Workshops & Retreats…33rd Annual Southeastern Writers Workshop

This column briefly profiles writers' workshops, retreats, seminars and conferences. Inclusion in this column is not an endorsement.

What is Southeastern Writers Workshop?

Sponsored by the Southeastern Writers Association (SWA), the workshop runs June 15-19, 2008 at Epworth-by-the-Sea on St. Simons Island. It offers classes in a number of writing areas, including fiction, humor, inspirational writing, nonfiction and others. In addition, the instructors, who are some of the best writers in the Southeast, will meet with attendees who submitted manuscripts for 15-minute evaluations. There are a number of contests with cash prizes.

Who are the instructors?


Dr. Dennis Hensley: author of six novels, 39 nonfiction books, and more than 3000 newspaper and magazine articles, teaches inspirational writing.

Marjory Wentworth: Poet Laureate of South Carolina, twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize, author of the collected poems What the Water Gives Me, Noticing Eden, teaches poetry.

Dorothy Fletcher: author The Cruelest Months, Zen Fishing and Other Southern Pleasures, The Week of Dream Horses, teaches nonfiction writing.


Brian Jay Corrigan: author of The Poet of Loch Ness which won Corrigan the 2006 Georgia Author of the Year for Debut Fiction, and numerous stages plays, teaches novel writing.

Cappy Hall Rearick: author of Simply Southern, Simply Southern Ease and five newspaper/magazine columns, teaches humor writing.


Harry Rubin: author of Limericks and Other Stuff, Chasing Pirates and The Counterfeit War, columnist and short story writer, teaches limerick writing.

Bobbie Christmas: owner of Zebra Communications in Atlanta, editor and author of Write in Style, teaches Fundamentals of Writing.

Emily Carmain: professional editor, teaches 10 Common Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.

Charlotte Babb: SWA publications editor, SWA webmaster, author, teaches Blogging for Writers.



There is also a "Special Writers Critique Workshop" running concurrently with a limit of 20 participants. The instructors will meet in groups of five with advanced writers for two hours each day of the workshop, one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. The instructors are:

Vicki Hinze: author of 21 novels, three nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles.

Marge Smith (aka Elizabeth Sinclair): author of over a dozen novels and instructional books.

How much do the workshops cost?


Southeastern Writers Workshop: $359/before April 1, $399/after April 1, daily rates available, includes SWA membership dues.
Special Writers Critique Workshop: $100
15-minute evaluations with instructors: Free with 3 days or more tuition fee.

The Details:

Southeastern Writers Workshop: June 15-19, 2008, Epworth-by-the-Sea, St. Simons Island, GA - $359/$399 with daily rates available, contests with cash awards, free 15-evaluations with instructors.

Special Writers Critique Workshop: June 15-19, 2008, Epworth-by-the-Sea, St. Simons Island, GA - $100, limited 20 participants.


See the SWA website for detailed bios, submission guidelines, forms and lodging information.