Overview
Our Young Writers Program introduces elementary, middle, and high school students to Key West’s rich literary heritage, exposes students to contemporary authors, and builds critical thinking and creative writing skills through immersive, hands-on experiences. There are three main areas of focus:
Field Studies
Field Studies offer fun and interactive lessons in the sensory-rich campus of the Elizabeth Bishop House & Garden. Each lesson is rooted in an aspect of Bishop’s life in Key West, incorporating local plant and animal life, classical and popular music, architecture, painting, and poetry. Field Studies are available weekly throughout the academic year and designed to follow students from first grade through twelfth grade, with age-appropriate content that builds from one year to the next.
Summer Sessions
Summer Sessions are immersive five-day programs for young people who want to become better writers, learn about themselves, and see their island home with fresh eyes. Sessions are rooted in the works of iconic Key West writers and intended to foster a practice of close observation. Activities revolve around site-specific writing exercises that draw on our five senses, complemented by journaling, free-writing, and constructive feedback.
House Calls
House Calls bring Key West Literary Seminar to schools, and schools into the Seminar. Offerings include essay-writing workshops to prepare for college applications, classroom visits by acclaimed authors, and opportunities for young writers to build community. Teachers can also join professional development sessions designed to advance classroom success. Activities take place after school at the Bishop House & Garden campus and in classrooms around the community.