Â鶹ŮÀÉ

June 21 – July 18, 2026 

THE INSTITUTE

Since 1987, the Summer Writers Institute has been offering students the opportunity to learn from an extraordinary faculty of distinguished writers in a supportive environment. The program, directed by Robert Boyers and Adam Braver, is an offshoot of the created by Albany native and Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Kennedy. The curriculum is designed for college-aged students and adults and features: 

• • Creative writing workshops in poetry, fiction and non-fiction 
  • Small classes that offer individualized attention and workshop student writings
  • An award-winning faculty of writers, among them recipients of such major honors as the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award
  • Evening public readings with faculty and Writers-in-Residence
  • Student readings and social gatherings
  • Private tutorial sessions for student fiction manuscripts, book-length poetry, or non-fiction (available for an additional fee)
  • Option to enroll for two-week or four-week sessions
  • Student-led panel discussions with Writers-in-Residence
  • Merit Scholarships for tuition
  • Undergraduate credit for eligible students enrolled in one genre for four weeks (optional)
  • Furnished, air-conditioned apartment housing available 
  • All on the idyllic campus of Â鶹ŮÀÉ, just minutes away from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the historic Saratoga Race Course, and Saratoga Battlefield. The Adirondacks, Berkshires, and Green Mountains are all within driving distance.

There was a strong sense of community at the Institute. Particularly, I think the openness and personability of the instructors as well as the events (nightly readings and Q&A sessions) contributed to an inspiring culture. Prior to arriving I was excited to be around and to be inspired by so many fellow writers, perhaps anticipating these kinds of opportunities, and I think in that way, the Institute certainly delivered. Thank you for making the experience so valuable and memorable!

– 2025 PARTICIPANT

 

Phil Lopate with Students, photo by Ashley Rutland