Conferences, Residencies, Workshops, Oh My!
what are they, why they matter, how to apply, and which ones I reccommend
I was recently having a conversation with a few writer friends and I mentioned writing conferences and they asked me to explain what those were. In the MFA world, talk of residencies, conferences, and workshops is so commonplace, that I forget that just two years ago I didn’t know what the difference between any of these things, what they were, which ones I should apply to, or why. And I think that’s the case for a lot of talented writers. There are these incredible opportunities out there, but often they feel shrouded in mystery or literary elitism. I am here to demystify the difference between conferences, workshops, and residencies, explain the benefits of each, and recommend a few options in each category.
I just want to note that there are SO many amazing conferences, residencies, and workshops out there and my lists below are by no means comprehensive. But I sometimes think these lists of thirty different conferences, or fifty great residencies, or the top twenty best workshops etc. etc. can be very overwhelming, so in the spirit of creating a beginner’s guide to the topic, I’ve selected just three recommendations in each category. Every conference, residency, or workshop I recommend here, I have either attended personally or I know someone who has attended and had a great time. There are many other great ones out there, but these are the few I can recommend wholeheartedly.
Conferences
If you’re looking for where to begin when it comes to all this stuff, I think conferences are the best place to start. Conferences usually last anywhere from a few days to a week to two weeks. I tend to prefer the ones that are at least a week, because I think that’s when you really start to be able to build amazing relationships with fellow attendees. Writing conferences are these big events with a couple hundred writers that really focus on learning. You will not write AT ALL at a conference. Your schedule will be jam-packed attending readings, lectures, classes, workshops, and networking/social events. Most of the big conferences will have editors and agents in attendance, so they’re great to attend when you have a finished manuscript ready to pitch. You will also usually be in a workshop group, in which you submit about twenty pages of work and receive feedback on it from your peers and instructor in your workshop group. This could be really valuable if you’re about to query and you want some great feedback on your first twenty pages. But I think conferences are also really useful when you’re a more novice writer, because there are so many opportunities for learning and instruction that residencies and generative workshops don’t have.
I like to think of the following three conferences as “The Big Three.” They are the most well-known and most prestigious, and consequently get some really high quality instructors, speakers, agents, and other attendees! Admission can be difficult, but if you earn a spot, the benefits to your writing career are huge.
Breadloaf: Breadloaf is one of the oldest and most prestigious writing conferences in the world. It’s run by Middlebury, and, in addition to being an incredible learning experience, is one of the most picturesque and inspiring places I’ve ever been. I attended Breadloaf two years ago, and it’s still the best thing I’ve done for my writing career other than my MFA. I still keep in touch with the writing friends I made there, I learned so much, made amazing connections, and the feedback I got in my workshop was invaluable. Seriously, it was so fun—like adult summer camp plus learning.
The conference takes place in Vermont in August, lasts for ten days, and applications usually open in January and close a month or two later, so keep an eye out next winter. They’ll want responses to a few essay questions as well as an application manuscript. You can also apply for various scholarships to offset the cost of the conference.
Sewanee: Sewanee is the one that got away. After applying, and being rejected, for four years running, I finally got accepted this summer, but—alas, I had already committed to a residency at the same time. I really really hope to go next summer, as this program is absolutely top of my bucket list. I have heard nothing but amazing things about Sewanee from people in my MFA that have attended. It’s the longest conference, at fourteen days, so you get a lot of time to make friends and build relationships. Plus, I’ve heard that Sewanee places a big focus on bringing in agents and editors, so it’s the best conference to attend if you have a manuscript ready to go.
The conference takes place in South Carolina in July, lasts for fourteen days, and applications usually open in January. They’ll want responses to a few essay questions as well as an application manuscript. You can also apply for various scholarships to offset the cost of the conference.
Tin House: I have never attended or been accepted to Tin House, but so many people I met at Breadloaf recommended it very highly. While Sewanee is known to be a little more focused on networking, I’ve heard that the quality of workshop feedback at Tin House is unparalleled. So, if you’re looking to get feedback on a manuscript, rather than shop one around, this might be the best conference for you. Though, of course, I would always recommend applying for all three and seeing which one you get into.
The conference takes place in Oregon in July, lasts one week, and applications usually open in January. They’ll want responses to a few essay questions as well as an application manuscript. You can also apply for various scholarships to offset the cost of the conference.
Residencies
Residencies are what you should apply to when all you want to do is write and not be bothered. The best residencies will provide food, lodging, sometimes even a stipend, for you to attend and just write for weeks, a month, sometimes more. There are residencies on the edges of beautiful Alaskan forests, in Scottish castles, in chateaus in the French countryside. Sounds like the dream, right? But beware, there’s a bit of a catch 22 when it comes to residencies. Like MFA programs, the better funded they are, the harder they are to get into. So, that’s why I recommend starting with conferences, or even workshops. Because, simply put, residencies are hard as fuck to get into, especially the funded ones. But if you can get in, they are an amazing opportunity to focus solely on your work.
