In November 2021, the nonprofit Pat Conroy Literary Center will offer our third Conroy Center Writer's Residency, available to writers of all genres who are addressing water as a subject or theme of their work. Located on a salt marsh, the residency provides an inspirational, creative space in the heart of Pat Conroy’s beloved lowcountry for a stay of 8 days to march forth in their writing. The residency location is a guest cottage on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, approximately 15 minutes from downtown Beaufort and 15 minutes from the beach at Hunting Island State Park.
The residency will begin on Wednesday, November 3, and includes complimentary admission to up to five of the writers workshops being held as part of the sixth annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, November 4 to 7. Workshop instructors include a pantheon of accomplished writers: E. Ethelbert Miller, Rosemary Daniel, Judy Goldman, Estelle Ford-Williamson, Jennifer Daniels, Derek Berry, Ann-Chadwell Humphries, Danielle Verwers, Miho Kinnas, Elizabeth Robin, and Yvette Murray.
TO APPLY FOR THE WRITER'S RESIDENCY
Please submit the following by September 28, 2021, to [email protected] with the subject line CONROY CENTER WRITER'S RESIDENCY:
1. Tell us a story... about water. What is your work in progress? And how is water (as subject or theme) essential to your creative work? Let us know in 200 words (no more) in the body of the email.
2. Let’s talk time and place. How will being in the lowcountry for a residency benefit your writing? Be specific and tell us in 200 words (no more) in the body of the email.
3. Who are you? Send us a short bio of no more than 100 words, along with your contact information, also in the body of the email.
4. Do you have a favorite Pat Conroy book? If so, tell us which one, and why, in approximately 50 words in the body of the email. Don't have a favorite Conroy book? Then tell us which book by another author is closest to your heart and why.
5. Let’s have a look. Include a writing sample of your work, 3 - 5 double-spaced pages of prose or 3 -5 poems (collectively no more than 5 pages), attached as a PDF.
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of Conroy Center advisors. The selected writer will be notified by October 15, 2021. The residency will start on Wednesday, November 3, for 8 days, until Thursday, November 11.
The residency is open to both published and unpublished writers. Pat Conroy was a mentor to writers in all stages of their careers and we wish to honor that legacy. But if you have not been published, here’s your chance. At the end of the residency, the writer can also submit a piece for editing and subsequent publication in the Lowcountry Weekly.
ABOUT THE COTTAGE
Please visit this airbnb link to MarshSong Cottage for photos and details: www.airbnb.com/rooms/19360110.
The selected writer must provide her or his own transportation. Residency is for the writer only; no guests or pets. A $200 breakage/damage deposit is required a week prior to arrival and will be returned if there is no damage to the property.
WRITERS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SUBMISSIONS!
