2025 Sewanee Young Writers Winter Workshop Application

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

SYWC Application Materials
You will need to assemble a variety of application pieces prior to starting your application. The application will not save your information before you submit, so please begin with all your materials prepared. Please submit all materials as a Word document or a PDF.

Here's what we need:

1. A statement of purpose:

In approximately 250-750 words, please describe your reading and writing life and how taking part in SYWC Winterim will enrich your growth as a writer. Please also include how you believe you will contribute to the program. Just as with our summer conference, we are dedicated to cultivating a safe, inclusive, and diverse writing community.
2. A sample of your writing:

We’ll ask you to rank your preference of our three workshop choices. Please submit a writing sample of up to 20 pages total (double-spaced) of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or a combination of these genres.
3. A teacher recommendation:
Your recommendation should come from an English teacher or another instructor or counselor who knows you and your writing. If you are homeschooled, please submit a recommendation from an instructor who is not a parent. We do not accept recommendations from private tutors or teachers from writing labs. Please give your instructor ample time (2 or more weeks) to write your recommendation. Once your application has been submitted, your recommender will receive a link to the SYWC recommendation form within 24 hours.

On the application, you will be asked to provide us with some general information about your recommender: name, school title, phone number, and email address.
Once your application is officially submitted, your recommender will receive an email with a link to the SYWC recommendation webpage.
It is your responsibility to confirm that your teacher or counselor received the recommendation form via email. If they cannot find the email, please have them check their spam folder. The email will have the following subject line: Regarding the Sewanee Young Writers' Conference Winter Workshop.

Admissions decisions will be sent out via email on December 16. To make sure you receive your decision, please do not unsubscribe from University of the South email communications. If you have not received your decision email by December 18, please contact us at sywc@sewanee.edu.

Preferred Name

Mobile Phone Number (xxx)xxx-xxxx

Email Address

*Confirm Your Email Address

Workshop Selection

We offer workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.

In which workshop are you most interested in participating? (first choice)

Fiction

Creative nonfiction

Poetry

Second choice, if any

Fiction

Creative nonfiction

Poetry

Third choice, if any

Fiction

Creative nonfiction

Poetry

Address & School Information Section

Home Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Gender

Birthdate

Term in which you expect to enroll in college

Current High School

High School CEEB Code

Student Type (Unless you are an international student, please select "freshman")

Parent / Guardian Information Section

Please fill out this section with all the information that applies to your parent /guardian(s).

Parent 1 / Guardian 1 First Name

Parent 1 / Guardian 1 Last Name

Parent 1 /Guardian 1 Phone

Parent 1 / Guardian 1 Email Address

Please Retype Your Parent 1/ Guardian Email Address:

Parent 1 / Guardian 1 Address (if different from yours)

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Are you currently living with Parent 1/Guardian 1?

Yes

No

Parent 2 First Name

Parent 2 Last Name

Parent 2 Phone

Parent 2 Email Address

Parent 2 Address (if different from yours)

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Are you currently living with Parent 2/Guardian 2?

Yes

No

SYWC Conference Questions and Essay Section

How did you hear about SYWC Winterim?

Have you applied to the Sewanee Young Writers' Conference in the past?

Yes

No

Will you have access to a computer with Internet access for the duration of the program?

Statement of Purpose

In approximately 250-750 words, please describe your reading and writing life and how participating in SYWC Winterim will enrich your growth as a writer. Please also describe how you see yourself contributing to an online writing workshop. The SYWC is dedicated to cultivating a safe, inclusive, and diverse writing community, online and offline.

Upload Statement of Purpose

Writing Sample

Please submit a writing sample of up to 20 pages double-spaced.

Upload Writing Sample

Teacher Recommendation Section

Please provide some information about your teacher.

Your application must include a written recommendation from a teacher. Once you submit your application, we will email your teacher the instructions for submitting the recommendation. Please note that your application is not considered complete until we receive your teacher's recommendation. It is your responsibility to follow up with your teacher to make sure they submit the form.

Teacher's / Counselor's Name

Teacher's / Counselor's School Title

High School Phone Number

Teacher's / Counselor's Personal Phone Number (cell or home)

Teacher's / Counselor's Email Address

Confirm Your Teacher / Counselor's Email Address

You cannot save and revisit this form, so if you close the application prior to submission, you will have to start over. Once you successfully submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email from sywc@sewanee.edu. If you do not receive a confirmation email in your inbox or spam folder within 24 hours of submission, please contact us.

Your electronic signature below indicates that to the best of your knowledge this application is complete, honestly presented, and factually correct. By signing, you acknowledge your understanding that you can be sent home if we learn that the information submitted here is false.

Admission & Aid

2025 Sewanee Young Writers Winter Workshop Application

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