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.
Campus--The lovely and historic Grove City College campus--founded in 1876--was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who also designed New York's Central Park and is considered the founder of American landscape architecture.
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 the old MAP dining room in the dormitory.
Classrooms--Classes will be held in Grove City's Hall of Arts and Letters. The Hall is about a four-minute walk, uphill, from the dorm. Conferees not wanting to make that walk may drive their cars from the dorm parking lot to the lot beside the Hall.
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 6 may deduct $10. Anyone who brings a new full-time conferee may also deduct $10.
Evening Activities--Evening activities at the conference will include:
- Tuesday--Keynote Address, Virelle Kidder
- Wednesday--The Great St. Davids Auction
- Thursday--Literary Coffee House
- 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--New conferees will 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.
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.
PDF File--For a printable PDF file that includes faculty and workshop information, a schedule, and a registration form, please click on the following link.
St. Davids Christian Writers' Conference PDF File
Physical Disabilities--If you have any physical disabilities, please be sure to mention that fact on your registration form, so we can assign you a room on the ground or first floor. There are no elevators in the dormitory.
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 Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 2:00 PM in the South Lounge of the Mary Anderson Pew dormitory. Commuters may either register at that time or between 8:30 and 9:00 AM, Wednesday through Friday. Full-time commuters should register on Wednesday 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 Tuesday to breakfast on Saturday) and a dormitory room for four nights (Tuesday through Friday). The fee is $215 for a double room and $260 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. There are no elevators in the dorm, so conferees with physical disabilities should inform the registrar that they will need ground or first floor rooms.
Scholarships--We offer a limited number of work-study scholarships. These generally cover tuition, but the conferee must pay his/her own room and board and do some work for the conference--serving snacks, helping at the book table, etc.--in return.
This year we are also offering a new full scholarship in honor of two of our emeritus board members, Eileen Berger and Evelyn Minshull. It will be awarded to a person who is actively pursuing a writing career, both creating and submitting manuscripts.
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 MUST be received by April 30.
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 Susan Lower, SDCWC Treasurer, 1142 High St., Williamsport, PA 17701. 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 learn 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 $225 for resident conferees (those also paying room and board). For commuters, it is $270. Commuter tuition for a single day (including the above-mentioned fees) is $90 or, for a single continuing class, $100.
Tutorials--A private tutor will work with you for a half hour to 
critique your manuscript. Once you register, information will be sent regarding length of manuscript(s) and where to send it (them).
The charge for a half hour tutorial is $35. But, if you think you will need longer than that, you may purchase additional half-hour slots for the same price. This year's tutors will be:
- Fiction: David Pierce
- Nonfiction: David Mills
- Children's: Susan Swan
- Poetry: Shirley Stevens
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 Grove City College, recommendations on what to bring, and other information will be provided with confirmation of registration.