MarshSong Cottage, sitting creekside on a tidal marsh, is host to the spring and fall Pat Conroy Literary Center Writer’s Residencies. Mary Ellen Thompson welcomes writers to her guest cottage, located on Saint Helena Island in South Carolina, mid-way between downtown Beaufort and Hunting Island State Park.
MarshSong, so named for the melody the marsh mud plays at low tide, is situated on an historic property, once the first school in the nation for freed Black slaves. But the history goes deeper than that with ancient shell middens hinting at stories of other cultures.
The Cottage is a perfect writer’s sanctuary with views of water and woods; wildlife creatures and birds abound.
Pat Conroy Literary Center’s
Fall 2026 Writer’s Resident
June 19, 2026
As you are reading this, the call for the Pat Conroy Literary Center’s Writer’s Residency for Fall 2026 is being crafted and will be available here soon.
The Residency coincides with the Fall Literary Festival and the chosen resident will have the opportunity to participate in many of the festival events as well as being able to meet an amazing community of like minded new friends.
This year the Festival will include the film screening of The Great Santini followed by an interview with Michael O’Keefe, workshops, interviews, panels, and an open house at the Center, among other events.
The Resident will spend a week at MarshSong Cottage on Saint Helena Island, SC and must have his/her own transportation. The Resident will have the opportunity to spend some time with Rebecca Bruff, author of Trouble the Water, have a tour of The Penn Center with a Ranger, visit the Beaufort dive bar scene with poet Tim Conroy, and have a private tour of the Literary Center with Kathy Conroy Harvey. These are rare and unique opportunities for someone to avail themselves of, as well as being in a peaceful and tranquil setting for writing.
Stay tuned and if you think you want to apply, be prepared to wow the committee.