Chesapeake Writers' Conference

This application is for:

1. Adult applicants interested in workshops in four genres (fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and screenwriting for fiction writers). These daily workshops enable serious writers of all experience levels to immerse themselves in the genre of their choice, deepening their writing practice and amplifying their creative output. 
2. High school-age applicants interested in the Youth Workshop. The daily Youth Workshop enables high school-age students (rising 9th - 12 or equivalent) to work closely with our award-winning faculty, practicing various genres and styles, from prose poems to TV scripts, as they explore their potential and strengthen their writing skills. 

Check the appropriate box below to indicate which workshop you are applying to.

Overview

The 13th Annual Chesapeake Writers’ Conference (June 21-27, 2026) invites writers at all experience levels interested in creative writing, literary citizenship, and professional writing to apply for the 2025 conference. 

Additionally, we offer:     

• Undergraduate course credit for college and non-degree-seeking students, e.g., SMCM students and college students from other colleges and universities (ENGL395: Topics in Writing, for two credit hours of college credit from St. Mary's College of Maryland).
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit for teachers (EDUC 790: Teachers' Seminar, for two CPD-eligible graduate credit hours from St. Mary's College of Maryland). 
• A panel of publishing professionals, including one-on-one meetings.
• A full, week-long schedule of events related to professional writing and literary citizenship, i.e., readings, talks, and lectures. 
• Opportunities to network and socialize with other writers.
   

Application Details 

Adult Applicants: 

• You may apply to multiple workshop genres (fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and screenwriting for fiction writers). Ultimately, even if accepted in multiple genres, you must choose a genre workshop (because the workshops meet simultaneously).

High-school-age Applicants: 

• Check only the box for Youth Workshop below (you do not need to choose a genre). 
• If you would like to earn college course credit as a non--degree-seeking student, check the box under Course Credit for for "College Course Credit | ENGL 395 - Special Topics in Writing. Note that the Course Credit option requires a separate registration process. Contact the Director for more information. 

All applicants: 

• For poetry submissions, upload 4-6 poems (in one file/document, please).
• For prose (so, anything but poetry), include no more than 15 pages (double-spaced) of a story, essay, or novel. Please include a short synopsis if your manuscript is excerpted from a longer project. Including more than one piece (complete or excerpts) is fine. Again, please upload just one file/document per genre.
• Please do not include your name anywhere on your writing sample.

College Students Seeking Course Credit: 

• Please check the box below for "College Course Credit | ENGL 395 - Special Topics in Writing" if you plan to register for and pursue course credit. You must pay for course credit when you register for the conference at Eventbrite to be enrolled in College Credit.

Teachers Seeking CPD Credit: 

• Please check the box below for the "Teacher CPD Credit | EDUC 790 - Teachers' Seminar" if you plan to register for and pursue course credit via the MSDE-approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course. You must pay for course credit when registering at Eventbrite to enroll in Teacher's Seminar.

This application is for:

• SMCM students and alumni only.
   

Overview

The 13th Annual Chesapeake Writers’ Conference (June 21-27, 2026) invites SMCM students and alumni (only) interested in creative writing to apply for the 2026 conference scholarships. There will again be a limited number of full scholarships for the conference (again, available only to SMCM students and alumni). Scholars will be provided with accommodations in QA, meals for the conference duration, and placement in a writing workshop best suited to his or her writing sample and interest (fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction). Scholars may be placed in a workshop other than their first choice to balance the roster. 

The scholarship covers tuition, room, and board for the recipient; it does not cover optional course credit. In exchange for this funding, scholarship recipients will assist with preparing for and facilitating the conference. Students: 

Please check the box below for College Credit if you plan to register for and pursue course credit via the Seminar in Creative Writing (ENGL395). You must register with the Registrar and pay for course credit to be enrolled in College Credit.

The SMCM Scholars will form the core conference staff, and each scholarship recipient will be expected to contribute in important ways to the functioning of the conference. The parameters of each scholar’s assignment will be worked out with the Director, but a sampling of the kinds of tasks that will be involved includes:

• Transporting conference guests in state vehicles to and from surrounding airports and county locations. Certification to drive a state vehicle is strongly desirable for all scholars.
• Guiding recreational activities, including excursions to such locations as Solomon’s Island and Calvert Cliffs State Park, and leading participants in recreational activities (i.e., kayaking).
• Organizing and MCing the conference’s participant readings.
• Organizing and guiding activities for the youth workshop attendees.
• Writing and delivering introductions of faculty and visiting writers at nightly open-to-the-public literary events.
• Maintaining the conference's social media outlets before and during the conference.
• Creating a daily newsletter for participants.
• Coordinating with various campus offices to ensure that the conference runs smoothly.
• Facilitating participant check-in and check-out.
• Giving tours of the campus.
• Taking photographs of events for the promotion of future conferences.
• Setting up before events.
• Providing general support for conference participants (i.e., helping participants navigate the campus and the county).
• Organizing and facilitating meetings for participants with agents and publishers.
• Designing tools with which to collect input about the conference.

Additionally, we offer:     

• Undergraduate course credit for SMCM students (two credit hours of college credit from St. Mary's College of Maryland). The scholarship does not cover optional course credit and must be paid by the scholar. 
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit for teachers (two graduate credit hours from St. Mary's College of Maryland). The scholarship does not cover optional course credit and must be paid by the scholar. 
• A day of visiting publishing professionals, including one-on-one meetings.
• A full, week-long schedule of events related to professional writing and literary citizenship, i.e., readings, talks, and lectures. 
• Opportunities to network and socialize with other writers. 

Application Details 

The deadline for applications is March 31, 2026.

Applicants may demonstrate an interest in one or more of the offered workshops.

Please include:

1. A personal statement describing your interest in the Conference and detailing what you hope to gain from the experience.
2. A writing sample in your desired genre (15 pages double-spaced for prose; 4-8 poems for poetry). (If you wish to apply in more than one genre, you are welcome to do so; be clear in your personal statement, which is your first choice, and include samples from each).
3. A current résumé.

If you have questions, you can contact Crystal Oliver, Conference Director, at chesapeakewritersconference@smcm.edu