I had an amazing experience. Simply put, the conference changed my writing life.

—Bernard Lumpkin, 2010 

 

From workshop to readings, I pretty much attended it all. I feel like this week was the week I needed to rekindle my relationship with my writing.

—Jenny Burkholder, 2010

 

I have attended many serious summer writing conferences and this is by far the best of them. One of the best things I have ever done for myself and my writing.

—Lisa Ellis, 2010

 

This conference was a gift. When I saw the promotional materials, I assumed that much of it was hype—but that if even half was true, the trip would be worth it. All was true! Especially useful was the “feel” of a genuine writer’s community. After attending another conference that practiced a sort of caste system where faculty rarely spoke with students, let alone sat with them, I was astounded by the convivial atmosphere among students and faculty, and the strong sense of collective artistic enterprise.

—Sonia Baku, 2010

 

Our workshop was wonderful – the best I’ve ever been in. I have honestly never received such helpful feedback. I arrived home from this conference feeling ecstatic – no exaggeration – and completely recharged. Before I came I had a lot of trouble sitting down to write, and had become quite discouraged, mostly due to lack of a writing community where I live and difficulties getting published. During the week at VCFA I rediscovered my love for writing and literature, and came home feeling more like myself than I have in a long time. 

—Karen Condon, 2010

 

As always, what benefits me most is to be in an environment where I feel seen, heard, understood, known. It's so easy in my wide-world life to forget why I fight for writing in my life, why I write; so easy to be watchful for who's getting published, who's won competitions, who's getting jobs. When I come to Vermont, I remember why I do this. I remember what matters. I remember there are hundreds and hundreds of good writers who write to make art, because language matters. I remember and I get balanced.  I treasure the camaraderie of faculty and students, how we are respectful of where we each are on our own continuum. I come to Vermont to remember.

—Dawn Haines, 2010

 

This was a truly transformative experience for me. Everything from the one-on-one with the faculty mentor, to lunches with other faculty members, meeting up with old friends, making new ones, how closely my group bonded and supported each other, the great quality of the readings, the wonderful setting of Montpelier….I cannot say enough about how much I learned and grew. I hope this becomes a yearly event for me.

—Daryl Morazzini, 2010

 

This was my second summer at the Conference, and I have to say that I was, once again, astounded by the feedback from my workshop group, and thoroughly blown away by the fantastic writing around the table. I came to Vermont this summer directly from another major national conference which was shockingly disorganized. Having experienced that made me appreciate all the more the extreme care and detailed attention Ellen and her staff consistently bring to this conference. It is interesting how small things enhance what is already a stellar artistic experience. 

—JJ Penna, 2010

 

I love this conference.  The whole ethos is supportive yet rigorous.  My workshop was phenomenal, an amazing experience.  Our leader and my fellow participants made it intensely productive, funny, and often quite profound.  I plan to keep working with the people I met in this group, and that is invaluable. 

—Anne Shaughnessy, 2010

 

The experience, for me, was overwhelmingly positive. I made some great friends among both conference attendees and faculty—friends I am confident will be life- lasting. I felt a true sense of community, making it difficult to want to leave a place that conjures up the word utopia.

—Melissa Cronin, 2010

 

My workshop experience was the best of any I’ve had during my MFA or anywhere else. The quality of the submitted material and level of discussions were very high and the small number of participants made for easy conversation. On top of that, huge big fat kudos to the staff for concocting the best possible schedule of social and special events. The pace is definitely brisk but I really love the opportunity for total immersion.

—Amy Weingartner, 2009

 

Perhaps it’s the groovy vibes of Vermont that make the VCFA Postgrad Conference so mellow and yet so vibrant, but I don’t think so. What really makes this conference stand out as an incredibly positive and fertile ground for creative activity is the fact that people—students and teachers and staff—do not take themselves overly seriously. This does not mean that people are not serious about their work; the packed schedule and the nonstop conversations at every table about the art and craft of writing certainly create an atmosphere of hard work. But people aren’t “into” their publication history, or yours; they honestly want to work on new material together, in the spirit of raising the bar for everyone. 

—Elizabeth Barbato, 2009

 

I can summarize my experience in a word: magical. The conference was everything I’d hoped for and more. I felt completely supported and welcomed by the conference staff, the faculty, and my fellow participants. We worked as equals—there were many highly accomplished faculty and students, but thankfully, no “stars.” There was none of the competitiveness or elitism that one finds in many MFA programs, conferences, and similar gatherings. The conference gave me the sense of “we’re all in this together as writers” that I’ve long sought but never found. It’s an experience that has already had a profound effect on my writing and my view of myself as a writer.

—Marcia Trahan, 2009