If your question isn't answered here, please feel free to email sywc@sewanee.edu.
Who can apply to the SYWC? Any student who is, at the time of application, in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade and who wants to cultivate their writing and enjoy a couple of weeks in a community of like-minded peers.
How and what do I need to apply? You will need a writing sample in each genre in which you are interested; a statement of purpose; and a recommendation letter from a teacher.
What kind of musical experience do I need for the songwriting workshop? You need enough musical experience to feel comfortable collaborating with others and performing your work. You don't have to be a musical genius! If you love to sing or play an instrument, you have what you need.
Our 2024 songwriting workshop meets singer-songwriter Jason Isbell for a workshop
What's the application deadline? Applications for summer 2025 will open in December 2024. Our application deadline is Monday, March 3rd, 2025. The deadline for letters of recommendation is Friday, March 14th, 2025.
When and how will I know I’ve been accepted? Applicants will be notified by email on Friday, April 4th. The email will come from the Sewanee admissions office, so please do not block emails from the University of the South. If you have not received an email by Monday, April 7th, please contact us.
Acclaimed author Kevin Wilson signs a participant's book.
How much does the program cost? Tuition, including room and board, is $2600.00. We also require a $175 deposit, to be refunded at the end of the conference, for the keys and prox cards that allow participants entry into their rooms and campus facilities.
Do you offer financial aid? Yes, we provide as much need-based aid as we are able. The financial aid application will be available on the application page. The financial aid application is due on Friday, April 18th, 2025.
What is the cancellation policy? All tuition and fees, minus a nonrefundable deposit of $575, will be refunded if you cancel before Friday, May 31st, 2024. After that point, refunds cannot be granted.
How do I get to Sewanee? The closest airport is Nashville (BNA). For a $200 fee, we provide a shuttle to and from the Nashville airport on conference arrival and departure days. Dorm counselors will be ready to meet participants at the airport when they arrive and see them off when they depart. Please note that we do not provide a shuttle service to or from the Chattanooga airport (CHA).
If you're driving, please note that participants are not permitted to have cars on campus during the conference.
How are workshops structured? The morning workshop, which typically lasts from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., is the cornerstone of our conference. Each workshop consists of ten to twelve participants taught by a member of our faculty, a singular group of professional writers who are both accomplished in their genres and passionate about teaching. Participants spend workshop time sharing their own writing and responding to the writing of their peers, as well as writing from prompts, free writing and discussing readings assigned by the teachers. They are designed to make sure you leave Sewanee with a portfolio of new writing of which you can be proud.
How do participants spend their time outside of workshop? Participants spend time in the afternoon and evenings attending readings, book discussions, and optional craft classes. When not attending classes or readings, participants might take guided hikes on Sewanee's 13,000-acre domain, enjoy the university's athletic facilities, sing karaoke, participate in a talent show, attend Sewanee's Fourth of July festivities (including its famous dog show), play board games, hang out with friends in the dorm, or enjoy a smoothie at the local coffee shop.
A participant visits with the goats at the university farm
Where do participants dine? Participants, faculty, and staff eat together in McClurg Hall, an extensive dining facility on central campus. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-free options are readily available.
Where do participants live during the conference? All conference participants live in Humphreys Hall, an air-conditioned dormitory on central campus. Participants live in double rooms, where they share a room with one person and a bathroom with two others, or in suites, where they have a single bedroom, but share a bath and common space with four to five others. We are an inclusive community and a safe space; we will work with you and your parents or guardians to house you according to your preferences and needs.
How are participants supervised? Humphreys Hall is also home to five counselors (a mix of college students, recent graduates, and M.F.A. students) and a Head of Residential Life, who participate in all activities except morning workshops. Participants have the freedom to explore our beautiful (and relatively small) main campus with other young writers, but we count heads at each conference event, at 10:30 p.m. each evening, when all participants are required to be in the dorm, and again at Lights Out (11 p.m.). We live in a remarkably safe community, and our staff pays careful and constant attention.
Is the campus wireless? Yes.
I hope my friends will send me lots of snail mail while I’m at the conference. What address should I give them? Students who wish to receive mail during the conference should have the mail sent to the following address:
Participant’s Full Name
Sewanee Young Writers' Conference
University of the South
735 University Avenue
Sewanee, TN 37383
