Summer 2026: Our mission is simple – to get you writing.

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Description of Program
Course Descriptions
Registration Information
Basic Requirement for Participation

Description of Program

The traditional classroom has its place, but your best writing happens when the rules are replaced by creative freedom. Our summer sessions are a high-energy alternative for writers ready to move beyond the margins and dive into screenplays, science fiction, and technical craft. With a diverse range of in-person and remote courses tailored to your specific ambitions, this is your invitation to experiment, play, and discover your potential within a vibrant university setting.

Please email bawp@berkeley.edu if you would like to be placed on a waitlist for any of our full courses.

Starting the week of June 8, 2026

• In-Person: Scenes by Teens (1 Week)
• In-Person: Words in Rhythm: Hip Hop, Poetry & Spoken Word (2 Weeks)
• Remote course: Introduction to Creative Writing (3 Weeks)

Starting the week of June 15, 2026

Starting the week of June 22, 2026

• In-Person: Exploring the Art of the Short Story (2 Weeks)
• In-Person: From Draft to Chapbook (2 Weeks)

Starting the week of June 29, 2026

• In-Person: Finding Your Voice (2 Weeks)
• In-Person: Multimedia Storytelling (3 Weeks)
• Remote course: Introduction to Journalism (1 Week)

Starting the week of July 6, 2026

• In-person: Advanced Creative Writing (1 Week)
• In-Person: Science Fiction Writing: Chart Your Course (2 Weeks)

Starting the week of July 13, 2026

• In-person: College Essay Writing – Section 01 (1 Week)
• In-person: Poetry as Non-Fiction (2 Weeks)
• Remote course: Intermediate Creative Writing (3 Weeks)

Starting the week of July 20, 2026

• In-person: PENDING TITLE (2 Weeks)

Starting the week of July 27, 2026

• In-person: College Essay Writing – Section 02 (1 Week)
• In-person: The Art of the Argument (1 Week)

Starting the week of August 3, 2026

• In-person: Building Academic Voice: Skills, Strategies, and Practice (1 Week)

2026 Course Descriptions

Scenes by Teens
Register for this course
June 8 – 12, 2026 (1 Week)
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
9th – 12th Graders
In-person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $375
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $395
– Standard Price (Register after March 1st): $425

Have an idea for a movie or a play? Don’t have an idea, but want a chance to find one? This course focuses on the building blocks of dramatic writing — character, plot, dialogue, and conflict. Through writing exercises and feedback sessions, you’ll craft and develop a series of scenes and get started on your own scripts. At the end of the week-long workshop, we’ll have an informal reading of your work. No previous dramatic writing experience necessary.

John Levine teaches writing and public speaking at UC Berkeley. He has also taught writing workshops for high school students in California and China. An award-winning playwright, John has had plays produced throughout the U.S., as well as in Canada, Mexico, India, Australia, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.K.

Words in Rhythm: Hip Hop, Poetry & Spoken Word
Register for this course
June 8 – 18, 2026 (2 Weeks – No Class on June 19)
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm PST
9th – 12th Graders
In-person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $625
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $675
– Standard Price (Register after March 1st): $725

In this course, writers will explore rhyme as a powerful tool across hip hop, poetry, and spoken word. We’ll break down how rhythm, sound, and word choice shape meaning and style, then experiment with writing our own verses and poems. Students will try out different rhyme techniques, play with flow, and learn how to make their writing sound intentional and alive. Whether you love hip hop, performance poetry, or just like playing with language, this class is a space to find your voice and refine your craft.

Meres Sia Gabriel is an educator and performance poet who enjoys helping young writers develop their voice. She is the bestselling author of a book of poetry entitled I Twirl in the Smoke and creator of the one-woman musical performance I Was There Too! Learn more at http://www.meressiagabriel.com

Introduction to Creative Writing
Register for this course
DATES PENDING (3 Weeks)
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm PST
9th – 12th Grades
Remote course
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $TBD
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $TBD
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1st): $TBD

Do you have stories to tell? Characters in your head? A notebook full of scenes? This summer, join other creative writers in reading short stories and creative nonfiction that breaks the rules, and discover how to write your own story. In this course you’ll have the opportunity to hack the techniques published writers use to tell their stories, like building unforgettable characters, unexpected scenes, and beautiful detail, and practice using these techniques yourself. We’ll spend time reading, writing, and workshopping together.

