MONTEAGLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — The Sewanee Writers' Conference begins Tuesday with a reading by fiction writer Alice McDermott, the author of six novels and the recipient of a 1998 National Book Award.
The 11 days that follow will include readings by Pulitzer Prize winner Claudia Emerson and two former poets laureate of the U.S. who are also Pulitzer Prize winners, Robert Hass and Mark Strand.
All readings and lectures are free and open to the public. Conference Director Wyatt Prunty says it’s not unusual for aspiring writers to find themselves sitting next to a legendary author at breakfast or lunch.
“The whole idea is to keep things low key to allow these people to be together as much as possible so that the ones who are – you know- carrying the wisdom can hand it over to the ones who are looking for the wisdom.”
The conference offers instruction and criticism to writers through a series of workshops, readings, and lectures in poetry, fiction, and playwriting. The full schedule of events is available at http://www.sewaneewriters.org .