The poet James Merrill, a winner of the Pulitzer
Prize, lived here for many years with his partner,
David Jackson. He wrote about the couple's efforts to
communicate with spirits in "The Changing Light at
Sandover." Their relationship, and interest in
communication with the afterlife, is chronicled in
"Familiar Spirits: A Memoir of James Merrill and David
Jackson" by Alison Lurie, who has wintered in Key West
for many years.
2009 Workshop Program
The Key West Literary Seminar's Writers' Workshop Program is designed to provide writers at all stages of development with various opportunities to explore the craft of writing. Each core workshop is limited to between 8 and 12 participants to ensure individual attention. Many of this year’s workshops will focus on the writing of historical fiction.
The 2009 writers' workshops will run from Monday, January 12, to Thursday, January 15. An orientation dinner will be held the evening of Sunday, January 11. In addition to the morning core workshops (generally from 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.), there will be optional afternoon and evening activities, including manuscript consultations, informal talks, and open readings. This year the Eden House will again serve as our conference headquarters and the home for our expanded writers' workshop program. The Old Town Manor will provide additional workshop accommodations. (For more information, see Lodging.)
The cost of the three-day workshop led by Billy Collins is $350; it runs from Tuesday, January 13 through Thursday, January 15. All other workshops are four days in length and cost $450. Workshop price includes the optional Sunday night orientation dinner. There is a $50 discount when a four-day workshop is combined with the seminar. The combined seminar/workshop price is $895. The combined Billy Collins workshop/seminar price is $845. You must choose one of the eight workshops, as all workshops run concurrently. Please remit a $100 (per person) deposit for the workshop program; this deposit is in addition to your seminar deposit(s), if applicable.
Each core workshop has its own theme and eligibility requirements. The workshop program can be taken independent of the Seminar. Limited financial assistance may be available to help defray the cost of tuition and lodging.
Individual consultations with Timothy Seldes will be available for an additional fee. If you are interested in receiving more information, please email us at mail@keywestliteraryseminar.org.