Emily Wilkinson (she/they) is an educator and author from Northern California who celebrates sher 7th summer with BayWP as a writing instructor. Since 2015, Emily has worked with various Writing Project sites nationwide, collaborating with teachers and students in physical and digital classrooms. In addition to teaching a wide variety of course subjects and levels—ranging from 6th grade English to AP World History and English teaching methods—Emily spends sher time researching and writing about LGBTQIA+ identities in the classroom and the emotional aspects of teaching and learning. Sher first book, based on sher experiences as an urban teacher in a rural Northern Californian classroom, will be published by Routledge later this year. In sher personal time, Emily can often be found on a granite slope or sand dune, trying not to fall as shey highlights a golden line in a work of literature or creative non-fiction.

Exploring the Art of the Short Story
Register for this course
June 22 – July 3, 2026 (2 Weeks)
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
9th – 12th Graders
In-person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $675
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $745
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1st): $795

Unlock your creativity through the art of the short story. In this engaging summer course, writers will read and explore short stories from a range of genres, examining how authors craft compelling plots, develop meaningful themes, and experiment with style and voice. Through guided discussion, students will analyze how writers communicate ideas and emotions, then use these techniques as inspiration for their own original work. As we study elements such as irony, mood and tone, vivid detail, and imagery, young writers will develop a portfolio of short stories designed to engage and captivate readers. Students will also collaborate, share feedback, and grow as thoughtful readers and confident writers. Join us for a creative, supportive experience where your unique vision and voice take center stage.

Ken Kusactay is an English teacher and instructional leader with over 11 years of experience in education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and English, as well as a master’s degree in teaching from New York. Ken is passionate about helping students develop strong reading, writing, and critical-thinking skills through meaningful, engaging instruction. He currently teaches at Oakland Military Institute, where he challenges students with rigorous coursework while also serving as an instructional coach and mentor to new teachers. Ken brings enthusiasm, high expectations, and a deep commitment to student growth into every classroom he leads.

From Draft to Chapbook: Generating and Revising Your Creative Writing
Register for this course
June 22 – July 3, 2026 (2 Weeks)
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
9th – 12th Graders
In-person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $675
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $745
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1st): $795

Open to creative writers in all genres and all levels, the first week of this workshop will focus on generating new work. Prompts, creative writing samples, and craft strategies will be provided for students to explore daily. The second week will focus on revision strategies, conversations about sequencing, and working toward the creation of a chapbook. Students will have opportunities to share their work and receive feedback from the instructor throughout the course.

Lisa Ludden Perry is the author of the poetry chapbook, Palebound, (Flutter Press, 2017), and winner of the 2024 Michael Rubin Work-in-Progress award for her manuscript In the Body it Nests. Recent poems have appeared in Taos Journal of Poetry, Colorado Review, and The Dodge (Best of the Net nominee). She lives in the Bay Area with her family and teaches high school English. A proud BAWP alumna, she is grateful for the 2024 ISI community who reminded her why she loves to be in the classroom in the first place.

Finding Your Voice
Register for this course
June 29 – July 10, 2026 (2 Weeks – No Class Friday, July 3rd)
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
9th – 12th Graders
In person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $625
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $675
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1st): $725

If you know you have something to say, but aren’t sure how to say it, this class is for you. In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and AI, your most valuable asset is your unique voice and perspective. Together we will learn to tap into your personal experiences, quirks, and passions to create writing that’s authentically you. Learn to trust your instincts, sharpen your style, and nurture a method of self-expression that no bot could ever replicate.

Rob Rogers is a writer, teacher and journalist who works with 10th grade students at Justin-Siena High School in Napa and lives in Vallejo, California. He spent several years as a newspaper reporter and travel writer before finding his home in the classroom. He is a strong believer in the power of stories, the need for creative self-expression and the 12-bar blues.

