We’re happy to announce that registration is open for this year’s Ironwood Writers Studio!
This is the 4th year for our week-long writing residency for high school students, which takes place June 22-28 this year. Like the adult writers’ workshop each summer, the students stay on campus and attend genre classes, where they learn to write fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. This year we’re also doing a special topics class where we’ll discuss and practice literary genre types like sci-fi, horror, fairy tales, and more.
Our faculty this year includes Joy Priest (poetry), Jim Minick (fiction), Karen Salyer McElmurray (nonfiction), and Ariel Dingus (special topics). Our counselor mentors are Clayton Spencer and Gwen Akers (our first Ironwood alum to rejoin as faculty).
Along with the genre writing classes, students will have special sessions including print making and paper marbling with our new arts educator Maria Risner, an exploration of native species for creative inspiration with professor and scholar Shaelyn Bishop, and a discussion about Appalachian Futures with Torli Bush.
To unwind, we will have team trivia, a cosplay contest, and a square dance, and more. We’ll also be treated to a special reading by Wesley Houp, the winner of the James Baker Hall Book Award for 2024.
Each year, Ironwood has a different logo and animal mascot. At the end of last year’s gathering, because of a mild infestation in the Great Hall (which has since been alleviated), the students unanimously voted this year’s mascot to be a BAT.
This is the 2025 logo, designed by local artist Tyler Barrett!
Ironwood is open to students who are currently in high school or the homeschool equivalent. You can learn more about the schedule and our faculty, read FAQ, register to attend, and apply for scholarships at Hindman.org/ironwood.
Email Literary Arts Director Melissa Helton at melissah@hindman.org with any questions. And watch our Amazon wish list if you’d like to purchase needed items for the week!
Registration will close June 1.
