The Young Writers Studio is a program for young people who want to become better writers, learn about themselves, and see their island home with fresh eyes. If you are curious about the history of Key West and want to find your voice as a writer, this program is for you.

Open to students in Monroe County who will be starting their sophomore, junior, or senior years in the fall of 2026, the Young Writers Studio is open to writers or would-be writers of all levels. Students who are homeschooled or from unconventional educational backgrounds are equally encouraged to apply. Full program details can be found on our website.

How to Apply

 Write a letter to Key West Literary Seminar:

• Introduce yourself. Explain why you want to be part of this program. What makes you a great candidate? What in the description of Young Writers Studio intrigues you?
• Describe your relationship to reading and writing. Please tell us what has been your favorite thing (novel, poem, short story, graphic novel, children’s book, anything) you have ever read and why.
• Tell us about your relationship to Key West. What do you love about this area and landscape the most? Do you have a favorite place or a favorite aspect of life here?

Suggestions:

• Feel free to address these questions in whatever order makes the most sense to you and creates a logical flow.
• Be yourself. Your letter should be casual and relaxed. Don’t be afraid to give us a sense of your personality and be completely honest.
• Remember that detail, description, and sharing quick anecdotes or examples can help make your writing fun and relatable.
• Also remember that editing for typos and small errors helps show that you care and are trying to make the best first impression.

Your letter should be no more than 650 words (minimum 500 words), which is the standard maximum length for a college application essay. It will be good practice!

There is a $520 fee to take part in the Young Writers Studio, which covers a portion of the expenses associated with programming. If selected to take part in the Studio, a $260 deposit will be due within seven days of acceptance. The remaining amount is due by Friday, June 5th.

Click here for our refund policy.

Scholarships are available. The Key West Literary Seminar provides need-based scholarships to a limited number Young Writers. To be considered for a scholarship, please include a brief (200-300 word) statement explaining your financial need.

Space is limited, and completed applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the course is full. Apply early for your best chance of being accepted!

For more information about this and other scholarship opportunities, visit our website.

* PLEASE NOTE DEADLINE OF JUNE 1 *

Requirements for Scotti Merrill Award for poetry:

 1. COVER LETTER: In approximately 350 words, please tell us about your background, motivations as a writer, and previous accomplishments.

File name should adhere to the following model: “Lastname_Firstname_cover.doc” and your name should appear at the top-right-hand-corner of the page.

 2. WRITING SAMPLE: Please submit 5 - 7 poems within one document. File name should adhere to the following model: “Title_of_First_Poem.doc” and your name should not appear on the manuscript.

 3. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION: One letter of recommendation is required. In the application form below, you will be asked to provide an email address for your recommender. Once you submit the application, they will receive an email from Submittable with a link to upload the recommendation letter. We strongly suggest that you contact your recommender before you submit your application and alert them to expect this email as it sometimes ends up in spam. They may also send their recommendation directly to kschumann@kwls.org.

 *Applications missing the letter of recommendation are incomplete and will not be considered. Application deadline is June 1 and your letter of recommendation must be received no more than a week later.

4. REFERENCES: Please provide the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two additional persons who are familiar with you and/ or your work. In most cases, we find that we do not need to reach out to those references.     

EMERGING WRITER AWARD DEADLINE: Applications must be received by June 1, 2026 (not later than 11:59 pm EDT). Letters of recommendation must be received by the following week.        

Due to an increased volume of applications and our thorough review process, we are implementing a $12 application fee to cover review costs. Award winners will be notified by early fall. 

ELIGIBILITY: Writers of any age who live in the United States and have not yet published a collection with a major publisher are eligible to apply. If you are the author of a book that is self-published, published with an independent press, or had a print run of 500 or fewer copies, you may or may not be eligible. If you think your eligibility may be called into question, please provide relevant details about prior publications as part of your cover letter. We reserve the right to make all final decisions regarding eligibility.

For complete guidelines about this and other scholarship opportunities, visit our website.

* PLEASE NOTE NEW DEADLINE - JUNE 1*

We are honored to have Joy Williams as this year's judge.

Requirements for Cecelia Joyce Johnson Award for a short story:

 1. COVER LETTER: In approximately 350 words, please tell us about your background, your motivations as a writer, and your previous accomplishments. 

File name should adhere to the following model: “Lastname_Firstname_cover.doc” and your name should appear at the top-right-hand-corner of the page. 

