Mission & Goals

Mission Statement

Writers from, living in or writing about the region of northern Appalachia have yet to be distinguished with a regional identity. While the people, places, culture, folk traditions, history, landscapes and geography of northern Appalachia are uniquely inspiring, their stories have been underrepresented and undervalued in the traditional literary world. The mission of the Writers Conference of northern Appalachia is to bring writers, researchers and literary scholars together to recognize this distinct literature and to establish a canon of writers and writing of northern Appalachia. 

The conference will serve as a catalyst to inspire more novels, poetry, essays, history, memoir, drama, and other modes of literary writing that represent, in some way, northern Appalachia. The exposure gained by the conference and the projects that stem from the conference will generate support for authors of northern Appalachian, which will ensure that the voice of this remarkable part of the country is acknowledged, appreciated and preserved.   


1. Define the region of northern Appalachia and identify characteristics of its literature.

2. Decide on a name that most appropriately reflects the region and its literature.

3. Compile a body of work by writers of northern Appalachia.

4. Establish a literary canon for literature of northern Appalachia.

5. Create a network of writers, researchers and literary scholars of northern Appalachia.

6. Provide opportunities for writers to hone their craft and publish their work.