FAQs

1. Why one week? Why not two or more?
2. How is Reynolds different from other summer writing programs?
3. How do I qualify for financial aid?
4. Can I apply if I will be going into my sophomore year in high school in the fall?
5. Where do Reynolds participants come from?
6. How is the workshop structured?
7. I love writing poetry (or fiction, or nonfiction). Why should I spend time on the other genres?
8. Are there workshop groups that focus on fantasy or science fiction?
9. Will Reynolds help me write my college essay?
10. My high school doesn’t offer creative writing. Can I still apply? What should I send in for my writing sample?
11. Should participants bring work-in-progress, or do they create new work while at Reynolds?
12. How many students are assigned to a dorm room? Who supervises students in the dorms?
13. What happens after class and in the evenings? Is there free time?
14. I had a fantastic time at Reynolds last summer. Can I come back a second time?

1. Why one week? Why not two or more?
While students often say they wish the program were longer, we have found that a week is just the right amount of time to sustain a fun but intense pace. We are committed to keeping the program small and the quality of our faculty and staff high. Participants leave Reynolds inspired to continue writing on their own and are encouraged to maintain contact with their instructors and staff. The Reynolds week is often the beginning of a continuing writing relationship.

2. How is Reynolds different from other summer writing programs?
Founded in 1994, Reynolds Young Writers Workshop is one of the oldest summer writing programs for high school students in the country. We limit our program to 36 or fewer students in order to maintain a low student-faculty ratio (workshop groups are never larger than 12) and to preserve an intimate, relaxed atmosphere. Our faculty and staff are all highly experienced teachers and practicing writers with strong, longstanding ties to Denison. Our beautiful rural campus offers a summer haven for young writers, while the cultural resources of Columbus are a short half-hour away.

3. How do I qualify for financial aid?
We offer financial aid on an as-needed basis. We ask that you explain your financial situation and how much you can afford to pay; we do not require copies of tax returns. We are very fortunate to have a generous endowment that makes it possible for us to accommodate most families’ needs.

4. Can I apply if I am going into my sophomore year in high school in the fall?
No. The Reynolds Workshop is only open to current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. We cannot make exceptions to this rule.

5. Where do Reynolds participants come from?
All over! About two-thirds typically come from the Ohio and surrounding states; in recent years, we’ve also have participants from California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

6. How is the workshop structured?
Students participate in three 60 to 90 minute workshops each day—two in the morning and one after lunch. The main workshop groups (fiction, poetry, nonfiction) meet every morning; the afternoon crosswriting session focuses on the other genres. The pace and content of the workshops varies. On any given day, we may do writing exercises, discuss assigned readings, share student writing, or work in small groups. We also devote time to individual writing and one-on-one conferences with faculty and teaching associate staff. The atmosphere is informal and relaxed. We also meet as a group with visiting writers on several afternoons.

7. I love writing poetry (or fiction, or nonfiction). Why should I spend time on the other genres?
We believe that writers benefit from playing with various writing techniques alongside their preferred form. It’s important for prose writers to attend to the sound and rhythm of language, just as poets do; conversely, poets learn a lot by experimenting with narrative structures, or different points of view.

8. Are there workshop groups that focus on fantasy or science fiction?
We believe that the basics of good writing apply to any form. Although our primary focus is on literary writing, we may read and discuss techniques for writing genre fiction too. Many of our participants are avid fantasy and sci fi fans!

9. Will Reynolds help me write my college essay?
The Reynolds Young Writers Workshop focuses on creative writing—poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. While we believe that most of the techniques that writers use are relevant to most forms of writing, we do not concentrate on academic or expository writing per se.

10. My high school doesn’t offer creative writing. Can I still apply? What should I send in for my writing sample?
We accept a range of students with different levels of experience, including many who have not had the opportunity to take formal creative writing classes in high school. Send us your best writing, regardless of form.

11. Should participants bring work-in-progress, or do they create new work while at Reynolds?
Both. There is plenty of time to revise and improve work that’s already underway. We also expect students to do plenty of new writing over the course of the week.

12. How many students are assigned to a dorm room? Who supervises students in the dorms?
Dorm rooms are typically doubles. Our staff of five teaching associates (all Denison graduates or students) live in the dorms on the same floors as participants. We never share dorms with participants in other programs on campus. We have a dedicated, secure common room with computers and printer on the ground floor of our dorm.

13. What happens after class and in the evenings? Is there free time?
Evenings are devoted to readings by faculty, staff, and participants, which end by 8:30 pm, leaving ample time for recreational activities such as swimming, volleyball, basketball, board games, ice cream, etc. Students normally have some writing and reading to do each night as well. We go on a field trip to Columbus (past venues have included Columbus Museum of Art and Ohio State University’s Wexner Center for the Arts). We also go to the local lake for an afternoon/evening of swimming or hiking in a nearby arboretum. Transportation is provided in Denison vans.

14. I had a fantastic time at Reynolds last summer. Can I come back a second time?
We’re sorry, but in an effort to give the maximum number of students the opportunity to experience the workshop, we no longer accept repeat participants.