Due to the coronavirus, we have unfortunately had to cancel the 2020 Sewanee Writers’ Conference. While we’re saddened by this turn of events, we feel that it is ultimately in the best interest of our writing community. Please see a message below from the University of the South regarding this decision:

Because the coronavirus has yet to peak in Tennessee and in many parts of the U.S., the University of the South has made the difficult decision to cancel or move online all summer programs this year. We understand that this will be a disappointment to many who have planned to spend a part of the summer in Sewanee—especially those who make it an annual tradition—but we believe this is the only responsible course of action in these uncertain times. 

Thank you for your understanding of this necessary decision. Your health and well-being, and that of the University’s community and neighbors, are our primary concerns.

We will miss seeing you in person on campus this summer, and look forward to being together again.

We would like to thank everyone for applying this year and are pleased to offer what we hope is a silver lining to this situation. We will honor 2020 admissions in 2021. Given recent decisions, we have pushed back our admission decision announcement date from May 1 to May 15 in order to plan for these changes.

Thank you. We wish you the best during this time.

Leah Stewart

Director, Sewanee Writers’ Conference