Creative Writing in the Land of Lochs & Legends
Why Choose This Program?
Explore
Have fun discovering Edinburgh through the eyes of a writer and storyteller.
Network
Meet new friends and professional writers. Build your own community.
Get Inspired
Write using different creative techniques and improve your writing process. Collaborate on your own stories.
The Destination
Welcome to Edinburgh, a city that’s inspired countless scribes and storytellers for centuries.
Edinburgh, the magical capital of Scotland is also known as the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature—both for its literary history and its ongoing efforts to promote literature through tours, festivals, and events. There are many literary treasures in the city’s streets, including the world’s second largest monument to a writer, the Scott Monument, dedicated to Sir Walter Scott, and Greyfriars Kirk, a 17th-century church and graveyard whose tombstones inspired the names of Hogwarts's witches & wizards.
Explore Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Arthur’s Seat, and more. Find museums and shops (including kilt makers) nestled in centuries-old stone buildings. Edinburgh truly comes to life in the summer when the city is busy with preparations for the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Fringe Festival. Soak up the buzzing atmosphere, admire the green rolling hills, and stop to taste delicious desserts at restaurants and cafés, like Scottish shortbread and cranachan.
Sample Itinerary
Top Rated Activities
Creative Writing Workshop at Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel is a 15th-century marvel, built in 1446 and renowned for its haunting beauty and intricate stonework. Though modest in size at just 69 feet long, it overflows with details that have captivated visitors for centuries. Known for its mysterious carvings—gargoyles, Green Men, and musical cubes—Rosslyn is steeped in legend, famously featured in The Da Vinci Code and rumored to conceal hidden treasures within its crypt. The chapel’s air of mystery makes it the perfect setting for exploring the power of myths, legends, and mystery during this on-site lesson.
Amidst the gargoyles and Green Men illuminated by the eerie, dim lighting of the chapel, you and your friends will each craft a one-page mystery of your own, building on narrative elements learned in previous lessons. Guided by the atmosphere of Rosslyn and the tales woven by your guide, you bring characters to life, weaving intrigue and emotion into your stories. Laughter and creativity flow as you exchange drafts, each inspired by the chapel’s age-old secrets.
This experience deepens your storytelling skills, revealing how the allure of myth can elevate narrative. Surrounded by fellow writers, you leave Rosslyn Chapel ready to infuse your future work with mystery, depth, and the timeless power of legend.
Recording Day at OffBeat Studio
OffBeat Recording Studio is the setting of your summer's culminating project—recording a story you wrote yourself. With headphones on and mic ready, you feel a flutter of nerves as you face the quiet anticipation of recording your own work. But with support from the sound engineers and encouragement from friends, you take a deep breath and begin, feeling your words resonate through the room.
The BBC-approved recording studio works with industry giants from SKY TV to Netflix, producing everything from audiobooks to music composition and voiceover. At today’s workshop, you get a taste for the trade of sound recording, learning how to record, mix, and edit. What would already be a cool, engaging workshop is deeply enriched because the sound you’re composing is your own—and your friends’—original work.
Throughout the summer, you’ve been immersed in the art of spoken-word storytelling, a cherished Scottish tradition, working with professional storytellers and weaving this oral craft with creative writing. By the end of the day, you walk away with a professionally recorded piece—both a memento and an impressive addition to your portfolio—leaving you inspired to take your storytelling to new heights.
On Top of The World - or just Edinburgh
One thing about us - we're gonna get our steps in! After writing exercises at the National Museum of Scotland and a walk through Old Town, our true journey began... keep reading
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Eligibility
- Participants must be 14 years old and above.
- Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
- For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Dates & Fees
Application Fee
$25
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.
More Questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations, or contact us!
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Session I 2025 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $6,550 | |
| Program Summer Session II 2025 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $6,550 |
Ready to change your life?
What's Included
Interactive Classes
Housing
3 Meals/Day
(Dietary Needs Accommodated)
All Ground Transportation
(Once In-country)
Optional Flight Chaperone
(Flight Cost Not Included)
Pre-departure Advice and Orientation
Access to WIFI
(No international data plan or SIM card included)
All Cultural Activities and Excursions
Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection
24/7 Emergency On-site Support
Our Staff
Jacqui Bassett
Center Director
Jacqui is a born and bred Scot from Edinburgh. She has a postgraduate MSc in International Development from the University of Edinburgh and a degree in Psychology from the University...
Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.
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