Five days of workshops, writing, & community.
April 4-9, 2027
We create space for you and your writing.
We believe in the radical power of the simple act of writing.
We value the importance of community, creative expression, and the incredible cross-pollination that happens when people get together to put new writing into the world.
We’re dedicated to creating space for you and your work, for learning and connecting, and for making lasting friendships.
We’re saving a space for you. Come join us.
What writers have to say about the Southern Vermont Writers’ Conference
“As a traditionally and self-published novelist, I've spent years exploring ways to strengthen my stories and get them out into the world. The Southern Vermont Writers' Conference reminded me of the incomparable value of the kind of insights and encouragement that come only from being in the company of other writers working toward those goals.”
- Bryan Wiggins, author of Autumn Imago, SVWC 2026
“So many amazing writers and poets applied to this program; I'm humbled and honored to have been selected for a scholarship. I'm so glad I gave myself those five days to expand my writing community at this conference. Plus, I got to experience all the exciting things Manchester has to offer!”
- Zorina Frey, Pushcart Prize-winning poet and SVWC 2026 Scholarship Winner
“What a wonderful Conference. It was an escape to writer's heaven in gorgeous Vermont. The connection with one's tribe of writers is the best community to be in. So well run and organized. It was a tonic to my writing brain. I returned home filled with ideas from workshops and ready to get to work. HIGHLY recommend.”
- Sally Schloss, author of Helping Howard and SVWC 2026 Scholarship Winner
2027 Workshop Instructors
Chris Wells: Fiction
Chris Wells has been teaching writers of all kinds for fifteen years in New York City, LA, the Hudson Valley and online. Through weekend intensives, weekly writing groups, one-off workshops and one-on-one sessions, Wells guides people to find the deeper truth and meaning in what they’re writing, inspires folks to develop a writing practice, and to reach their goals.
Wells teaches regularly at Omega Institute, and also at Actors’ Center NYC, LA County Museum of Art, Cal State Sacramento, CalArts, the Rowe Center and more.
Elissa Altman: Memoir
Elissa Altman is renowned for her generous, warm-hearted guidance around the thorny issues of permission, family secrets, and owning your own story.
She’s also the award-winning author of Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create and the memoirs Motherland, Treyf, and Poor Man's Feast. Her new book, Where You Used to Be will be released in 2027.
"Elissa Altman’s marvelous and passionate new book, Permission, is going to breathe freedom into your life. It is a clarion call for writers to tell their hard, lifelong truth, no matter how many decades they have agreed to stay silent. Lies and cover-ups won’t save you. This book just might." —Anne Lamott
Justen Ahren: Poetry
Justen Ahren is the founder of Devotion to Writing, a workshop, residency, and retreat helping writers cultivate a daily writing practice. He served as West Tisbury Poet Laureate from 2012-2015, and Martha’s Vineyard Poet Laureate from 2015-2018. Justen founded and directed Noepe Center for Literary Arts from 2007-2017. He’s published two collections of poetry, A Strange Catechism, and A Machine for Remember, and a forthcoming book on creating a daily writing practice based on his teaching writing for more than 10 years.
2027 Conference Location
We’ll be taking over the Inn at Manchester in Manchester, Vermont, for the entire conference. And we’re including everything you need to nestle in and focus 100% on your writing! Including:
A delicious welcome banquet
Beautifully appointed rooms, each with its own character
New, quiet heating and cooling in each room
A hot breakfast every morning is included with your stay (for Inn at Manchester guests only)
Catered lunches every day
Catered dinners every evening
(Quiet) live music in the Celebration Barn on Wednesday night
Unscheduled time for writing every afternoon and evening
A gorgeous, centrally located setting with a fire pit and a pub
