Ever want to step away from the constant distractions of everyday life and spend a week with your fellow writers immersed in your craft and drawing inspiration from the literary community? Here’s your chance.

This year, we’ll host this gathering in Austin for the first time. Think of it as a staycation if you live in town – or a chance to experience the city’s literary community firsthand if you’re from outside ATX.

Kicking off with an evening orientation on Monday, August 14, the event includes five full days of classes (Tuesday through Saturday, August 15-19) and several special evening events throughout the week, designed to showcase some of Austin’s great offerings and venues.

Each registrant selects the class they’ll participate in (students stay in the same class for the duration of the event), choosing from six topics all taught by experienced instructors with winning credentials. Each class is capped at 20 registrants allowing for an intimate classroom experience with plenty of opportunities for students to ask questions, receive specific feedback, form lasting connections with fellow participants, and more. The classes are open to writers of all genres and categories and are appropriate for both beginners and more seasoned writers (note: this year, we have split our fiction class into two classes, beginner and intermediate).

Throughout the week, the Writers’ League will host (or co-host with local partners) evening events open to all registrants. These offerings – including panel discussions, presentations, and readings – will take place at venues around Austin and will showcase the city’s thriving literary (and arts) scene.