The Key West Literary Seminar offers three annual awards to emerging writers of exceptional merit living in the United States. The Joyce Horton Johnson Fiction Award, the Marianne Russo Award, and the Scotti Merrill Memorial Award each provide full tuition to our January Seminar and Writers' Workshop Program, round-trip airfare, seven nights' lodging, support for living expenses while in Key West, and the opportunity to appear on stage during the Seminar.

Past KWLS award-winners include Patricia Engel (Marianne Russo Award, 2009), whose debut story collection, Vida, is coming from Grove/Atlantic this Fall; and Nami Mun (Joyce Horton Johnson Fiction Award, 2008), who went on the publish the critically acclaimed Miles From Nowhere.

In addition to these named awards, we provide limited financial assistance, primarily in the form of fee reductions, to teachers, librarians, writers, and students who would otherwise not be able to attend the Seminar or Writers' Workshop Program. We may also provide discounted lodging options to a small number of applicants.

The application window for the 2011 awards and financial assistance program is now open; complete information will be found here.

Course offerings for our January 2011 Writers' Workshop Program have been announced. Faculty will include NPR's "voice of books," Alan Cheuse, former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, and PEN/Faulkner Foundation co-founder Susan Shreve. Each workshop has its own unique focus, ranging from poetry to memoir writing to fiction to oral storytelling. In line with the theme for our 29th annual Seminar, "The Hungry Muse," many of this year's workshops will also consider the role of food as creative inspiration.

Our Workshop Program is designed to provide writers at all stages of development with various opportunities to explore the craft of writing, and each class is limited to between 8 and 12 participants to ensure individual attention. Workshops are generally four days in length and cost $450. They usually take place in the morning, and include optional afternoon and evening activities, including manuscript consultations, informal talks, and open readings. An orientation dinner is provided on January 9.

The Workshop Program is distinct from the Seminar; you may attend either or both. This year's workshops take place January 9-13, in between the first and second sessions of the Seminar. Visit our Writers' Workshop Program page for complete information about each workshop.