Bread Loaf Writers' Guest Handbook

Dear Bread Loaf Guest,

We would like to welcome you to Bread Loaf. Bread Loaf fosters communities where open-mindedness, respect, and appreciation are truly valued and where each person can thrive and benefit from their time on the mountain. We’re glad you’re coming and look forward to working with you. Below you’ll see information that we hope will be helpful to you as you prepare for your visit.

Arrival and Departure

Please plan to arrive on your scheduled arrival date.

Bread Loaf Guests should check in at the Front Desk upon arrival to get your housing information. Then, please look for us in the Bread Loaf Inn Back Office (located at the back of the building). We’ll have your guest folder. The folder will contain details about the conference including a schedule of conference events. Note: If you will arrive later than 5 p.m., please call the Bread Loaf office at 802-443-5286 to let us know.

On your departure day, please plan to gather your things together by 9 a.m.and either leave them in the corner of your room until you head off campus, or if you like you can bring them over to the Back Office and leave them there. This will give the housekeeping staff the time they need to prepare the room for any incoming guests.

To make shared taxi arrangements from the Burlington Vermont Airport or train station in Essex Junction, VT, Bread Loafers reserve a ride with Vermont Tour and Charter. Bread Loaf will pay for your taxi to and from Burlington or Essex Junction. When you submit the Vermont Tour and Charter reservation form, note “Bread Loaf Guest” directly into the credit card number field on the form.

If arriving in by train or bus in Middlebury or Rutland and taking a taxi to Bread Loaf, please keep your taxi receipt and Bread Loaf will reimburse you for your taxi ride.

COVID-19

Please click here to read the 2023 Conferences Covid-19 Protocols that apply to all attendees. All are expected to read and be familiar with the protocols as described here.

Additional links for your reference:

Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences COVID-19 Information

Middlebury COVID-19 Updates Page

CDC COVID Page

Middlebury College and Bread Loaf Policies

Before your arrival on campus, we ask that you familiarize yourself with the Middlebury College and Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences policies concerning community health, safety, and responsibility. All Bread Loafers are responsible for knowing and understanding these polices, which are articulated HERE. Should you have any questions at any time, please do not hesitate to contact one of the following Bread Loaf staff members or one of the Middlebury College contacts noted in the policy information linked to above.

Jennifer Grotz, director, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences (jgrotz@middlebury.edu or 802-443-5286)

Lauren Francis-Sharma, assistant director, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences (lfrancissharma@middlebury.edu) or 802-443-5286)

Noreen Cargill, administrative director, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences (ncargill@middlebury.edu or 802-443-5062)

Jason Lamb, coordinator, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences (jlamb@middlebury.edu or 802-443-5286)

Housing

Each guest has a private room, and the bath is usually shared by floor. Please note that some rooms are located on the second and third floors of buildings, and there are no elevators. If you have special needs for medical reasons, please let us know right away, so that we can make arrangements for you.

Pillows, sheets, blankets, and towels are provided. Each bed will have the folded stack of clean linens placed at the end of the mattress so guests are able to make their bed. The Bread Loaf Inn Front Desk staff can assist with providing additional linens during the week as requested.

Bread Loaf is a smoke-free campus. Vermont State Law prohibits smoking in any building on campus, including dormitories.

WiFi

Guests can access the Internet once on campus by selecting the MiddleburyGuest wireless network then following the prompts to accept the certificate and connect (be sure to connect to MiddleburyGuest and not MiddleburyCollege).

Ways to Contact You While You’re on Campus

Email:

You will be able to stay in touch via email. There is a computer lab on campus with Mac and PC computers available. And if you bring your laptop, iPad, or phone, wireless access is available in public spaces (and possibly in your room, though that is not a sure thing). Please see the important wi-fi note above on how to register for wi-fi once on campus.

Phone:

Cell phone service is available in the Bread Loaf Inn and the Barn on the Bread Loaf campus but access is intermittent depending upon your provider. Verizon and AT&T should work fine. Other providers may not work. While on campus participants have successfully stayed in touch with home using their smartphone to access wi-fi calling, Facetime, or Zoom. There are landlines available on the campus—usually one phone per floor in each of the buildings. After you arrive, you could share that floor phone number with family at home. The phone for the main switchboard on campus is 802-443-2700 (hours are usually 8 AM to 10 PM). The Front Desk staff member will transfer the call to your floor or take a message for you, if needed.

