When you come to the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference, you can expect:
A remarkable faculty who love to write and teach. Over the years, our faculty have won literary prizes and been recognized by the New York Times and the New Yorker, among other publications. And they are not just good at their craft: they are writers who love to teach and have experience working with teenagers in the classroom.
Small and rigorous workshops. We offer workshops in fiction, poetry, songwriting, and literary nonfiction. Our conference offers a serious course in creative writing, not just a “get-your-feet-wet” introduction. The workshops have no more than twelve students, and we enroll a total of about eighty young writers. Because we keep our numbers low, our teachers really get to know their students, and vice-versa. We also make space in the schedule for one-on-one conferences between students and teachers.
Enrichment outside the classroom. Participants have a range of opportunities for discussions about literature and craft: from special-guest authors, to a tour of the Sewanee Review, to short craft classes on topics from sonnets to zines.
Fun. At the SYWC, you’ll be part of a community of writers and friends. Maybe that means talking on the porch swing at Stirling's, a favorite coffee house, or swimming and playing basketball in the Fowler Sports and Recreation Center. You'll also have the opportunity to hike some of Sewanee’s beautiful trails, sing and dance at karaoke night, and play board games in the common room of your dorm.
