Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop
July 11-17, 2010, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville

When I went to TYWW on a full scholarship, the students who shared the experience with me seemed to understand everything I had to say ten times more than the kids at my school. My enthusiasm and skill for writing expanded so much in that one week. Being writers themselves, the instructors knew exactly what they were talking about.

The workshop changed my life. I never actually had a passion for something before that week. Writing is my passion now. I imagine it always will be.

— written by a student of the 2003 TYWW

The Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop provides students who have completed grades 7–12 the opportunity to explore their interest in writing and devote time to the development of their writing skills with accomplished authors. The Workshop is one full week in July.

At the Workshop, students spend their days in writing seminars with talented faculty, who are themselves published writers, exploring fiction writing, songwriting, poetry and writing memoir. Evenings at the Workshop are spent participating in special programs by well known authors and songwriters.

Scholarships are available to students that demonstrate both financial need and a sincere interest in writing. Humanities Tennessee is committed to ensuring that the Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop is made available to students from all walks of life.

Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop writing support and friendships continue to grow beyond the summer workshop. Many participants remain in contact with one another via e-mail and discussion lists to share work and receive insightful feedback from peers and counselors. There are also various publishing opportunities for teens announced through these networks.

Information on this year's Workshop is available here.

The Inez Parrish Osborn Scholarship Fund

In 2006 Humanities Tennessee board member Michael Osborn established the Inez Parrish Osborn Scholarship Fund to enable aspiring young writers to attend the Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop (TYWW). Each year Humanities Tennessee chooses a student from among the regular scholarship applicants to receive the honor of being the "Osborn Scholar" for that year. The student must be a first-time applicant, show promise and potential as a writer and demonstrate an appropriate amount of financial need. When possible, the student should be one with only one or two years of eligibility to attend the workshop left (i.e. a first-time applicant that has already graduated high school or is about to enter his or her senior year).

Support the Inez Parrish Osborn Scholarship Endowment

With your gift, the endowment will continue to grow. To contribute, please contact Lacey Cook or call 615-770-0006, ext. 19.

Inez Parrish Osborn Scholars

  • 2009 - Charlie Miller
  • 2008 - LaTasha Sanders, Chattanooga
  • 2007 - Nate Cannon
  • 2006 - Melanie Williams, Oak Ridge

In 2006 Humanities Tennessee board member Michael Osborn established the Inez Parrish Osborn Scholarship Fund to enable aspiring young writers to attend the Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop. Each year Humanities Tennessee chooses a student from among the regular scholarship applicants to receive the honor of being the "Osborn Scholar" for that year. The student must show promise and potential as a writer and demonstrate an appropriate amount of financial need. When possible, the student should be one with only one or two years of eligibility to attend the workshop left (i.e. a first-time applicant that has already graduated high school or is about to enter his or her senior year).

Dr. Osborn established the fund to honor his now late mother. He believes she would have benefited from a program like the TYWW, had it been an option for her as a young person. He learned late in her life that she enjoyed writing, kept numerous journals and aspired tobe a writer at one time.

Melanie Williams of Oak Ridge was the first Osborn Scholar. She is currently an English major (with a Creative Writing emphasis) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and she won the university's highly competitive Knickerbocker Poetry Contest when she was a Freshman — the first Freshman to win the award. She also recently won an honorable mention for her poem Burrow from the Knoxville Writers' Guild in their poetry contest held in honor of Libba Moore Gray and Terry Semple.

Nate Cannon of Seymour was the second Osborn Scholar. He continues to grow and develop as a writer. In 2008 LaTasha Sanders attended thanks to the scholarship. She is currently a senior in high school in Chattanooga.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible?
Students who have just completed grades 7-12 are eligible to attend Young Writers' Workshop.
What is the cost?
Workshop tuition is $650. This includes all costs for the entire week — room and board, all class materials, any field trip expenses, a workshop T-shirt, and access to the Young Writers' e-mail discussion list and the online anthology.
How do I apply?
Download and print the registration form (PDF, 208kB; requires the free Adobe® Reader®). Complete the form, then send it along with one sample of your writing and a $150 deposit. The writing sample may be a poem, short story, play, fragment of a play, or a fiction or non-fiction school writing assignment. All fees may be paid by check, money order, Mastercard® or Visa®. The deposit will be applied to the total fee, which must be received in full by June 30. Students will be notified of their acceptance as soon as possible following the receipt of their application materials. Should a student not be accepted into the program, the deposit will be refunded.
May I apply for a scholarship?
Yes. Humanities Tennessee is committed to ensuring that the Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop is available to students from all backgrounds. All scholarship applicants must demonstrate both financial need and merit. Interested students should send one writing sample, a letter from an English teacher detailing the applicant's qualifications, and one copy of the family's most recent 1040 statement submitted to the IRS. Scholarship applicants need not send the deposit along with their application. The postmark deadline for submitting all scholarship applications is in mid-May. Students will be notified of their acceptance by mid-June. Scholarship assistance varies from $100 to full coverage of tuition.
May I be a day student?
Yes. Day students may attend the workshop for classes and evening presentations. Day student tuition is $450 and includes all classes, field trips, workshop T-shirt, access to the online anthology and e-mail discussion list, and the lunch and dinner meals daily.

Questions?

For more information about the Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop, please call Lacey Cook, Program Officer for Humanities Tennessee, at 615-770-0006, ext. 19, or email lacey@humanitiestennessee.org.

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