Taos Summer Writers Conference: Resident Award

Taos2014

photo courtesy taoswritersconference.blogspot.com

Attention writers! Every year, the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference puts out the call for emerging writers to apply for the Taos Resident Award, which affords the recipient the opportunity to attend a conference workshop of their choice (up to $700 value) for the following year’s gathering. Now’s the time — applications are due in just a few weeks!

The contest is open to residents of Taos County and recognizes excellence in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction. The scholarship, the intention of which is to foster new talent, was started by Leo Love, a dedicated supporter and participant of the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference. His generosity has ensured that new writers who have exhibited talent will have the chance to attend this event and further hone their craft.

The Taos Summer Writers’ Conference, hosted by the University of New Mexico is an annual week-long event that draws writers from all over the world. It has been voted one of the top ten writers’ conferences by USA Today, and offers workshops, lectures and publishing consultations. The conference has been held every year at the Sagebrush Inn since its inception in July 1999. While it maintains steady growth, it has a laid-back style (it is in Taos, after all), that led one participant to remark that it feels more like a family reunion than a conference.

In the spirit of inclusiveness, it also offers many events, such as author readings, that are open to the public as well as conference participants.

The time to enter is now – the scholarship application deadline is Friday, December 19. Details about submission guidelines for this award, and others, can be found here on the Taos Summer Writers’ Conference website.

Happy writing!