Teen Writers-in-Residence Program
Teens are the next generation of consumers and documentarists. Their opinions shape the way we move in the world.
About the Residency
Our Teen Writers-in-Residence summer program offers a FREE, hybrid 12-week experience for high school teens ages 14–19. Teens get a chance to write, be published, and get paid to create powerful, polished pieces that reflect their voice, experiences, and creativity.

Each year, 15 finalists are selected as the new cohort to write original, publishable works in their preferred genre. Through engaging micro-learning sessions, the Residency provides a supportive, creative space for them to start new projects or develop existing works from concept to completion.

This isn’t just another writing program—it’s an immersive journey where teens grow their skills, shape their stories, and bring their ideas to life.
Teen Writers-in-Residence Receive:
​
  • Paid Writing Residency: Teens are paid to write, publish, and present their work as part of a structured residency that builds their creative portfolio and professional experience.
  • Literary Launch Retreat: A fully funded weekend getaway that kicks off the Residency with writing sprints, team-building activities, and creative workshops in an inspiring setting.
  • Free Writing & Publishing Toolkits: Custom journals, notebooks, strategy cards, and access to premium writing software like Scrivener or Grammarly.
  • Professional Creative Team: A dedicated team including a writing coach, editor, book designer, and alumni mentor to support each teen from draft to publication.
  • Workshops with Industry Experts: Live and virtual sessions with award-winning authors, publishers, and scholars who guide the creative and revision process.
  • Published Book or Portfolio: Each teen completes and publishes a chapbook, zine, or polished excerpt through 3rd Person Press.
  • Showcase Tour: Stories written by the teens are featured during our Rough Drafts: Street Side Museum Tours, a public literary exhibit showcased in art spaces and cultural landmarks across the City of Dallas.

Each day, the teens are challenged to dive into hard-to-discuss experiences and issues within their communities and society to write compelling stories in ways that push them to develop their skills, strengthen their talents, and produce compelling stories that leave a lasting impact, proving that Dallas is indeed a literary city for teens.
How We Do It
The Teen Writers-in-Residence Program helps address issues of generational poverty by equipping teens with the skills, tools, and paid opportunities to build careers in the literary arts.

Through workshops, mentorships, and hands-on publishing experiences, teens learn to become stronger storytellers, transform everyday language into powerful narratives, and turn their writing talent into profit.
​
Rooted in Dallas, the program also builds economic, racial, and social equity while positioning the city as a thriving literary hub for young voices.
Possibilities
By empowering young writers to explore their creative potential and express their unique perspectives, we contribute to the transformation of Dallas into a vibrant and inclusive literary community for generations to come.
In pervious years, the Teen Writers-in-Residence Summer Program has been supported in part by the folllowing: