Kim in Chair

Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference

With its rich literary and intellectual tradition, the 100th annual Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference will bring emerging writers together to work with a diverse and talented faculty. The Centennial starting this summer will be celebrated all year long culminating in special events planned for summer 2026. We hope you’ll be able to join us.

For ten days in August, Participants and Fellows will experience the opportunity of working under the guidance of notable writers, including MacArthur Fellows, U.S. Poets Laureate, and recipients of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award.

Our rural and scenic setting amid the Green Mountains on Middlebury’s Bread Loaf campus provides an ideal environment for discussing manuscripts, sharing insights, getting to know agents and editors, and becoming acquainted with the next generation of significant writers.

Overview

Workshops are at the core of the conference. Each faculty member conducts a workshop in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction that meets for five two-hour sessions over the course of the 10 days.

  • Groups are limited to ten writers to facilitate discussion.
  • Participants meet individually with their faculty mentors.
  • Faculty offer lectures on literary writing and classes on specific aspects of craft.
  • You can attend daily readings by the faculty, participants, and guests.
  • All participants meet with visiting editors, literary agents, and/or publishers.

The 2025 Session

This year’s conference will take place from Wednesday, August 13 to Saturday, August 23. Find out more about dates and fees.

In addition to their literary accomplishments, writers on faculty have been specifically chosen for their skill at guiding developing writers. Find out more about faculty and guests.

Financial Aid

Thanks to the generous support of Middlebury College and to an endowment fund established by past Bread Loafers and other donors, financial aid is available for both published and unpublished writers. Financial need has no bearing on decisions, except as noted. See Financial Aid Information.

Apply

Applications are accepted between November 15 and February 1. Notification letters will be sent via Submittable in late May. See Application Information.

What Past Participants Say:

  • “I love the sense of community at Bread Loaf. I found this such a democratic and egalitarian program. I loved that staff did readings. Faculty attended student readings. Everyone ate meals together. I feel so energized and excited by the connections I made here.”

    Katie Coleman
    Cambridge, MA
     

  • “From the moment I got into my rideshare with two friendly poets, my experience was inclusive and welcoming. I feel as if I made deep, lasting friendships in class, in the dining hall, and even while brushing my teeth! I have already made plans to swap manuscripts with four writers I adore and many new friends have been texting photos of kids and works-in-progress as we reacclimate to real life after the magic of the mountain. It was a dream community and exactly what I was hoping to find after the isolation of becoming a first-time mother during the pandemic.” 

    Jessica Pearce Rotondi
    Montgomery, NJ

  • “All top notch. I can’t think of a single lecture or craft class that I didn’t take something away from. Across the board, I felt that faculty and fellows were bringing their A game, sharing sophisticated craft insight that I didn’t quite encounter during my MFA or other professional development settings.” 

    Teddy Helfers
    Silver Spring, MD

  • “I truly believe my experience at Bread Loaf has spoilt me, because the bar for other conferences is set so high now. Every single person I met, including faculty members, was warm, affable, eager to engage, and willing to participate in this shared experience with humility, respect, a sense of camaraderie, and a true belief in community.” 

    Dimple Shah
    Hong Kong