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Anecdote Young Writers Camp
Registration for the summer of 2027 will open in January. Subscribe below to be notified as dates are selected and registration begins.
In the meantime, follow us on our socials for weekly writing prompts and activities.
about us.
Formerly Red Oak Young Writers, Anecdote is a writing day camp for incoming middle and high school students.
We are dedicated to providing a safe, supportive environment for young writers to explore their style, flex their creative muscles, and build community with other creatives their age. We know that writers like to keep to themselves — which makes it all the more important that there are opportunities for them to connect.
Throughout the week, young writers will participate in activities that bring them out of their creative comfort zones, use Sacred Writing Time to focus on whatever projects they are passion about, and practice giving and receiving feedback in small groups with their writing peers.
Students going into grades 6-12 in the fall are welcome to sign up for Anecdote Young Writers Camp.
our team.
Beck Jaeckels, Owner and Writing Coach
Beck (she/they) is a journalist-turned-middle-school-English-teacher with a passion for the power of storytelling. Her reporting has been published in Vox Magazine, the Columbia Missourian, and Insider, and her short story "All the Same Places" was published in the University of Missouri's EPIC Literary Magazine. When Beck isn’t overanalyzing plots in books, movies, and video games, you’ll find her working on DIY home projects, wrangling a husky, or working on her own novel, "Speak Ill."
Rachel Enright, Writing Coach
Rachel (she/her) is a high school English teacher who can’t believe she actually gets paid to talk about books all day. In addition to winning the 2021 Southern New Hampshire University Fall Fiction Contest, Rachel’s story “Riding a Bike in the Land of the Dead,” appears in Jokes Review Literary Journal. Her novel The Space Between Siblings won the Larry Watson First Novel Prize and is forthcoming from Cornerstone Press in February 2027. When she’s not reading or writing, she is most likely crocheting, because she is convinced that grandmothers have the best hobbies. Learn more about Rachel.
FAQ.
What does a typical day at camp look like?
Your day starts at 9:00am sharp with icebreakers, writing prompts, and group writing activities. Then you get a solid hour and a half of Sacred Writing Time before lunch. After we eat, we move into our writers' circles, where you will hear others' pieces and read your own for feedback. The day wraps up at 2:30pm, and the rest of the afternoon is yours!
Why is it called "Sacred Writing Time?"
We refer to your independent writing time at camp as "sacred" in acknowledgement of the importance of having uninterrupted, unstructured time to simply write. Most tweens and teens only really write in a classroom setting, where there are specific guidelines and expectations that they are expected to follow. While we will still do some structured activities throughout the day to practice skills such as characterization or working with sensory details, Sacred Writing Time is all about you — your projects are the priority here.
Will we be sharing our work?
Yes! Every afternoon, we will have writers' circles where you will read something that you have written (whether during Sacred Writing Time, a morning activity, or outside of camp) and receive feedback from fellow campers as well as one of our coaches. Additionally, we host a showcase at the end of the week where family and friends are invited to come see you read a sample of your work. After camp is finished, you will also receive our summer anthology, which is a printed book containing sample work from all of our campers.
Do I have to read in the showcase?
We highly encourage all campers to participate. We understand that public speaking can be nerve-wracking, especially when you are sharing your own creative work. But our showcase is a celebration of your hard work, and we will work with you to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
What do I need to bring to camp?
You should bring a water bottle and cold lunch every day. We will provide notebooks and writing utensils if you prefer to handwrite your work, or you are welcome to bring a computer or tablet. If you are use technology to write, please bring a charger! We are not responsible for lost or damaged technology. Depending on weather, we may write or eat lunch outside, so pack any sun protection you might need, as well as a blanket or towel to sit on the grass.
How can I be involved in Anecdote after I graduate high school?
As camp continues to grow, we would love to bring alumni back as paid coaches for our young writers. Our ability to do so will depend on enrollment, but if you are interested, please fill out this form, and we will keep your name on our list.
Is there financial aid available for campers?
We aim to make Anecdote Young Writers Camp as accessible and affordable as possible while fairly compensating our coaches. That said, we also understand that the cost of camp may be prohibitive. We are actively seeking out additional funding sources to provide financial aid. Please email anecdote.writingcamp@gmail.com to discuss options.
I don't have someone in my household who is the right age or fit for camp, but I'd love to support young writers! Can I sponsor a camper with financial need?
Absolutely! Please email anecdote.writingcamp@gmail.com to discuss your donation.
Why "Anecdote?"
An anecdote is a brief narrative story (usually a true one), and that is exactly what we aim for camp to be. You're only with us for a short time, but it is our hope that that time can be used to bring whatever narrative exists in your mind to the page.
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