Chesapeake Writers' Conference
There are presently no open calls for submissions.
WELCOME, WRITERS.
The thirteenth annual Chesapeake Writers’ Conference will be held from June 21 to June 27, 2026, on the St. Mary’s College campus in St. Mary’s City, Maryland. The conference features lectures, craft talks, readings, panel discussions, and daily workshops in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and screenwriting for fiction writers. We also feature a fantastic Youth Workshop for high school-age writers, with two options for Youth Workshop participation (full or workshop-only).
Attendees enjoy a week of wonder and writing surrounded by woods, water, and words.
The 2026 faculty, additional speakers, Writer-in-Residence and other details are to be announced on our Our website (linked here) and social media accounts (linked below); check there for details.
There is no application fee, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. That said, part of our charm is that Chesapeake is intimate and special, and we plan to keep it that way! Spaces are limited; once a workshop is full, it's full, so apply and register as soon as possible to reserve your spot.
If you’d like to sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest news, updates, and special offers related to the Conference, please email us at chesapeakewritersconference@smcm.edu.
We hope you’ll join us in 2026 for wonder, inspiration, and so much more.
Write on the river,
Crystal Oliver
Director, Chesapeake Writers’ Conference