Storyknife: Storyknife is my dream residency. It’s a bit of an August tradition for me to apply and get rejected. It’s a woman-only residency just outside of Homer, Alaska. Writers live in their own cabins, and attend group chef-prepared dinners at the end of each day to bond and discuss their progress over the day with the other writers in residence. Any time I meet someone from Alaska, they’ve heard of Storyknife. It’s very well-regarded in the state, and I met a girl at Breadloaf who attended and said it was the most incredible, productive, inspiring month of her life. Seriously, it looks like the most beautiful, awe-inspiring place. I cannot imagine getting to live and write here for a month. Storyknife is fully-funded with all food provided, but writers must pay for their travel to Alaska. Applications open in July and close in August. They offer residencies from April through October. They require responses to several essay questions as well as an application manuscript.
Yaddo: Yaddo is an artists residency (read, not just for writers) in Saratoga Springs, New York. It literally looks like it’s in a castle, and is hand-down one of the most old, prestigious writing residencies out there. A friend I met at the Oxford Creative Writing Seminars (explained more below!) went there this summer and said it was amazing, and from stalking her instagram stories, it definitely looked awesome. Like Storyknife, artists work on their own throughout the day and then congregate for communal dinners. Their website says they have a ten percent acceptance rate. They host up to thirty artists at a time and are open year round, with a brief hiatus from mid December to mid January. Applications are currently open and they require submission of a portfolio as well as responses to essay questions. Yaddo is fully funded with all meals provided.
Chateau D’Orquevaux Artists Residency: This is the residency I’m currently on my way to, so obviously I’m biased, but I think it’s a pretty cool one and it won an award for most beautiful artist residency or something. It’s in the French countryside, we live in a chateau, and you can attend for periods of two, three, or four weeks. Plus, one of the very unique and wonderful things about this residency is that it’s not just a writer’s residency, it’s an artist’s residency. There is something so magical and inspiring about being surrounded by musicians, painters, performers, and more, while in residence. Chateau D’Orquevaux is more expensive, but if you receive an emerging artist and a Denis Diderot grant, they offset a big chunk of the costs. It’s still an investment, but I think a very worthwhile one. Plus, the acceptance rate hovers between 15% and 20% vs. many of the other artist residencies, which seem to be closer to 5% to 10%. Applications are open now for their year-round residencies, and you need to apply about a year before you’d like to attend. The application is short, and the primary evaluative factor is your artist’s manuscript or portfolio. It was so nice, honestly, not to have to answer annoying essay questions and just be evaluated on the strength of my work.
Generative Workshops
Generative writing workshops are best when you want to get a lot of writing done, but you also want guidance, feedback, and input as you write. Generative workshops will often include lessons and writing prompts, followed by ample writing time, and then, of course, the writers workshop, in which you submit what you’ve written and receive feedback from an instructor and peers. I think of these like “mini-MFA’s” because they stress both instruction and writing, whereas conferences focus primarily on instruction and residencies focus primarily on writing.
Kenyon Writers Workshop: One of my favorite writers on substack
is attending this workshop this summer, so I’m so excited to hear what she thinks of it, but I had a friend attend who said it was amazing. Workshops are a week long in either June or July in Gambier, Ohio and according to their website they are “generative, focused on giving writers time and space to produce new work.” Applications close mid-February, and there are scholarships available to offset the costs.Oxford Advanced Creative Writing Seminars: I attended this writing workshop when I first got back into writing in 2021, and it was so inspiring and formative for me. It’s expensive, but it’s graded like other Oxford courses, so you receive credit, and a certificate from Oxford, which felt pretty cool. You take courses, complete writing assignments, and receive detailed feedback from your tutor (eek! so cool!) You live on grounds in Exeter College for three weeks from the end of July to Mid-August. You can sign up to receive email updates for when applications open. I can’t access the application right now, but from what I remember, it was pretty short and simple. Basically, for an anglophile who always regretted not studying abroad at Oxford, it was a dream come true.
Clarion Workshop: This is one of the most prestigious writing workshops out there for science fiction and fantasy writers. So many conferences, workshops, and residencies only allow you to apply with “literary” writing, which means no genre work, which is why I really wanted to mention Clarion, because I believe genre writers deserve all the same opportunities as literary writers. This one is a big commitment in terms of time and money, because it’s FIVE WEEKS long, but if you go to Clarion, you’ve basically made it as a speculative writer. It was established in 1968 and OCTAVIA BUTLER ATTENDED !! Imagine saying you went to the same workshop as Octavia Butler?! It takes place on the campus of UC San Diego for the month of July and the first week of August, and applications open in December and close in February.
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This is incredibly helpful and I've always loved the idea of doing something like a residency but never knew how to go about it, or whether I could afford it. It was illuminating to discover the differences between these 3 things and what goes on at each, it's all rather mystifying to me.
Funnily enough, I will actually be in South Carolina next July (my parents live there) and so hey, maybe that's a sign? (haha - if it took you over 4 years, then I haven't a hope in hell 😂)
you're the best for posting this. putting out good energy and helping others will be returned to you threefold!!!