The 2026 conference will take place June 20 - 27 (Saturday – Saturday).​

The current deadline for Kettle Pond 2026 is Sunday, May 31st.* *Q: ...?** **A: No, we don't really care if you submit precisely by midnight in our (EDT), or your local (TBA), time zone. If this specific sub-question applies, we advise you stop overthinking it and just open the application. We strongly suspect it's easier than you think.

No, what a ridiculous question. (Just kidding, but we can dream...) Kettle Pond is committed to removing as many barriers to access as possible for our writing community. In keeping with this philosophy, we pledge to never charge an application fee.Interested writers are encouraged to apply as early as they are able. ​ We also encourage you not over-think it, but we can't not-do that for you. Applications for the 2026 conference can be found here.

That depends.   For new applicants, the answer is upon submission of their application.    For alums, thanks for reading, please let us know where the typos and broken links may be on the site. Seriously, it won't hurt our feelings, and we hope you re-apply. (Returning applicants need not submit new work, though they may, if they wish, and we'd love to read it.) As of 2023, Kettle Pond's workshop model is primarily / entirely generative (this may vary, but the answer stands). As such, complete manuscripts are not required in advance to attend our workshops.

Yes; limited funding for the '26 conference is still available! We are still operating on a rolling model for funding as well as admissions this summer. Writers in need of financial assistance are advised to apply as they are able.

Information on financial assistance can be found here.

Fellowship awards at Kettle Pond are entirely need-based. Because our goal is rooted in community-building, and we are still building that community, we do not offer merit-based financial assistance at this time.

We can't know if or where you saw it, but that is correct. Writers returning to Kettle Pond are not required to submit writing samples or project proposals as part of their applications, though we would love to know what you're working on, or plan to work on, during the conference if you're willing to share.

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