The land holds stories—so do we. Some are celebrated; others are forgotten, repressed, or ignored. We invite participants to explore the hidden, untold, or marginalized narratives that lie beneath the surface of our landscapes, communities, and personal histories.

Whether it’s a family secret, a lost piece of local lore, an erased cultural tradition, or the environmental scars that remain unseen by most, writing becomes the act of unearthing—of reclaiming and revealing. This theme is especially resonant in the Appalachian region, where voices have too often been stereotyped or silenced, and where both people and place carry complex legacies of resilience and resistance.

The institute will take place June 8-26 (Mon-Wed-Fri) as a hybrid workshop with the first and last days (June 8 and June 26) on campus and the rest of the time online. Participants may opt for mornings-only (9 a.m.-12 p.m.) or full-day (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) Mornings will be spent in synchronous discussions and workshop, while afternoons will be used for asynchronous writing, research, and reading. 

Current and returning graduate students in the Department of English may receive up to 6 hours of elective credit toward their degree. Other participants may opt to enroll as graduate students in the next 12 months after completing the institute and may apply the 6 credit hours to their degree. 

In addition, we are offering a non-credit option, which will allow teachers to receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs), but not receive graduate credit. Participants in the mornings-only session will receive 6 CEUs, and those who opt for the all-day session will receive 12 CEUs. 

Cost: 

For graduate credit - Participants interested in taking the Summer Institute for credit will pay tuition to Appalachian State University. They may register for either ENG 5400 (6 hours credit) or ENG 5530 (3 hours credit). Students enrolled in the six-hour credit option will meet from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. M-F. Students enrolled in the three-hour credit option will meet from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.  More information about tuition can be found HERE.

For non-credit - The fee will be $100 for mornings-only or $200 for all-day. The fee includes all books and materials. 

To Register for credit: 

• Step 1-If you are already an App State student, register for either ENG 5400 (6 hours credit) or ENG 5530 (3 hours credit) through your Appalnet account. If you are not an App State student but still want credit, you can register as a non-degree-seeking graduate student. Click HERE for information.

• Step 2: Once admitted to App State, go to your Appalnet account and sign up for ENG 5400-Appalachian Mountains Writing Project (6 hours credit) or ENG 5530-Special Topics-Appalachian Mountains Writing Project (3 hours credit). 

To Register for non-credit:

• Sign up for the AMWP Summer Institute in Conference and Events and select "non-credit." Choose whether you want the mornings-only or all-day option. A registration link will be posted to this page in January 2026.

We welcome all interested writers and teachers.