Chautauqua Institution and acclaimed author Kwame Alexander redefined the literary landscape in 2024 with the launch of the inaugural Kwame Alexander Writers’ Lab & Conference. Building on that success, we are thrilled to announce the 2025 Writers’ Lab will take place Oct. 23–25, 2025, at American University and the Institution’s offices in Washington D.C. in partnership with American University’s School of Communication and Mahogany Books.  

The Writers’ Lab boasts a tradition of intensive writing workshops with award-winning contemporary authors, like Kwame Alexander, a #1 New York Times best-selling author and Michael I. Rudell Artistic Director of Literary Arts. Hosting the event this year in D.C. lets attendees enjoy the beauty and excitement of our nation’s capital and take advantage of a wide range of diverse food, shopping, and cultural experiences. This year we are celebrating and featuring writers in Memoir, Poetry, and Fiction, including Clint Smith, Maggie Smith, Angie Kim, Lauren Francis-Sharma, Glory Edim, Marie Arana, Kwame Alexander, and many more! 

Attendees will enjoy a rich, immersive experience with a variety of featured events. Highlights include a keynote address, panel discussions on each genre and the publishing industry, and networking opportunities with agents and publishers. 

A special Pitchapalooza event — an “American Idol” for authors — will kick off the conference, hosted by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, aka The Book Doctors. 

These conversations will explore the deep connections between the personal, our communities, and the craft of writing. 

Registration opens Tuesday, March 18, 2025! Don’t miss out on our early-bird registration rates, available until May 31, 2025. 

Sign up for the 2025 Kwame Alexander Writers’ Lab and bring your story to the page. More information about our keynote and featured speakers, faculty, special events, and panelists can be found at writerslab.chq.org.