Multimedia Storytelling
Register for this course
June 29 – July 17, 2026 (3 Weeks – No Class Friday, July 3rd)
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
9th – 12th Graders
In person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $850
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $875
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1st): $925

This three-week workshop explores the exciting intersection of creative writing and digital media. Writers will draft a diverse portfolio of new pieces, including: nonfiction scripts, creative writing (fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction) storyboards ready to adapt into video essays, mini docs, or micro cinema. Please note: During this class, students are offered an optional 20-minute break. Writers may leave the classroom to visit stores or restaurants within a two-block radius, or they may remain in the classroom, where supervision is always available.

Marna Blanchard is currently a semi-retired teacher from San Francisco, who loves teaching, especially writing so much that she just can’t retire! Though she loves to teach poetry, she also loves narrative and argumentative writing in equal measures. She has taught for 30 plus years in San Francisco with stops in China, South Korea, Singapore and Austria to teach creative writing. Marna grew up in San Francisco graduating from Lowell, CCSF and finally UC Berkeley. In her spare time Marna loves taking long walks with her dogs, Wallace and Henry, writing, reading, traveling and photography. She currently lives in Berkeley in the Summer and Fall and in Portland with her daughters in the Winter and Spring.

Introduction to Journalism
Register for this course
June 29 – July 3, 2026 (1 Week)
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
9th – 12th Grades Only
Remote course
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $375
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $395
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1): $425

Journalism is changing. No longer confined to a newsroom, journalists report from cafes, street corners, and sports venues and all over the world. Hone your skills in this class so that you are ready to report on the go. In this course we will explore the fundamentals of writing a strong article for the public eye. This includes developing reporting skills by learning to write breaking and hard news stories, personality profiles, and opinion pieces, such as columns, editorials and reviews.

Brian Barr has taught at California High School in San Ramon for the past 27 years. He teaches English 12 Science Fiction/Fantasy and runs the school’s newspaper and mock trial programs. He also coaches the men’s and women’s golf teams at California High School. Before becoming a teacher, Brian was a professional journalist for nine years, working as a reporter and sports editor for several daily newspapers in the East Bay and San Joaquin Valley. Brian earned an undergraduate degree in political science from UC San Diego in 1992. He is a 1988 graduate of Central Catholic High School in Modesto.

Advanced Creative Writing
Register for this course
July 6 – 10, 2026 (1 Week)
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
9th – 12th Graders
In person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $295
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $325
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1st): $350

This is an intermediate level course and we recommend that participants come with some experience in creative writing.

In this 1-week creative writing class, you will write to a variety of prompts, learn techniques that can enliven your writing, share your work in small groups and receive specific, helpful feedback. At the end of the course, you will have at least one polished piece, and the opportunity to participate in a reading of your work. Additionally, you will learn about publishing and workshop opportunities for high school students. Recently at the Bread Loaf Writers Conference, the writer Maurice Carlos Ruffin told us that writing should be enjoyable. If it is not, he said, change something. Here is to building an enjoyable and sustainable writing practice!

Pirette McKamey was an English and history teacher in the SFUSD for 27 years and retired from her position as the principal of Mission High School in July 2022. She has published short stories and an article about anti-racist teaching in The Atlantic, “What Anti-racist Teachers Do Differently.” She is currently working on a novel set in caves and on mountains.

Science Fiction Writing: Chart Your Course
Register for this course
July 6 – 17, 2026 (2 Weeks)
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
9th – 12th Graders
In Person at 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $675
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $745
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1st): $795

Science fiction is pretty amazing. You’ve got space ships, computers embedded in your brain, life on meteorites, and maybe even aliens. Climate fiction, with its flooded cities and fallen governments, can be cool in an apocalyptic, ‘let’s try to avoid that’ kind of way. Science Fiction is often the escape hatch a reader and writer are looking for. But what if these genres also reflect our hopes and fears? What if they actually help us better understand race, migration, climate change and politics? From Afro-futurism to zombies, we’ll have a chance to write about what matters to us, and what matters to our future.

