James Merrill's poem "Clearing the Title" is about this house on Elizabeth Street, where he lived with his partner, David Jackson. Their efforts to communicate with spirits by Ouija board were the basis for the Pulitzer Prize winner's epic poem, The Changing Light at Sandover. Alison Lurie, a fellow Key Wester, recounts Merrill and Jackson's supernatural and occult concerns in her memoir, Familiar Spirits.

The Key West Literary Seminar's Writers' Workshop Program provides writers at all stages of development with various opportunities to explore the craft of writing. Each workshop has its own unique focus and eligibility requirements, and class size is limited to between 8 and 12 participants to ensure individual attention. Many of this year’s workshops will focus on the writing of poetry.

The 2010 writers' workshops take place January 11 to January 14. Workshops are four days in length and cost $450, except for Billy Collins's, which is three days and costs $400. An orientation dinner is provided on January 10. In addition to the core workshops (generally from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.), there are optional afternoon and evening activities, including manuscript consultations, informal talks, and open readings.

All writers' workshops for 2010 are now sold out.

For information about where to stay in Key West, see our guide to discounted lodging. To stay informed about new workshops, scholarship opportunities, and other KWLS news, sign up for our email list, subscribe to Littoral, or join other fans and followers on Facebook or Twitter. If you have any questions, please call us, toll-free, at 888-293-9291, or email us at mail@kwls.org.

Register for the 2011 Key West Literary Seminar