Join us for five days of small-group workshops, craft talks, evening salons, and quiet writing time in the beautiful Green Mountains of Southern Vermont. Whether you’re looking to take your writing practice to the next level, jumpstart an existing project, or simply recharge your creative battery, we think you’ll find what you’re looking for at this intimate conference hosted at the historic Equinox Resort & Spa in Manchester, Vermont. Be part of the inaugural year of this new writers’ conference in New England.

Workshop Intensives
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Choose one workshop intensive for the week. Workshop intensives will meet every morning, Monday through Friday. To foster growth and participation, enrollment in each workshop intensive is limited to 12-15 participants.

Creating Juicy Stories and Characters with Chris Wells 

Writing Compelling Personal Essays with Sari Botton 

Cultivating a Devotion to Writing with Justen Ahren

Conference Overview
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The conference starts Sunday evening with a reception, dinner, and kick-off event where all three instructors will present to the group. Monday through Wednesday, you’ll enjoy a light breakfast and a daily road map meeting before you head off to your workshop. After a chef-inspired lunch buffet, enjoy an afternoon craft talk with one of our instructors or a special guest. A quick snack break and then it’s off to an evening salon where you’ll have the opportunity to share your work, or listen and learn from your fellow writers. 

After Thursday’s breakfast and workshop, you’ll head into town for lunch on your own—or with new friends!—and then reconvene for a special Staff Picks presentation at the fabulous Northshire Bookstore, where you’ll be sure to fill your “to be read” list with terrific ideas. Thursday evening your conference fee includes priority seating at our Capstone Event, featuring author, speaker, and teacher Megan Mayhew Bergman at the Manchester Community Library. Friday morning after breakfast, we’ll break into workshop groups for one last session before we say our goodbyes.

Conference Fee
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*please read the cancellation policy before registering

All prices are exclusive of lodging
$899 Early Bird Price through November 30, 2024
$999 Full Price starting December 1, 2024

Conference Fee Includes:
Monday - Friday: Intensive Workshop instruction each morning
Monday - Wednesday: Afternoon Craft Talks
Monday - Wednesday: Evening Salons
Thursday Afternoon: Staff Picks Event at Northshire Bookstore
Thursday Evening:  Capstone Event at the Manchester Community Library with Megan Mayhew Bergman 
Shuttle service is available to Manchester on Thursday

Meals Included:
Sunday: Evening reception (cash bar)
Sunday: Welcome dinner and kick-off event
Monday -Friday: Morning Wake Up buffet with tea and coffee available all day
Monday - Wednesday: Buffet Lunch
Monday - Wednesday: Cookie Break in the afternoon

Host Hotel Lodging
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A special group rate of $139 per night is available for conference attendees (plus taxes and a $20 per day resort fee.)  The rate is per room, single or double occupancy, so coming with a writing friend is a great idea! When you stay at the host hotel, you’ll have access to the luxurious Equinox Spa with an indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, and locker room with steam room and sauna. Fitness classes and spa appointments are also available, even for non-hotel guests.

We will email registered attendees a special booking link. Local attendees are not required to stay at the hotel to participate. Commuting is fine!

Since Manchester is a vacation destination, plenty of other lodging is available.

Getting here:
The Equinox Resort and Spa
3567 Main Street
Manchester, Vermont 05254

Manchester, Vermont is a 90-minute drive from either the Albany International Airport or the Albany–Rensselaer Amtrak Station.

Driving time from major cities:
Manhattan, NY: 3 hours 45 minutes
Boston, MA: 3 hours 40 minutes
Hartford, CT: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Burlington, VT: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Montreal, QC: 3 hours and 50 minutes

Questions? Email SoVTWritersConference@gmail.com