Sewanee Writers' Conference

Apply Now

Apply for the 2012 Sewanee Writers’ Conference

Applications for the 2012 session will be reviewed from January 15 through April 15, but we urge an early application.

Applicants will be selected on the strength and promise of the work submitted and on the committee's judgment that the applicant is likely to benefit from the Conference. Publications are not required for general admission. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis through the spring, and applicants will be notified as promptly as possible.

If preferred, mail-in Basic Admissions Application, Application for Scholarships and Fellowships, and Reference forms [PDFs] are also available.

Fees

The full Conference fee is $1,700-$1,000 for tuition and $700 for room (single occupancy), board, and activity costs. The fee covers two-thirds of the full cost of the Conference; thanks to the generosity of Tennessee Williams in establishing the Walter E. Dakin Memorial Fund, every participant is in part financially underwritten.

If admitted to the Conference, a writer secures a place by sending a deposit of $300. The balance of the fee ($1,400) is due in Sewanee by June 8. Reservation deposits received after the program has filled will be returned promptly. Deposits, less a $50 cancellation fee, are refundable until June 1. After June 1, refunds (less the $50 cancellation fee) will be made as previously reserved places are filled.

Award Eligibility

The Conference offers a limited number of fellowships and scholarships on a competitive basis.

Fellowship (Walter E. Dakin, Father William Ralston, or John N. Wall) applicants in poetry and fiction should have periodical publications and a book published or in press at a major academic or commercial publisher.

Scholarship (Tennessee Williams, John N. Wall, Howard Nemerov, Peter Taylor, Mona Van Duyn, Donald Justice, Stanley Elkin, Georges and Anne Borchardt, or Susannah McCorkle) applicants in poetry and fiction should have a number of publications in distinguished periodicals.

Playwright applicants for these awards should have work that has seen amateur or professional production.

All scholarships cover Conference tuition ($1,000); fellowships cover tuition, room, and board ($1,700).

Auditors

The Conference accepts several auditors who may take part in the program but do not submit work for evaluation and discussion. Auditors should submit the Basic Admissions Application and a short writing sample. The fee for auditors is $1,600 ($300 deposit, $1,300 balance). Payment dates and refunds for auditors are the same as for other participants.

Additional Expenses

The Conference fee covers tuition, room (single occupancy), board, library, and many social events. Most athletic facilities are open to participants; tennis and golf require modest court and greens fees.

All fields marked * are required

To which genre are you applying?

Please indicate the genre to which you wish to apply for workshop membership.

Please provide us with your manuscript.

Since you’re applying for membership in the Poetry workshop, your manuscript should be 10–15 pages, single-spaced. Scholarship applicants should submit a combination of unpublished work and work that has been published in academic or popular periodicals, observing length limits of 20 pages. If you are applying for a fellowship, instead of including a manuscript in this application, please send us two hard copies of your book by mail.

Since you’re applying for membership in the Fiction workshop, your manuscript should be 20-40 pages, typed, double-spaced (examples: a novel excerpt, a longer story, or two or more short stories). Scholarship applicants should submit a combination of unpublished work and work that has been published in academic or popular periodicals, observing length limits of 40. If you are applying for a fellowship, instead of including a manuscript in this application, please send two hard copies of your book by mail.

Since you’re applying for membership in the Playwriting workshop, your manuscript should be 20-80 pages of a play or an excerpt of a play, standard playscript format. Scholarship applicants should submit current work that has been workshopped or produced, up to 20-80 pages of a play or an excerpt of a play, standard playscript format. Fellowship applicants should submit copies of a full-length play or the equivalent in length of a collection of shorter works, all of which have seen production.

Tell us about yourself.
Tell us about your academic background.

I attended for , from to . I received my there.

I attended for , from to . I received my there.

I attended for , from to . I received my there.

I attended for , from to . I received my there.

Add another college or university

Are you applying for an award?

The Conference offers awards on a competitive basis for published poets and fiction writers and for produced playwrights. (Please note that award applications are tracked differently than those for general admissions and that decisions generally take longer.)

Please supply us contact information for the two persons you will ask to write recommendations in support of your application. The recommendations should come from persons whose professional experience puts them in a position to know the literary and personal qualities successful fellows and scholars possess.

NOTE: Please send the recommendation forms to each of your referees. Applicants are responsible for contacting referees. Applications are not complete until both letters have arrived.

Reference #1
Reference #2

Publications are not expected or required for general admission.

Do you wish to apply as an auditor?

The Conference may accept a small number of auditors who will attend a workshop and all other events on the program but whose work will not be discussed in the workshop.

Comment on your preparation and experience in writing, say something about your aims for the future and your expectations for the Conference, or mention any special qualifications or abilities that you think the screening committee should consider.