Writers in Paradise is a writing conference that takes place every year in January at Eckerd College. Co-founded nearly twenty years ago by Dennis Lehane and Sterling Watson, this conference seeks to provide talented and hardworking writers of all genres the opportunity to work under the guidance of a wide array of successful authors. 

In 2022, their workshop faculty will include Major Jackson, Ann Hood, Emily Bernard, Michael Koryta, Andre Dubus, Laura Lippman, Stewart O’Nan, Ana Menendez, Sterling Watson and yours truly. For an entire week, the conference works provide an open, inclusive, and nurturing environment where creativity, critical awareness and writing techniques can be exercised, fostered and encouraged.

They are also introducing a series of Pruitt-Meinke Fellowships for writers from historically underrepresented populations and which will cover lodging, tuition, and provide a stipend toward travel and meals, for our entire 8-day conference. 

The awards are made possible by a generous gift from Martha Rudy Wallace in honor of Eckerd Professor Emeritus and former Florida Poet Laureate, Peter Meinke, and from the Pruitt family in honor of the late Dr. Crayton Pruitt.

These fellowships (as many as four in the first year) aim to address the challenges of taking time away from family, work, and studies to come to Florida during a peak tourism week for prices in flights and lodging.  The hope is to make the conference offerings available to as broad an array of writers as possible and to foster the creative spirit that allows each to share the words that matter to all.

More information about their conference, 2022 workshops, application and fellowship details and deadlines can be found at writersinparadise.com