Conference Information--from A to Z!
Appointments--Conferees may sign up for fifteen-minute, one-on-one appointments with editors. For a list of the editors who will be available, please click on faculty.
Auction--One of the highlights of the week is the GREAT St. Davids auction on Wednesday evening. The proceeds go to finance the good work going on at St. Davids, primarily our scholarship program for those writers who need financial help to spend the week with us. If possible, please bring something to contribute. We accept both new and used items.
Book Tables--Persons attending St. Davids may purchase books on the craft of writing and books written by conference faculty and conferees. For a 20% consignment fee, we will gladly sell books you have written and tapes you have produced.
Cancellations--We cannot reimburse conferees for cancellations received after June 9.
Chapel--A morning chapel service with a guest speaker, worship, and prayer, will be held Tuesday through Friday at 7:30 AM in beautiful Harbison Chapel, which is adjacent to the dormitory.
Classrooms--Classes will be held in Grove City's Hall of Arts and Letters. 
Commuters--We encourage commuters to become as involved as possible. Lunch and all scheduled activities are included in full-time and daily commuter tuition rates. Breakfast and dinner can be purchased separately in the campus dining room. (Those registering for a single morning class pay only for that class.)
Contests--All conferees who attend at least one workshop daily all week may enter the writing contests, to compete for cash prizes and certificates. Please click on contests to view the categories and rules.
Critique Groups--Critique groups in a variety of styles--juvenile, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, etc.--will meet for a couple afternoon sessions during the conference. Bring your works- in-progress for review and critique by your peers.
Discounts--Any full-time conferee who pays in full by June 2 may deduct $10. Any full-time conferee who attended the Stoneboro mini-conference in April of the same year, or the Montoursville mini-conference in October of the previous year, is entitled to a discount.
If this is your first time at the main conference and you also attended the Stoneboro or Montoursville one, deduct $25. If you have attended the main conference before and were also at Stoneboro or Montoursville, deduct $10. If you bring a friend as a full-time conferee, deduct $25. See the appropriate section on the registration form.
If you register for next year's conference at this year's conference, we will guarantee you this year's rates. See the registrar.
Evening Activities--Evening activities at the conference will include:
- Monday--Keynote Address, "The Christian Writer as God's Instrument to Repair and Rebuild Broken Lives" by Barbara Hibschman
- Tuesday--Literary Coffeehouse
- Wednesday--The Great St. Davids Auction
- Thursday--Fun Night
- Friday--Awards Ceremony
Evening Meditation--Conferees may end their day with a time of worship, praise, and Bible study in one of the dorm lounges.
Freebies--A wide variety of guidelines, sample issues of magazines, and book catalogs will be available. Conferees can save themselves postage while building their file of marketing possibilities. New conferees will also receive a free CD that contains writer's guidelines from over 60 publications.
Group Picture--A group picture of conference participants will be taken, weather permitting.
Hotels--Conferees who prefer to stay in a hotel rather than a dormitory must make their own reservations and pay for their own rooms. The conference will consider them commuters and charge according to those rates. You can find a list of Grove City lodging places by clicking on hotels. These are simply listed in alphabetical order, as the conference cannot recommend any establishment in particular.
Literary Readings--Conferees may bring a short writing sample to share at "open mike" sessions held during evening refeshments. More details will be provided.
Marketing Consultation--Sally Stuart will meet with you for fifteen minutes to discuss the appropriate markets for your work. The fee for this consultation is $35.
Membership--All persons who attend the annual June conference automatically become members of the St. Davids Christian Writers' Association. Those who can not attend may purchase a one-year membership for $15. Membership includes a subscription to the St. Davids newsletter, The Upper Case.
Newsletter--All persons who attend the conference and members of the St. Davids Christian Writers' Association receive a complimentary subscription to The Upper Case. Published three times a year--in spring, fall, and winter, each issue of this "instructional magazine for writers" includes a featured author.
