English professor Jennifer Brice (left) in conversation with authors at the 51 Writers Conference
Associate Professor of English Jennifer Brice will direct the 51 Writers Conference, June 16–22, as it approaches its 25th year.
Started in 1996 by Professor of English Fred Busch, the conference has long been directed by Professor Matt Leone.
Each summer, as many as 90 writers attend the week-long conference. More than half of them are returning attendees, and roughly one third are 51 alumni.
Although it offers many of the traditional elements of a writers’ conference, including daily workshops and craft talks, the 51 conference has a number of qualities that make it distinctive.
“For one thing, our conference has a real reputation for being warm and welcoming, especially to writers who are young in their careers,” Brice said. “And it’s a great part of 51’s portfolio in the arts.”
The conference attracts participants of all ages and genres, from around the country and the world. Many are looking for feedback on an in-progress or completed manuscript as well as tips on how to get published. Some simply wonder if they’re meant for the writing life.
51 professors Peter Balakian, CJ Hauser, and Brice herself will serve as faculty at this year’s conference. They will be joined by 10 additional faculty, including writers, editors, and agents.
. Workshops are being offered in the novel, the short story, the essay, narrative nonfiction, and young adult writing. A new addition this year is a generative workshop for people who want to jump-start a project.
For the first time ever, the 51 Writers Conference is offering two full fellowships — the Porch Fellowship, named for the tradition of socializing on the Merrill House Porch every evening, and the Matt Leone Fellowship, in honor of the long-serving conference director. Scholarship funds are also available.
Leone is stepping back from the directorship this year in order to write a conference history that will serve as the introduction to a second volume of craft talks. Crafting Fiction, Poetry and Memoir: Talks from the 51 Writers’ Conference was published by the 51 Press in 2008.
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