2. WRITING SAMPLE: Please submit a complete short story of 20 pages or fewer (12-point font, double-spaced). 

File name should adhere to the following model: “Title_of_Short_Story.doc” and your name should not appear on the manuscript.         

3. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION: One letter of recommendation is required. In the application form below, you will be asked to provide an email address for your recommender. Once you submit the application, they will receive an email from Submittable with a link to upload the recommendation letter. We suggest that you contact your recommender before you submit your application and alert them to expect this email.

  *Applications missing the letter of recommendation are incomplete and will not be considered. Application deadline is June 1, 2026 and your letter of recommendation must be received no later than a week later.         

4. REFERENCES: Please provide the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two additional persons who are familiar with you and/ or your work. In most cases, we find that we do not need to reach out to those references.         

EMERGING WRITER AWARD DEADLINE: Applications must be received by June 1, 2026 (not later than 11:59 pm EDT). Letters of recommendation must be received by the following week.

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Due to an increased volume of applications and our thorough review process, we are implementing a $12 application fee to cover review costs. Award winners will be notified by November 1.     

ELIGIBILITY: Writers of any age who live in the United States and have not yet published a book with a major publisher are eligible to apply. If you are the author of a book that is self-published, published with an independent press, or had a print run of 500 or fewer copies, you may or may not be eligible. If you think your eligibility could be called into question, please provide relevant details about prior publications as part of your cover letter. We reserve the right to make all final decisions regarding eligibility.

For more information about this and other scholarship opportunities, visit our website.

* PLEASE NOTE NEW DEADLINE - June 1 * 

Requirements for Marianne Russo Award for a novel-in-progress: 

 1. COVER LETTER: In approximately 350 words, please tell us about your background, your motivations as a writer, and your previous accomplishments.    

File name should adhere to the following model: “Lastname_Firstname_cover.doc” and your name should appear at the top-right-hand-corner of the page. 

2. WRITING SAMPLE: Please submit an excerpt from your novel of 25 pages or fewer (12-point font, double-spaced). Preface this excerpt with a single page containing a “pitch” of 250 words or fewer; this should provide an outline of your novel and any context that may be useful to the reader.         

File name should adhere to the following model: “Title_of_Novel.doc” and your name should not appear on the manuscript.         

3. LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION: One letter of recommendation is required. In the application form below, you will be asked to provide an email address for your recommender. Once you submit the application, they will receive an email from Submittable with a link to upload the recommendation letter. We suggest that you contact your recommender before you submit your application and alert them to expect this email.        

*Applications missing the letter of recommendation are incomplete and will not be considered. Application deadline is May 31 and your letter of recommendation must be received no more than one week later.

 4. REFERENCES: Please provide the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of two additional persons who are familiar with you and your work.  In most cases, we find that we do not need to reach out to those references. 

        EMERGING WRITER AWARD DEADLINE: Applications must be received by June 1, 2026 (not later than 11:59 pm EDT). Letters of recommendation must be received by no more than one week later.

              -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------        Due to an increased volume of applications and our thorough review process, we are implementing a $12 application fee to cover review costs. Award winners will be notified by November 1.              

ELIGIBILITY: Writers of any age who live in the United States and have not yet published a book with a major publisher are eligible to apply. If you are the author of a book that is self-published, published with an independent press, or had a print run of 500 or fewer copies, you may or may not be eligible. If you think your eligibility could be called into question, please provide relevant details about prior publications as part of your cover letter. We reserve the right to make all final decisions regarding eligibility.

Our Writer-in-Residence Program aims to support emerging and accomplished writers in the production of compelling literary work by providing short-term housing in Key West. Residency periods of one to four weeks are available from February through June and September through November.

Potential writers-in-residence should submit a concise narrative proposal in the form of a personal letter. Please describe past accomplishments and current projects, outline a proposed focus for your residency, and convey a strong sense of why you want to work in Key West. Reviewers will evaluate the literary merit of each proposal as well as its “fit” with our mission and history. Priority will be given to applicants whose project could only be completed in Key West, or where something about the geographical, environmental, cultural, and/or political factors of the region and/or our island city are germane to your project.

We are typically not able to let applicants know far in advance whether they are accepted; sometimes you will receive an invitation two to three months before your desired residency date. If you do not hear from us, it is most likely because your application is still open. 

Housing is provided in a private, fully furnished upstairs apartment, part of our small compound on Love Lane in old town Key West, next door to the library and within walking distance of all the basic requirements: food, drink, movies, and the ocean. We are able to host one writer at a time. No funding is available for travel or living expenses. More information is available upon request.