2024 Chesapeake Writers’ Conference Scholarship Application (SMCM students only)

NOTE: THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE FOR SMCM STUDENTS ONLY. THERE WILL BE AN INFORMATION SESSION ABOUT THE CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE COURSE CREDIT OPTION, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 IN UPPER MONTY AT 11:45 AM.

Deadline: April 12, 2024 (midnight, EST)

There will be a limited number of full scholarships to the conference (available only to SMCM students). Scholarships cover tuition, room, and board. In exchange for this funding, scholarship recipients will assist with the preparation for and facilitation of the conference.

The Chesapeake Writers’ Conference invites SMCM students interested in creative writing to apply for the conference scholarships. Scholars will be provided with shared accommodations in the Townhouse Greens, meals for the duration of the conference, and placement in a writing workshop best suited to his or her writing sample and interest (fiction, poetry, songwriting, screenwriting, translation, or creative nonfiction).

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 in all scholars.
• Guiding recreational activities, including excursions to such locations as Solomon’s Island and Calvert Cliffs State Park, as well as 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 social media outlets before and during the conference.
• Creating a daily newsletter for participants.
• Coordinating with various campus offices in order to assure that the conference runs smoothly.
• Facilitating participant check-in and check-out.
• Giving tours of the campus.
• Taking photographs of events for 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.

Deadline for applications is April 12, 2024 (midnight, EST).

APPLY HERE (EXTERNAL SITE; YOU WILL NEED TO CREATE A PROFILE FOR SUBMITTABLE.COM)

Please include:

1. A personal statement describing your interest in the conference and detailing what you would 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; just 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: chesapeakewritersconference@smcm.edu