Responses from past attendees of SWC |
"If you’re serious about your writing life, consider SWC. At Seaside, I received valuable feedback on my poetry and attended excellent seminars—but most of all, I received the gift of time. Because the conference schedule had plenty of openings, I had time to rest, to enjoy the beach, to make new and lasting friendships, and most importantly of course, time to write. Attending Seaside was a turning point for me because it allowed me an entire week to live a writer’s life. Since attending, I’ve incorporated many of the pleasures there—long walks, quiet mornings, sharing work with fellow writers—into my regular routine. SWC was an opening, a vacation, and a gift."
- Kimberly O'Connor | Young Writers Program Director Lighthouse Writers Workshop & SWC 2015 Fellow in Poetry "I liked that you offered a variety of panels, speakers and events to chose from. I liked that you brought in an editor and an agent that we had an opportunity to meet with and hear from via lecture. I liked the workshop choices offered and felt participants gained useful feedback...I think the timing in May is unique; the location is certainly very special. The partnership with the Seaside School and with Walton County certainly makes it very unique. Considering that the conference is in its early years and the number of participants was relatively small (which was an asset, a way for folks to get to know one another), you included quite a diverse and robust number of offerings—a YA author lecture, a talk by both an agent and an editor (and they were available for one-on-ones), workshops in poetry and fiction, and more." - Linda S. Kass, SWC 2015, Author of Tasa's Song, lindakass.com "Craft talks, workshops, Cabana chairs!, down-to-earth and supportive co-directors, great food catering & social events, perfect cottages, teaching in the schools, readings including youth readings, just about everything. Somehow, I came away a more confident writer... now I seem to feel more like a real writer. I submitted my novel for the International Rubery Book Award, and it got shortlisted. I might not have been in the award-submitting mode without the boost I got from the fellowship." - Rebecca Snow, 2015 SWC Fellow in Poetry. Check out Rebecca's blog post for more about her SWC experiences and some great pictures: http://rebeccasnow.co/2015/05/22/seaside-writers-conference/ "The Seaside Writers' Conference is the perfect blend of work and productive play. The creative writing workshops run by Matt Bondurant and Seth Brady Tucker are top-notch, and visiting editors, agents, and readers provide plenty of insight. And yet, ultimately, my favorite thing about the conference was how time for writing and reflecting on those events was built into the schedule. From contemplating workshoppers' insights into my short fiction to thinking about the implications of a guest reader's work on my own, I had plenty of opportunity to not only learn valuable lessons about craft, but also to apply them. And what better place to do that than at the beach?" - Blake Sanz, 2015 SWC Fellow in Fiction |