T.R. Amsler (he/him) has taught, coached and learned from young people in the Bay Area for over 20 years. He’s especially loved teaching narrative, fiction, journalism, debate and poetry ever since receiving his MA in education from UC Berkeley. Besides being a passionate reader, he loves to spend time outdoors on his bike, at a baseball field or with his kids. He currently teaches at June Jordan School for Equity on the ancestral and current land of the Raymatush Ohlone, third planet of the Solar System and currently called San Francisco.

College Essay Writing (July Section 01)
Register for this course
July 13 – 17, 2026 (1 Week)
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
11th and 12th graders only
In person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $375
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $395
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1): $425

Good storytelling is a way to make your writing more engaging. In the course, you will first hone this craft by writing a profile article. We will begin by workshopping questions that elicit vivid storytelling and thoughtful reflection from your subject. Beginning with an anecdotal lead, the article you write will be focused on developing your subject as a character. With the second writing piece, the tables will be turned. You will become the subject of the article. Conveying who you are as a person is what college admission officers are looking for in an essay. This course will help you succeed in doing that. (Current UC/Common App prompts will be used.)

Eric Gustafson feels like he has been fortunate enough to have had two dream jobs. When he was hired as the assistant editor of Sports Car International magazine in 2000, his high school fantasy of becoming an automotive journalist had come true. He loved it. About ten years in, however, something began to feel amiss. Right out of college he had worked as a substitute teacher, then taught English in Dresden, Germany. Now, he found himself longing for the classroom and the satisfaction he felt from helping young people. In 2014, he quit his editing job and got a credential. He eventually became a journalism and American Literature teacher at Lowell High School. He loves it. BAWP has given him another outlet to share his passion for writing.

Poetry as Non-Fiction
Register for this course
July 13 – 24, 2026 (2 Weeks)
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
9th – 12th Graders
In person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $675
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $745
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1st): $795

Do you believe non-fiction is only for long form prose writing? Come and discover how poetry can be used in memoir, to report on current events, to explain history or scientific phenomena, and more! Together, we will study at least 3 non-fiction genres as well as various poetic techniques to craft a unique collection of non-fiction poems on a chosen topic.

Meilani Clay is a writer, mama, and educator from Oakland, CA. Her debut poetry collection, and the creek don’t rise, was the winner of the 2021 Michael Rubin Book Award from Fourteen Hills Press. Meilani aspires to be in school forever, to bridge worlds with her words, and to one day build forts out of books written by Black folks.

Intermediate Creative Writing
Register for this course
DATES PENDING (3 Weeks)
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm PST
9th – 12th Grades
Remote course
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $625
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $695
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1st): $750

Intermediate Creative Writing is for teen writers ready to cultivate a small library of poetry, prose, fiction and memoir in three weeks of summer. This intensive course seeks to hone students’ existing understanding of topic, plot, theme, characterization, genre, suspense, and tone into greater mastery upon the published page through writing mentorship. In addition to a variety of editing and revision techniques, students will learn how to find their footing in various speeds of pacing, provide psychological insight into characters’ lives, bring life into dull prose through intimate details, prune unwieldy sentences, sacrifice staid ideas, and fight all things dear with nuance. By the end of this camp, students will publish at least one polished anthology piece and seed their future writing careers with inspiration and new skills.

Emily Wilkinson (she/they) is an educator and author from Northern California who celebrates sher 8th summer with BAWP as a writing instructor. Since 2015, Emily has worked with various Writing Project sites nationwide, collaborating with teachers and students in physical and digital classrooms. In addition to teaching a wide variety of course subjects and levels—ranging from 6th grade English to AP World History and English teaching methods—Emily spends sher time researching and writing about LGBTQIA+ identities in the classroom and the emotional aspects of teaching and learning. Sher first book, based on sher experiences as an urban teacher in a rural Northern Californian classroom, will be published by Routledge later this year. In sher personal time, Emily can often be found on a granite slope or sand dune, trying not to fall as shey highlights a golden line in a work of literature or creative non-fiction.