You can also give people the Bread Loaf Office info, and we will get any messages to you (e-mail: blwc@middlebury.edu; phone: 802-443-5286).

Mail

Address for mail

Participant’s Name

Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences

PO Box 216

Ripton, VT 05766

Address for FedEx or UPS

Participant’s Name

Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences

4229 Route 125

Ripton, VT 05766

Incoming mail will be held daily at the Front Desk of the Bread Loaf Inn. Stamps will be available for purchase at the Front Desk as well.

Packing

Items you may want to bring

Our friends at the Bread Loaf School of English are on the Bread Loaf campus now and are strongly recommending that participants bring insect repellent. You’ll see it included on the list below.

We recommend bringing a mask with you to campus, if you wish; masks will also be available on the Bread Loaf Campus while supplies last.
We encourage attendees to bring antigen test kits with them to campus to have on hand in case they are needed; rapid test kits will be available on campus while supplies last.
Water bottle—Conference days are long and it’s important to stay hydrated.
If you’re driving, you may want to bring a fan; there are no air conditioners on campus, and the evenings can be warm. Evenings can also be quite cold, so an extra blanket may be useful as well.
You should plan to bring clothes for both warm and cool weather. Temperatures during the day and evening could range from the 60s to mid-80s. (We suggest that you bring some warm layers in case you’re meeting with participants on a cottage porch and it’s chilly out.)
Raincoat
Flashlight or head lamp with batteries
Toiletries
Sunscreen
Insect repellant
Medication such as Benadryl in case of bug bites
Your prescription medications and your medical insurance card. We also recommend that you bring a list of your current prescription and non-prescription medications and the phone and fax numbers for your health care provider.
Laundry detergent
Bathing suit—you can swim in Lake Pleiad (the outing will require use of a car and there is a short hike through the woods to get to the lake)
Hiking boots—in case you would like to explore hiking trails in the Green Mountain National Forest. The Long Trail, stretching from Massachusetts to Canada, is just a few miles away.
Ear plugs, just in case
Bathrobe and flip flops—there are shared bathrooms in housing.
Running and walking gear—in case you would like to explore the dirt trails near campus.
Funds—the bookstore will accept Visa, Mastercard, and cash. The Barn Socials and evening Pubs will provide a cash bar, with cash and cards accepted. There is no ATM on campus.
Alarm clock
Small cooler, if you wish—access to a refrigerator is not generally available.
Book-light
Eyeshade/sleep mask
Reusable mug/thermos
Yoga mat (see Yoga section below)
We’re sorry, but pets are not allowed on campus.
Binoculars (for the nature walk, if you would like to attend).
Extension cord
Adapter for your three-pronged laptop or hairdryer (many outlets on the mountain are two-pronged)
There is a fully equipped computer room on the Bread Loaf campus, with Macs and PCs; however, if you like, you can bring along your laptop or iPad. Wi-Fi access is available in most public spaces, including the Library, Inn, and Barn.

Guest Payment

We are able to pay guests a small stipend of $500, which the college will mail to you following the session. Unfortunately, we are not able to pay for travel. If you are arriving by plane at the Burlington Airport or at a local train or bus station, however, we can pay for your roundtrip taxi to the Bread Loaf campus. See more details in the Arrival and Departure section above.

Meeting Schedule

Your arrival date is a travel day—your first meetings will take place the following morning at the earliest. Most meetings with Bread Loafers take place in a 10 AM to 12 PM time slot, but meetings may be scheduled at other times during the day as well. It’s possible that your schedule may include some breakfast meetings in order to fit in meeting slot around the participants’ schedules. During your stay, you will mostly have 15-minute individual meetings, but may also have 1-hour-long group meetings with ten or so people. The meeting locations might include the Barn main room, classrooms, living rooms, and cottage porches, among other locations. Your meeting details will be emailed to you prior to your arrival.

Meetings

Here is some of the information about meetings that we give to participants before they arrive on campus:

Many Bread Loaf participants have found meeting with publishing professionals to be a very positive and helpful experience during their time at Bread Loaf. The editors and agents also enjoy these conversations very much. Our purpose in providing these meetings is to give you a chance to understand the publishing process a little more clearly by hearing from people directly involved in the industry. Many participants have told us that these personalized meetings have allowed them to deal with matters of publication in a matter-of-fact way, with more understanding and less apprehension.

