Creative Portfolio for Teen Writers

The Creative Portfolio program places an emphasis on understanding how writing in a variety of forms (narrative, poetry, memoir, script) enriches and informs every writer. These workshops challenge teen writers to set and achieve writing goals: completing multiple well-developed, polished pieces in different genres throughout the school year.

In-person and online options are available.

By building a community of teen writers connected via their literary passions and having lots of fun, we empower students as peer leaders, developing skills in writing, editing, analysis, and effective communication.

Application Only

• A key part of this program is the willingness to take creative risks and push yourself outside of your comfort zone because, as we all know, that is how we grow. Please include a writer's statement (500-650 words) that tells us about a time that you took a creative risk and what you learned from the experience. We will also need a 5-page writing sample and a teacher recommendation.

Apply Here!

Participation in the school-year Creative Portfolio program includes:

• 33 weekly workshop sessions over the school year
• Three monthly online Master Classes on Saturdays from 5:30 PM to 7 PM Eastern Time, 2:30 PM to 6 PM Pacific Time (genres to be announced) on:
  • Saturday, October 19th, 2024
  • Saturday, February 8th, 2025
  • Saturday, May 3rd, 2025

• Previous Master Classes included: Nature Writing, Food Writing, Stand-up Comedy, Stories in Verse, Conversation with an agent/ editor/ publishing professional, and more!

• One five-hour online Submissions Prep workshop
  • We offer THREE Submission Prep workshops that your writer may choose from. If they’d like to attend more than one, they are able to register and pay the tuition for the other days. Choose from
    • Scholastic Awards Submissions Prep workshops before the Scholastic deadline in early December 2024
      • Sunday, November 17th, 2024 from 9 AM to 2 PM PT / 12 to 5 PM ET
        • Online only
      • Sunday, December 8th, 2024 from 9 AM to 2 PM PT / 12 to 5 PM ET
        • Online
        • In-person options at our Upper West Side, Hartsdale, and DC labs
    • Publishing Prep workshop
      • Sunday, May 18th, 2025 from 9 AM to 2 PM PT, 12 to 5 PM ET
      • Writers will learn about different avenues for publishing both short and long-form work. Attendees will work with our instructors in small groups on developing, deepening, and submitting their work to their chosen venues. There will also be informational Q&A sessions with professionals in the field.

• Two hours of one-on-one Portfolio Review sessions between the writer and their instructor to be taken at any point during the school year.
• A bound copy of the Creative Portfolio Yearbook: an anthology of writing curated by Creative Portfolio teens.
• Option (for an extra fee) to attend the Creative Portfolio Retreat in the Spring of 2025. Location TBD.

Creative Portfolio members will be expected to:

• Be challenged to explore new genres.
• Attend peer community events.
• Read weekly communications every Tuesday from Director of Teen Programs Léna Roy with relevant information, reminders, sign-ups, and planning.
• Take the opportunity to complete an internship—strongly recommended for Creative Portfolio teens in 10th grade and up.
  • Participants commit to completing at least one trimester-long assistant teaching internship during the school year under the supervision of a workshop instructor OR
  • Join a committee for the school year, such as
    • Turning the Page: a social justice committee that plans round tables and curates an anthology.
    • Editorial Internship: working with Writopia Lab’s lit mags.
    • Community and Literary Event Committee: meeting bi-weekly to help plan and organize regional in-person meetups and events including field trips.
    • Teen Writers Summit: helping organize a literary panel of professionals for teens in the fall.
    • Yearbook: organizing a Creative Portfolio yearbook as a spring project.

Creative Portfolio Tuition

• Payment for this school-year-long commitment can be made one of two ways:
  • Full Year
    • $2550 (compared to a $2805 value)

  • Per trimester

    • $935 (pay for one trimester)

    • Sliding scale options: $695 (if you can not afford the full trimester fee); $535 (please only choose this if absolutely necessary) 

      • Please note: the sliding scale options are only for families that cannot afford the full fee. If you can afford the full fee, please respect our inclusive spirit, our trust in our community, and our need to stay afloat during these financially challenging times. But please use the sliding scale options if you need to! Thank you so much for your understanding and support.

Make-Up Policy

Creative Portfolio writers are expected to commit to their workshop time throughout the school year and there are no make-ups for absences. However, as we are a national community and Creative Portfolio workshops are online, we are able to make some exceptions if you have a schedule change/conflict. If you have another extracurricular that will absent you from three or more workshop sessions, we can work with you if we are given ample notice.