You’re not like all the other kids.
And that’s why we like you.
Creative writing summer camps for thoughtful, imaginative kids (grades 5 - 12)
June 1 - July 10, 2026
Small groups. Published work. Serious joy.
Two ways to write with us this summer:
It seems like everybody else gets to play, doesn’t it? Some kids play sports. Some play an instrument. Some kids play… in a play. But writers? Most of the time, we write alone.
Is it any wonder so many of us wrote moody, misunderstood teenage poetry? (Okay, maybe just me.) But what if writing didn’t have to be a solo act? What if writing could be fun — like laugh-until-your-face-hurts, run-around-outside-after-a-breakthrough kind of fun? What if there were a writer’s banquet at the end of the summer, with cake and applause and giant trophies, and maybe even your name in the paper?
Well guess what, bucko. This is your lucky day.
These are the camps we wished for
when we were kids.
At A Novel Idea, we believe Word Nerds deserve all that and more.
Novel Camp: The Jumpstart (2 Weeks)
A focused, high-energy camp to help you kick off your novel, build your story’s foundation, and write your heart out. Perfect for first-timers or anyone who needs a creative spark and a solid launchpad.Shorts Camp (1 Week)
Wild, imaginative, everything-but-a-novel creativity. From songs and spooky stories to epic haiku and flash fiction, you’ll write short pieces that pack a punch. At the end of camp, we’ll gather the best of everyone’s work into a beautifully printed anthology — a collective keepsake of your creative summer.
And the best part about this summer? We’ll publish what you write. In a for-real book. Look, if you don’t want to share it with the world, that’s totally cool. But you’ll know you did it. And honestly? That’s what matters most.
Come find your people.
Let’s write. Together.
Conferring Ceremony with Author Bren McClain at Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN. Authors received their printed novels before family, friends, local elected officials, and the press. It’s a big deal. :)
Short Camp 2026
One-week creative writing camps. Come for one week or several —
every session is different.
Short stories. Short songs.
Short poems. Big fun.
A short time together can leave a big impact, and grow some massive confidence with your writing skills. Short Camp is a versatile one-week “Whitman’s Sampler” of wordplay. You’ll learn how to have fun with language, fear no comma splice, and become the grammar hero or gonzo journalist you always knew you were deep down.
Want to come more than one week? Absolutely yes. Every week is different.
Full day one-week camps.
Choose one week—or come for multiple.
Every week is different.
$550
Includes 1 copy of our professionally published anthology and 2 tickets to our grand Conferring Ceremony Gala in December to celebrate your achievement!
5th - 12th graders
Philip Weltner Library
Lowery Hall
Oglethorpe University
4484 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Week 1: June 1 - June 5
Week 2: June 8 - June 12
Week 3: June 15 - June 19
Week 4: June 22 - June 26
Week 5: June 29 - July 3
Week 6: July 6 - July 10
Novel camp : The Jumpstart
Two weeks. You can do this.
And it’s going to be fun! Want to know how we know? Because we’ve helped over 1,500 kids write novels during their summer breaks. And it’s always been fun. Plus it looks amazing on your resume and whatever else your mom wants to hear. More than anything else? Bragging rights for life. Plus we think it makes you stand a little taller. You’re a novelist now, baby.
2 weeks. 1 session. A lifetime of kudos.
Schedule
Time: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Philip Weltner Library
Lowery Hall,
Oglethorpe University
4484 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
One Session: June 15 - June 26
Tuition
$1,500
Includes 60 hours of instruction
2 weeks of fun
Visits from authors
Guest lectures
Crossing off a bucket list item
1 copy of your novel
2 tickets to our Conferring Ceremony Gala
Rising 5th - 12th grades
Optional upgrade
$400
Premium Book Package
(optional)
Added on to your Standard Tuition:
Book Cover Design ($150 value)
Professional formatting ($250 value)
10 copies of your novel ($150+ value)
4 tickets to the Conferring Ceremony Gala ($25 each)
2 one-on-one coaching sessions after this summer ($300 value)
+$900 value
Scholarships
Limited
As a not-for-profit arts education organization, we are deeply committed to making the arts
accessible to every writer who has a story to tell.
If you’re that person, please apply for our Wordy Scholars program.
Each year, we are honored to award
scholarship funding to talented writers through the generosity of our supporters, and through a portion of our tuition rates.
FAQs
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This camp isn’t about being “good.” It’s about discovering what you can do when the pressure comes off.
We have experienced writers and first-timers in the same room, and that’s intentional. Our small groups, flexible prompts, and supportive teaching style allow each child to work at their own level. No one is asked to perform or compete.
What kids gain most often isn’t a perfect story — it’s confidence.
Writing can take your kid from the classroom to the boardroom (ask us how we know!). <3 -
Yes. This program was designed by an educator and tech exec who specializes in adaptive and assistive writing environments. We meet students where they are—and lift them up. These are the camps we wish we had as kids.
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Yes. They can.
We’ve built this experience to meet students where they are—whether they’re bursting with story ideas or barely know where to start.
In Novel Camp, we give students structure, encouragement, and momentum—not pressure. We’re not grading them. We’re helping them make progress. We move through planning, world-building, writing sprints, and support for when they get stuck.
In Shorts Camp, students explore multiple styles—monologues, flash fiction, spoken word, spooky stories—and walk away surprised by what they’re capable of.
Every student is supported, challenged, and celebrated. This isn’t about being “the best writer.” It’s about discovering your voice and using it.
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We could not agree more—which is why our camps are fun on purpose.
We’ve designed these sessions to feel like creative adventure zones:
Writing games and challenges
Collaborative brainstorming
Free writes with music, movement, and play
Guest artists and live readings
Outdoor story walks, writing sprints, and celebration rituals
This isn’t school. It’s story camp.
Students leave tired—in the best way. Energized, proud, and part of a creative community. -
Hi. I’m Kristen House. I’m a Sandy Springs mom (Heards Ferry, Ridgeview, and. Riverwood), a former college professor, and a longtime content leader at Google, PayPal, and Salesforce. For 15+ years, I’ve also been helping students find their voice through storytelling.
I created A Novel Idea after realizing how many smart, creative, sensitive students needed a space that was structured and soul-filled. Since then, we’ve helped over 1,500 students write and publish their work—with support from authors like Ann Patchett, Bren McClain, Julian Vaca, Mary Laura Philpott, and many more.
This is the Atlanta debut of our camp—and the first chapter in a much bigger story.
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We hear you. Summer programming is a real investment, and we take that seriously.
Here’s the thing: our pricing reflects the actual cost of delivering truly extraordinary teaching—not just childcare, not just filler. Every student receives:
Daily, personalized instruction from experienced educators and authors
Guest lectures, author visits, and live readings from working professionals
A professionally printed and published book of their own writing
A small class size (15 max) with high-touch coaching, feedback, and support
And there’s lasting value, too:
Students leave with a publication credit—a powerful line on any creative résumé or college application—and a deep sense of pride in something they made from scratch.
P.S. If you really want to be a Word Nerd with us but tuition is prohibitive, reach out to kristen@anicreative.com. We are committed to making our programming accessible to everyone. 💛 -
A finished story or an anthology feature, new confidence, and a serious dose of “I did this.” We celebrate the process as much as the product. Later in the year, we’ll have a big old party called a “Conferring Ceremony” where your child will be presented with a for-real book. If they write a novel - it’ll be their very own novel. If they’re in shorts camp, they’ll get a copy of our camp anthology with their work included.
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Just a notebook and a curious mind. If they have a favorite pen, great. If they don’t, we’ll supply the magic.
Oh, and their lunch. Brains don’t work well when they’re hungry.