These meetings also give editors and agents the opportunity to meet you. The meetings are not “tests,” just early introductions, and gathering information is the primary goal. The guests are here for only a couple of days or so, and we have not asked them to offer editorial feedback on written work, so they are not expecting to read your work here at the conference. If they are interested, they will let you know that they would like you to submit a sample or a manuscript, but in general they are just looking to give you some concrete advice according to the stage you are at with your writing. Therefore there should not be any sense of disappointment on either side if the meeting does not lead to an invitation to submit work.

Here are some common questions and responses that we share with participants:

How can I make use of my time with an agent or editor from a publishing house? What can I accomplish?

If you have a finished manuscript or are in the process of developing one you may share your working pitch with the agent or editor. They can help you refine it and give you a better understanding of what is important in the presentation of your work. Or you can ask questions about publishing and get feedback about where you are in your writing process. For instance, a guest might be able to comment about whether or not you are ready to send out a manuscript; about your concept for a book; about the submission process at their particular agency or publishing house.

How should I prepare for a meeting with a magazine editor?

PLEASE COME PREPARED: Participants should come prepared with questions for the guest with whom they are meeting, whether the questions are about a particular project that the writer is trying to advance or about the magazine publishing world in general. Your meeting with the editor is an opportunity for you to have a conversation that will be useful to you, whether you’re new to submitting or have published in magazines before.

It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with their magazine first. One option is to have a conversation with the editor about specific pieces in the magazine. This can help you to understand that magazine’s particular character and what the editor is looking for in a submission. You could also ask about the submission process if you wish. You might want feedback about previous submission experiences, or to talk about whether you’re ready to submit your work.

Meeting Schedule Changes or Cancellations

Please check your email every morning by 9 AM. We will email you any changes to your schedule. If you need to make other arrangements, please let us know.

Lectures and Readings

While on the mountain, we hope you’ll enjoy going to some of the lectures and readings. You will find a schedule of conference and events in your guest packet that you will receive upon your arrival to Bread Loaf.

Blue Parlor Readings

Blue Parlor readings are a nice opportunity for Bread Loaf contributors to share some of their work, meet people from other workshops, and get some experience reading before an audience. These informal readings are hosted by a Bread Loaf staff member and will take place in the Tent near the Barn on most afternoons at 5:30 PM (details will be noted on the daily edition of the Crumb).

Barn Social and Barn Pub

The Barn, located in a central spot on the Bread Loaf campus, is a place for participants, faculty, and guests to gather and socialize. During the conference the Barn Social will take place from 5:15 p.m. until just before dinner each day, and the Barn Pub will take place from 9:30 p.m. to midnight. The Social and Pub offer soda and snacks that are free of charge and beer or wine for purchase. There is no ATM on campus, however the bars will accept cards as well as cash.

Meals

Meals are served as a buffet in the Bread Loaf Inn dining room. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available, and the kitchen staff is able to accommodate food allergies.

Bread Loaf has a large Dining Room, but for those who would like to enjoy their meals outdoors, a selection of picnic blankets will be available as well as picnic tables and Adirondack chairs on the Bread Loaf lawns. We invite those driving from home to bring along camping chairs.

The breakfast buffet is available starting at 7:30 AM and served until about 8:30 AM. After that time you should be able to find coffee and tea available in the Dining room and Barn until lunch time. Lunch is available between 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM, and dinner is available at 6:15 PM. Guests are invited to visit the Barn for a social hour before dinner at 5:15 PM and a Barn Pub in the evening starting at 9:30 PM.

Library

The Davison Memorial Library at Bread Loaf hosts a collection of reference books and literature, including a reserve shelf stocked with books by faculty and fellows.

Computers

The Apple Cellar (Bread Loaf’s computer room) is located downstairs in the Library. It features Macs that have internet access and connections to printers; one or two PCs also connected to the internet and printers are available on the main floor of the Library.

Bookstore

Our bookstore partner during the conference is Phoenix Books, a locally-owned, independent store. Phoenix Books at Bread Loaf will stock books written by faculty and fellows as well as some participants and guests. Look for the store on the bottom floor of Annex Cottage, the building located next to the Bread loaf Inn. Cash and cards are accepted.

