2026 Sewanee Young Writers' Conference 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 attendance at the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference will enrich your growth as a writer. Please also include how you believe you will contribute to your writing workshop and to the conference as a whole. 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 in up to three workshop choices. Please submit a writing sample of the following lengths for each of your ranked genres:

8-10 double-spaced pages of fiction, creative nonfiction, or playwriting

5-7 poems

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: Sewanee Young Writers' Conference Recommendation.

Admissions decisions will be sent out via email on April 6. 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 April 7, 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, literary, poetry, and songwriting.

Because of the large number of applications we receive, you will increase your chances of admission by indicating more than one workshop preference.

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

Fiction

Poetry

Creative nonfiction

Playwriting

Second choice, if any

Fiction

Poetry

Creative nonfiction

Playwriting

Third choice, if any

Fiction

Poetry

Creative nonfiction

Playwriting

Address & School Information Section

Permanent Home Address

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Are you a boarding school student living at your school? (If yes, please make sure to put your school mailing address in the "current mailing address" prompt)

Yes

No

Current Mailing Address (Leave blank if your "current mailing address" is the same as your Permanent Home Address)

Country

Street

City

Region

Postal Code

Sex designated at birth

Female

Male

X or another legal sex

If you would like, please use this space to share more about your gender identity.

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). It is important that you include as many phone numbers as possible.

Parent 1 / Guardian 1 First Name

Parent 1 / Guardian 1 Last Name

Parent 1 /Guardian 1 Cell Phone

Parent 1 / Guardian 1 Home Phone

Parent 1 / Guardian 1 Work Phone

Parent 1 / Guardian 1 Email Address

Please Retype Your Parent 1/ Guardian Email Address:

Parent 1 / Guardian 1 Address

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 Cell Phone

Parent 2 Home Phone

Parent 2 Work 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

If not with your parent(s) or guardian previously listed, with whom do you live permanently? (Name, relationship)

Emergency Contact (Name, relationship)

Emergency Contact Phone Number (Home)

SYWC Conference Questions and Essay Section

How did you hear of the Sewanee Young Writers' Conference?

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

Yes

No

When did you apply, and, if you attended, when did you attend?

Describe any extracurricular activities related to your interest in creative writing.

Statement of Purpose

In approximately 250-750 words, please describe your reading and writing life and how attendance at the Sewanee Young Writers’ Conference will enrich your growth as a writer. Please also include how you believe you will contribute to your writing workshop and to the conference as a whole. We are dedicated to cultivating a safe, inclusive, and diverse writing community.

Upload Statement of Purpose

Writing Sample

Please submit a writing sample of the following lengths for your ranked genres:

8-10 pages (double-spaced) of fiction, creative nonfiction, or playwriting

5-7 poems

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

2026 Sewanee Young Writers' Conference Application

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