Eckerd College Writers’ Conference: Writers in Paradise

Admission Requirements

The 2013 Eckerd College Writers' Conference is for writers of various styles and approaches. While admission is selective, the admission committee accepts writers with early potential as well as those with strong backgrounds in writing.

Application materials required of all participants: Acceptance is based on a writing sample and a statement detailing your writing background. If you have previously attended the Eckerd College Writers' Conference, your statement should describe what you learned and what you hope to accomplish by attending again. Guidelines for the writing sample are as follows:

Nonfiction Workshop
Faculty: Les Standiford
Submit the opening 25 pages of a memoir-in-progress or other non-fiction work, plus a two-page synopsis. If you are submitting a portion which appears later in the work (for example, pages 25-50), provide a detailed synopsis of the pages prior to your submission (e.g. pages 1-24).

Novel Workshop (Three Sections: I, II, and III)
Faculty: Tom Franklin, Ann Hood, and Laura Lippman.
Submit the opening 25 pages of a novel-in-progress, plus a two-page synopsis of the book. If you are submitting a portion which appears later in the work (for example, pages 25-50), provide a detailed synopsis of the pages prior to your submission (e.g. pages 1-24).

Poetry Workshop
Faculty: Beth Ann Fennelly
Submit 5-7 poems.

Short Story Workshop (Two Sections: I and II)
Faculty: Andre Dubus III and Stewart O’Nan
Submit one short story (25 pages maximum).

Young Adult Writing Workshop
Faculty: David Yoo
Submit the opening 25 pages of a YA work-in-progress, plus a two-page synopsis of the book.
If you are submitting a portion which appears later in the work (for example, pages 25-50), provide a detailed synopsis of the pages prior to your submission (e.g. pages 1-24).

Required format for writing samples:

1. Page numbers must be consecutive throughout the manuscript.
2. Font must be 12 pt Times New Roman.
3. All prose manuscripts must be double spaced and contain a header or footer with page numbers and author’s name.
4. No extra spacing between paragraphs except that which indicates transitions.
5. If you submit more than 25 pages, the coordinator will cut as necessary.
6. Do not include title pages or dedications.
7. Poets may submit 5-7 poems. Cumulative page count of poems should not exceed 25 pages.
8. You may substitute for your application writing sample a new piece, or a revised version of the original; if you do this, please fill out the appropriate information on your application regarding the new submission.
9. Only the writing samples discussed in workshops will be eligible for the “Best Of” honors.

Upon your acceptance, send the piece you would like discussed in your workshop as an e-mail attachment in MS Word Format to Christine Koryta by December 12, 2012. (Please re-send even if your piece is the same one you sent as your writing sample.)

Only the writing samples discussed in workshops will be eligible for "The Best Of" honors.

Fees

Residential and PEL Eckerd College students pay no extra fees. Students attending the Eckerd College Writers' Conference for credit should contact the residential or PEL registrar to ask about tuition.

Application Fee: $25
The application fee is due via our secure website when you complete the online application. For those accepted, the fee will be included in their non-credit, workshop-only fee of $700. For those who are not accepted or who withdraw from the conference, the application fee is non-refundable.

Non-credit, Workshop-Only Fee: $700
The non-credit workshop-only fee is due upon acceptance. Once accepted, you will be sent a secure link to pay your balance online. You may also send a check to the attention of “Writers in Paradise” and payable to Eckerd College.

Individual Manuscript Consultation (optional, fee is in addition to workshop): $200
Those hoping to reserve an individual manuscript consultation are encouraged to apply early. Consultations will be awarded on a first-applied, first-accepted basis. You will be notified on December 5 if you have been awarded an individual manuscript consultation with Sterling Watson. At that time, you will be sent a secure link to pay your conference fee and also approval to pay your consultation fee. You may also send a check to the attention of “Writers in Paradise" and payable to Eckerd College.

Scholarships

Scholarship funds in $100 increments will be available to Eckerd College Writers' Conference participants. Awards will be based on need and merit, as determined by the conference directors. If you are awarded scholarship funds, the funds will be applied to your account and you will only need to pay the balance. Scholarships will not be awarded in excess of the conference fee of $700.

The Larry and Marcia McCartt Scholarship is given annually to a woman who has overcome personal hardships and shows talent and a strong commitment to the craft of writing and its ability to heal the human spirit. The scholarship covers the entire cost of non-credit workshop tuition ($700). Qualified applicants are encouraged to fill out the scholarship form and check the Larry and Marcia McCartt Scholarship box. After the recipient is chosen, all applicants for this scholarship will be considered for general scholarship funds.

The James R. Carlson Scholarship honors the spirit of creativity and innovation of the founder of the Eckerd College Theatre Department. The scholarship will cover the cost of non-credit workshop tuition ($700). All applicants for aid will be considered for the Carlson Scholarship.

The Standiford is a scholarship named in honor of noted author, teacher, and longtime friend to the conference, Les Standiford. The consummate professional writer, Les Standiford always strives not only to improve his own craft but to help the next generation of writers. The Standiford will be awarded to two participants in the Eckerd College Writers' Conference (one fiction writer and one nonfiction writer). It will cover two full, non-credit conference fees of $700. All applicants for aid will be considered for The Standiford.

Course Credit

A select number of Eckerd College Residential and PEL students will participate in the Eckerd College Writers' Conference: Writers in Paradise for course credit. Two courses will be offered, Intro and Advanced. The Intro course will be an enriching experience for any student regardless of major. Both courses will expose students to some of America's finest practitioners of the literary arts. You will find complete descriptions of course activities below.