Consignment Books

If you have a book or books in print or if you are an editor from a magazine or journal and would like to sell a few on consignment during the session, please contact us at blwc@middlebury.edu for details.

Front Desk

Visit the Front Desk in the Bread Loaf Inn for matters regarding your room and lodging, moose facts, lost and found items, local lore, information about local walking/running trails, buying postage, mailing packages, transportation tips, and other general information.

This summer the Front Desk will have COVID-19 antigen tests available during the session.

Back Office

Visit the Back Office in the Bread Loaf Inn with any questions. Photocopying is available. Faxing via the Back Office may be possible.

Laundry

Coin-op washers and dryers are in the Laundry House in front of the Barn. Guests provide their own laundry detergent. If you need change for the machines, the Front Desk staff will be glad to help. Some irons are also available.

Parking

Please park your vehicle in the large parking lot in front of the Barn. It is illegal to park on Route 125 and you may get a ticket.

Self-care During the Conference

The conference schedule is quite busy, and we want to take this time to note how important it will be to pace yourself and to take care of yourself during the session. To this end, yoga classes will be offered daily. AA Meetings are scheduled to take place each evening. See details below, and find more ideas listed in the Extracurricular Activities section later in this Handbook.

Yoga instructor Joanna Colwell will offer Iyengar yoga classes daily from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. in the main room of the Barn. The classes are appropriate for all abilities and all are welcome. A handful of mats will be available. If you’re able to bring your mat from home, please do.

AA Meetings are scheduled to take place daily from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the Upstairs Library (Back end of Building). To schedule additional meeting times while on the mountain, just let a Back Office Staff member know. Staff will reserve the room and include a note about the meetings on the Crumb newsletter.

Health Matters

In case of emergency dial 911 from any campus phone. A sign near each phone lists important details including the exact address and phone number for that location.

For non-emergency health matters, a self-care cart is available near the lobby of the Bread Loaf Inn. The cart is stocked with items such as Band-Aids, Advil, and Tylenol.

Please plan to bring Benadryl pills and ointment in case of bug bites as well as any other first-aid items you feel might be necessary for your personal comfort during the session. And should you find that the cart does not address your particular concerns, the Bread Loaf Inn front desk staff will help you with a referral, and Porter Hospital is located in Middlebury, if needed.

For mental health matters, contact Jennifer Grotz, Lauren Francis-Sharma, Noreen Cargill, or Jason Lamb for a referral, or call the emergency number at the Counseling Service of Addison County (dial 9 and then 388-7641 from any campus phone; dial 1-802-388-7641 from your cell phone).

Please see the Covid-19 section above for current policies and recommendations.

When packing, remember to bring your prescription medications and your medical insurance card. We also recommend that you bring a list of your current prescription and non-prescription medications and the phone and fax numbers for your health care provider.

Emergencies on the Bread Loaf Campus

In case of serious medical emergency or fire on the Bread Loaf Campus, always call 911 from any campus phone or from your cell phone. A sign near each campus phone lists important details including the exact address and phone number for that location.

In case of non-life threatening but urgent matters, contact the Bread Loaf Inn Front Desk at x2700 from any campus phone or 802-443-2700 from your cell phone (Front Desk Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Outside of office hours, call x2911 from any campus phone or 802-443-2911 from your cell phone to reach facilities staff who will help you with the situation.

We recommend making note of the numbers listed above so you can have them handy during the session.

For emergencies that affect the Bread Loaf campus, the Middlebury Department of Public Safety uses the RAVE alert system to notify attendees via email and also by text for those who have cell service on campus.

Extracurricular Activities

There are many things to do on campus and in the area. The Front Desk may have some equipment available for games such as volleyball, frisbee, wiffle ball, and croquet.

Scheduled (please note that, based on your arrival and departure schedule, some of these events may not be available to you.)

Two dances
Writers’ Cramp Run for fun
Robert Frost picnic
Book signing
Outdoor receptions
An evening coffee reception
Barn Social and Barn Pub

Unscheduled

Hiking trails around campus
Visiting the stream just across the hayfield
Swimming in Lake Pleiad (transportation needed to get to the trail head)
Tennis

We hope this information is helpful when preparing for your visit. If you think of any questions, please let us know.

Noreen Cargill, Administrative Director

Jason Lamb, Coordinator