get revenge on writer’s block. Also it's made out of the good, lovable, actually helpful and useful parts of English class. I would totally recommend Writers Week.

It felt so insane and euphoric to be in a room with people who think at the same level that I do. [Writing Workshops] were my favorite part of every day.

We hope all of our young writers keep in touch, and most of all, that they keep writing!