TITLE PENDING
Register for this course
July 20 – 31, 2026 (2 Weeks)
TIME PENDING
9th – 12th Graders
In person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $675
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $745
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1st): $795

DESCRIPTION PENDING

BIO FOR Darius Simpson

College Essay Writing (July Section 02)
Register for this course
July 27 – 31, 2026 (1 Week)
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
11th and 12th graders only
In person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $375
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $395
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1): $425

Good storytelling is a way to make your writing more engaging. In the course, you will first hone this craft by writing a profile article. We will begin by workshopping questions that elicit vivid storytelling and thoughtful reflection from your subject. Beginning with an anecdotal lead, the article you write will be focused on developing your subject as a character. With the second writing piece, the tables will be turned. You will become the subject of the article. Conveying who you are as a person is what college admission officers are looking for in an essay. This course will help you succeed in doing that. (Current UC/Common App prompts will be used.)

Eric Gustafson feels like he has been fortunate enough to have had two dream jobs. When he was hired as the assistant editor of Sports Car International magazine in 2000, his high school fantasy of becoming an automotive journalist had come true. He loved it. About ten years in, however, something began to feel amiss. Right out of college he had worked as a substitute teacher, then taught English in Dresden, Germany. Now, he found himself longing for the classroom and the satisfaction he felt from helping young people. In 2014, he quit his editing job and got a credential. He eventually became a journalism and American Literature teacher at Lowell High School. He loves it. BAWP has given him another outlet to share his passion for writing.

The Art of Argument: A process of paying attention
Register for this course
July 27 – July 31, 2026 (1 Week)
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
9th – 12th Graders
In person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $375
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $395
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1): $425

Being able to create an effective argument is a nuanced practice. It requires knowledge, empathy, and acuity. We’ll practice and hone our use of these skills to effectively create a claim and address counterclaims, both written and spoken.

Nichole Vaughan is a high school English teacher in Redwood City at Sequoia High School. She has experience teaching IB English Language and Literature and AP Language. Education and language pop the batteries in her back and get her going. She loves participating in the process of learning and is driven by curiosity. She likes to bring literature to life by connecting books to pop culture and art. She was a BAWP fellow in 2021 and is excited to be a part of the summer programs.

Write Like a Pro: Building Your Academic Voice
Register for this course
August 3 – 7, 2026 (1 Week)
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
9th – 12th Graders
In person at UC Berkeley (Berkeley Way West Building)
– Super Early Bird (Register by Jan 31st): $375
– Early Bird (Register by March 1st): $395
– Standard Price (Registrations after March 1): $425

Ever feel like you have great ideas but don’t know how to put them into “teacher-speak”? This course is designed to help you bridge the gap between your thoughts and the page. We’re moving past basic essay formulas to help you develop a voice that sounds confident, professional, and uniquely yours. Leave the fluff behind and gain the skills to write essays that get noticed.

Marna Blanchard is currently a semi-retired teacher from San Francisco, who loves teaching, especially writing so much that she just can’t retire! Though she loves to teach poetry, she also loves narrative and argumentative writing in equal measures. She has taught for 30 plus years in San Francisco with stops in China, South Korea, Singapore and Austria to teach creative writing. Marna grew up in San Francisco graduating from Lowell, CCSF and finally UC Berkeley. In her spare time Marna loves taking long walks with her dogs, Wallace and Henry, writing, reading, traveling and photography. She currently lives in Berkeley in the Summer and Fall and in Portland with her daughters in the Winter and Spring.

Registration Information

Using the appropriate link below, submit participant information and then select the course or courses you would like your writer to join. Sibling discounts (-$50 for each additional child after the first registration) will be automatically deducted before checking out.

• Registration for in-person courses
• Registration for virtual courses

If you encounter any issues with the registration process please try using a different browser (Chrome is preferred). If that doesn’t help, email us at bawp@berkeley.edu.