Breaking Down the New York State Summer Writers Institute with Miriam Ruiz

by Miriam Ruiz ’24

As part of the Words’ endeavor to showcase student and faculty achievements and experiences (Send them in here if you have any!), the staff reached out to Miriam Ruiz ‘24 about her experience applying for, and ultimately receiving, a spot at the New York State Summer Writers Institute. Miriam kindly shared her experience with, and advice for, applying to the program. 

Applying to the New York State Summer Writers Institute was a relatively smooth experience. It is a two to four-week program, depending on your preference, held at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. Workshops are intensive; you send the pieces you intend to polish after the acceptance process and page count depends upon whether you are writing prose or poetry. They offer an array of tracks: nonfiction, fiction (a subcategory for historical fiction is held online), and poetry. Based on an applicant’s comfort level, they might be placed in intermediate or advanced workshops. As for myself, I was placed in intermediate poetry and found out about this program through Prof. Prior.

The application itself was straightforward. I submitted 9 pages of poems that focused on generational divides within the Puerto Rican diaspora; my advice would be to write what you feel moved to write and you’ll find a throughline more than likely. They also asked us to submit a personal statement which was just a brief paragraph about our intentions for the course we were applying to. 

There is a cost to this program, but with a recommendation, it can be reduced significantly. Price varies based on how long one stays and most of that money goes towards living expenses and a deposit to hold your place in the program. It is a fantastic opportunity to improve your writing and it doesn’t hurt to apply! This program would be a great fit for students looking to refine their craft and break into the writing world a little more.

Thanks Miriam! Congratulations on your acceptance, and best of luck with your future writing endeavors!