The Upper Case also offers columns on computer advice, writing poetry, etc., as well as meditations for writers, poetry by its readers, and "bits and bytes" about the accomplishments of St. Davids conferees. The newsletter is also available by subscription for a cost of $10.
Published Works--Conferees may bring copies of works they have had published since last June. A display of those works will be arranged.
Registration--Conference registration begins on Monday, June 16, 2008 at 2:00 PM at a location to be announced later. Commuters may either register at that time or between 8:30 and 9:00 AM, Tuesday through Friday. Full-time commuters should register on Tuesday morning. Single-day commuters may wait until the morning of the day they plan to attend.
Room & Board--Room and board includes three meals per day at the college cafeteria located in the dormitory (from supper on Monday to breakfast on Saturday) and a dormitory room for five nights (Monday through Friday). The fee is $240 for a double room and $285 for a single room.
Rooms--Most conferees are housed in the Mary Anderson Pew West Hall or South Hall. There is a restroom between every two dorm rooms.
Scholarships--Limited scholarships and work-study awards are available. Check the appropriate box on the registration form for further information or click on scholarship chairperson to e-mail Jean Stewart. You can also click on scholarship to print off an application. All requests for scholarships and work studies MUST be received by May 17.
If you or your writers' group would like to sponsor a needy conferee or wish to contribute to the scholarship fund, send inquiries and donations to Bonnie Brechbill, SDCWC Treasurer, 498 E. Washington St., Chambersburg, PA 17201. Please make checks payable to SDCWC, designating that they are for the scholarship fund.
Snacks--The conference often serves free snacks after the evening programs--usually soft drinks, crackers or cookies, etc. Even if you aren't hungry, this is a good chance to meet and chat with other conferees and staff. The conference also hosts a pizza party on Friday night after the awards ceremony.
Teens--Although we have sponsored teen days in past years, the college's insurance now requires background checks of all adults involved in programs for minors. Since that isn't economically feasible for us, we regret that we will have to require all conferees to be at least 18 years of age.
Timothy Program--If you are a first-time St. Davids conferee, we welcome you! We have established a mentor program we call the Timothy Program to help make your life during conference week a little easier. If you wish to participate, we will match you with an experienced writer/conferee who shares your writing interests and can answer your questions.
If you are a new conferee who'd like someone to show you the ropes, or a returning conferee who'd like to help someone find the ropes, please click on Timothy Program to e-mail Janyce Brawn. Let her know how you'd like to partipate.
Tuition--The full-time tuition fee is $250 for resident conferees (those also paying room and board). For commuters, it is $300. Commuter tuition for a single day (including the above-mentioned fees) is $80 or, for a single continuing class, $130.
Tutorials--A private tutor will work with you, during four 45-minute sessions, to analyze and rewrite your manuscript to prepare it for publication. Once you register, information will be sent regarding length of manuscript(s) and where to send it (them).
A book proposal or full-length play tutorial typically requires a synopsis and two to three chapters of the book or one full act and a synopsis of the play. The charge for it is $125. A tutorial covering articles, short stories, poetry, or one-act plays is $95. It usually covers 3 to 5 manuscripts for short stories and articles, a single one-act play, or 8 to 10 poems.
The tutors for 2008 are as follows:
- Nonfiction and fiction book proposals: Melanie Rigney
- Children's and young adult literature: Marsha Hubler
- Plays and short fiction: Marjorie Stewart
- Poetry: Shirley Stevens
- Personal experience, nonfiction articles, and opinion pieces: Bonnie Brechbill or Melanie Rigney
You can find information about Melanie and Marsha on our faculty page and about Marjorie and Shirley on our mini-conference page.
Used Book Sale--We also sponser a used book sale during conference week. Conferees may bring books they no longer want and purchase others at garage-sale prices. The books do not necessarily have to be Christian or about writing, as long as they do not contradict Christian values.
X-tra Information--Do you need more information or have additional questions? Please e-mail your inquiries to Audrey Stallsmith, registrar or Lora Zill, director. Emergency phone numbers, directions to Geneva College, recommendations on what to bring, and other information will be provided with confirmation of registration.