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:
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- 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
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Evening public readings with faculty and Writers-in-Residence
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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 ³Ô¹ÏÍø, 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