Eckerd College Residential and PEL students will register for course credit and will not be charged extra conference fees.

• Residential students will take Writers in Paradise as a Winter Term course. Those enrolling in Adv will contact the Conference Coordinator, Christine Caya Koryta first. After permission is granted, students will contact the registrar's office to register.
• PEL students enrolling in Adv will contact the Conference Coordinator for permission and then register for course credit through the PEL office.
• Non-Eckerd students should contact the Conference Coordinator.

Students attending for Eckerd College course credit are not required to fill out the online application on this website. Students with questions and concerns regarding the conference are encouraged to contact the Conference Coordinator.

Writers in Paradise Conference: Intro
Instructor: Sterling Watson | Prerequisites: None

1. Students will attend three, pre-conference meetings:

2. Thursday, January 3, 2013 – 6:00-9:00pm
   Thursday, January 10, 2013 – 6:00-9:00pm
   Thursday, January 17, 2013 – 6:00-9:00pm

3. Students will select two books by conference faculty (from the list provided below) and write a three to five page essay on each book examining one element of craft.
4. Students will submit ten pages prose, or 3-5 poems, of their own new (never previously submitted for course credit) creative writing for critique.
5. Students will attend all conference activities, except workshops, from Saturday, January 19 to Saturday, January 26. A complete schedule of events will be sent to students prior to the Holiday Break.
6. Students will submit a revision of their creative writing based on critique by January 25 to Professor Sterling Watson via email.

Reading List for Intro – Select Two:
Townie, Andre Dubus III
Comfort, Ann Hood
The Ridge, Michael Koryta
Live By Night, Dennis Lehane
Last Night at the Lobster, Stewart O’Nan
Bel Canto, Ann Patchett
Bringing Adam Home, Les Standiford

Writers in Paradise Conference: Advanced
Instructor: Sterling Watson | Prerequisite: CW 100A & Instructor Permission

1. Students will attend the first of the pre-conference meetings:

2. Thursday, January 3, 2013 – 6:00-9:00pm

3. Students will set up individual appointments with Professor Sterling Watson to discuss one book by the author leading their workshop (list provided below), discuss the etiquette and protocol for critiquing manuscripts, and answer any questions or concerns regarding the student’s original piece of writing to be discussed in workshop.
4. Students will submit no later than January 15 via email to the conference coordinator (cayacr@eckerd.edu) a minimum of 12 pages (or a maximum of 25) of prose, or 5-7 poems.  This must be new work (never previously used for course credit).
5.  Students will also provide one, double-spaced page of feedback for each manuscript in their workshop (one copy will be given to each author in the workshop; the other to Professor Watson on the last day of the conference). Students will receive the manuscripts written by the non-credit seeking participants in their workshop by December 14 via email.
6. Students will attend all conference activities and attend a private meeting with their workshop leader to be scheduled during the conference.

Reading List for Advanced
Students will read one book by their workshop leader:
Townie, Andre Dubus III
Last Night at the Lobster, Stewart O’Nan
The Red Thread, Ann Hood
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, Tom Franklin
What the Dead Know, Laura Lippman
Girls for Breakfast, David Yoo
Bringing Adam Home, Les Standiford
Unmentionables, Beth Ann Fennelly

Housing and Dining

Housing

While many participants will choose to arrange their own accommodations in local hotels, inns, and bed & breakfasts, Eckerd College will offer a limited number of rooms available at the Magnuson Hotel. Located less than two miles from the campus, Eckerd College will provide a private, complimentary shuttle which will run between the hotel and campus at designated times throughout the day based on the conference's schedule of events. Rooms are $72.78 per night, per person (all taxes included). Rooms are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis of the accepted applicants. Once you are notified of your acceptance, you will be sent instructions on how to complete your hotel reservation at the Magnuson Hotel (reservations will be handled by Eckerd College and a final room list provided to the Magnuson Hotel). The deadline for confirming your reservation is December 12, 2012. Scholarship funds are not available for housing. If you are traveling to the conference with another accepted participant, you may arrange to split the cost of a room. Please inform the coordinator in advance if you plan to share a room, so that the proper reservations are made.

Eckerd College Special Rate at Magnuson Hotel - Rate: $72.78 per night. (Total for entire conference: $ 582.24)

The Magnuson Hotel has laundry facilities, a restaurant, bar/lounge, two outdoor pools, hot tub, fitness center and more. Room at this rate will have two double beds. This rate does not include a meal plan.

Check-in is: Saturday, January 19, 2013. Check-out is: Sunday, January 27, 2013.

Please visit the Magnuson Hotel website for photos and further information on the property. Only reservations made with the conference coordinator from accepted conference participants will be eligible for this rate.

Dining

Participants may purchase lunch or dinner in the Continuing Education Center (CEC) Dining Room, College Cafeteria, Triton's Pub, or dine off-campus. A comprehensive list of local restaurants is provided at registration.

For further information regarding campus dining options, you can view hours and menus here.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Applicants who cancel must do so via mail, email, or fax. A $150 cancellation fee will be assessed to refund requests posted after notice of acceptance. No refunds will be issued after January 2, 2013, or if the participant chooses to leave the conference early. A $35 handling fee will be assessed for returned checks.

All courses, speakers, and faculty are subject to change. Participation in the Eckerd College Writers' Conference is at the sole discretion of the co-directors. Participants who engage in disruptive behavior or interrupt the instruction of fellow students will be asked to leave.