At StoryLab Camp, we're not just teaching writing—we're unleashing your storytelling potential. Picture yourself surrounded by passionate creators, diving into workshops that crack open your creative spirit. You'll experiment with everything from traditional writing to digital media and find the courage to share your most authentic voice.
Our week together is about more than just technique. It's about discovering the powerful stories that live inside you, waiting to be told. You'll collaborate with fellow writers, get personalized guidance, and create work that reflects your unique perspective. We'll give you the skills, the tools, and the confidence to transform your ideas into stories that can truly connect, provoke, and inspire.
Total Registration Cost: $525
Cost includes resident hall lodging, three meals a day, snacks, and all major aspects of the camp. Our dining hall has many options for those with food allergies. However, we encourage you to bring appropriate snacks since not all snack options will meet all dietary needs.
Note: The $50 non-refundable registration fee is due at the time of registration. No student will be considered registered until they have submitted this fee. Balance of tuition and fees are due by May 31, 2025. Any registrations after June 1, 2025 will incur an additional $50 late registration fee.
Professor Amy Smelser attended Indiana Wesleyan University where she served as the campus newspaper’s editor for three years. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English and writing, she became a freelance writer and editor while raising her four oldest children. In 2010, she completed a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership Studies from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
Prof. Amy’s teaching career began in 2013 at Taylor University where she taught journalism classes as an adjunct. She joined the Indiana Wesleyan University faculty in spring 2016, moving to full time in fall 2016. Prof. Amy earned a second master’s degree in journalism from Regent University in 2018. In addition to teaching multimedia and communication classes, she advises two student news websites and co-advises Amplify Media.
Prof. Amy currently serves on the boards of the Grant County Rescue Mission and the Hoosier Shakespeare Festival. Professionally, she works with the Woman’s Press Club of Indiana and oversaw the state scholastic journalism contest for two years. She also assists Oak Hill High School’s drama department as its technical director. Prof. Amy has spoken at two conferences for professional communicators, written for three local newspapers and two internationally circulated magazines, worked with several ministries in leadership positions, and is pursuing her Ph.D. in communication from Regent University. Amy and her husband have five children, a son-in-law, two grandchildren, an energetic lab named Sirius, and two spoiled barn cats named Esther and Martin.
