Sophfronia Scott

The Sacred Art of Writing Residency, Western Theological Seminary, Holland, MI
2026-04-29 - 2026-04-30
Purpose: This Doctor of Ministry track will invite both established and emerging writers in multiple genres and contexts (those in traditional ministry and those whose work and writing moves them into broader arenas of service) to think deeply, theologically, and artfully about their work. As people whose very life arrives from the Word, Christians ought to be those with the deepest reverence for language. Yet, too often our writing is stilted, banal, cliched, moralistic and bereft of the beauty and care our craft requires. If we are dealing with holy work simultaneously immersed in gritty humanity and divine transcendence, then our writing ought to carry a haunting lilt while piercing the heart and the mind. The Sacred Art of Writing aims to walk with students into this joyful, sacred calling.
Sophfronia will be a guest lecturer at this residency.

Thomas Merton Society 2026 Celebration, Sarum College, Salisbury, UK
2026-04-10 - 2026-04-12
Fri, 10 Apr 202614:00 Sun, 12 Apr 202612:45

We are pleased to announce that our 2026 Celebration will be held at Sarum College, adjoining the close of Salisbury Cathedral.
The theme for our celebration is Embracing the Present Moment – Possibilities and Challenges
Merton wrote in Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander:
In a time of drastic change one can be too preoccupied with what is ending or too obsessed with what seems to be beginning. In either case one loses touch with the present and with its obscure but dynamic possibilities. What really matters is openness, readiness, attention, courage to face risk. You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith, and hope. In such an event, courage is the authentic form taken by love.
Speakers include (in alphabetical order):
Malcolm Cash – Provisional title: Lessons from Thomas Merton & Malcolm X for the Racial Possibilities and Challenges in America.
Vaughn J. Fayle – Provisional title: Thomas Merton and the forgotten Africa
Gary Hall – Provisional title: Seeing ‘the world that remakes itself without consulting us’: the bystander as teacher of attention.
Michael W Higgins – Provisional title: Thomas Merton & John Moriarty: poetic visionaries of unity.
Dan Horan – Provisional title: ‘The Power of Hope Beyond our Control: Insights from Merton’s The New Man for the Present Moment.’
Paul Pearson – Provisional title: This Day Will Not Come Again: Living in the Present Moment with Thomas Merton.
Paul Pynkoski – Provisional title: Creation, Incarnation, and Resistance in “The Night Spirit and the Dawn Air.”
Sophfronia Scott – Provisional title: As I Write This Letter…: Merton’s Model of Self Care Through Communication.
BOOKING DETAILS – See below. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
NOTE: Bookings will happen DIRECTLY WITH SARUM COLLEGE.
Contact details for booking are as follows:
Email: ggifford@sarum.ac.uk
Phone: (0044) 01722 424800
Ref: MERTON CELEBRATION APRIL 2026
Other links:
https://www.sarum.ac.uk/contact/
https://www.sarum.ac.uk/
*The Celebration is full board (breakfast, lunch, evening meal and refreshments) * Various accommodation options, including twin, double and single * Accessible lift * Daily rates
COSTS – For 2 nights, full board, en-suite: £255.30. Because delegates present with different requests (e.g. double, twin, single, etc), you can arrange with Sarum your preferred option. “Each room booking includes all meals and refreshments. It will be possible to add extra nights before or after the Celebration. This will incur the usual extra costs.

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop, Dayton, OH
2026-03-26 - 2026-03-28
The Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop marks its 25th anniversary this year and will keep the celebration going through next spring with a keynote lineup of bestselling authors and rising comedy stars, hands-on workshops, networking — plus the opportunity to laugh, learn and be inspired.
The 2026 workshop, set for March 26-28 at the University of Dayton, will feature keynote speakers Kelly Corrigan, Ann Garvin, Sona Movsesian, Steven Rowley and John Searles — writers whose work spans memoir, fiction, humor and media. Attendees will also choose from dozens of hands-on workshops with gifted faculty, including former keynoters Annabelle Gurwitch, Katrina Kittle, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Sophfronia Scott and the writing duo of Kathy Kinney and Cindy Ratzlaff.
The Art of Memoir: The Page as Mirror
Sophfronia Scott
Joan Didion famously noted, “I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking.” That kind of writing can mean a precarious process. After all, what you’re thinking may be unsettling! And writing has been compared to opening a vein and bleeding onto the page. But the journey of self-discovery need not be so dramatic — or traumatic. In fact, it can be quite productive. Unpacking your interiority as you put words on the page may solve writing blocks, present new ideas and result in deeper and more meaningful and authentic work. We will play with a writing exercise and think about how to observe your thoughts as you write. We will also discuss what to do with what you find in the marginalia of your brain. By embracing the unknown, we may see that writing, no matter the genre, doesn’t have to be about opening a vein. It may be as simple as stepping onto a path and seeing where it takes you.

Association of Writers and Writing Program Conference, Baltimore, MD
2026-03-05 - 2026-03-07
The Alma College MFA in Creative Writing will be present at a booth at the conference Bookfair.

Anam Cara: Thomas Merton, and Pursuing Relationships That Enlighten Our Lives, West Hartford, CT
2026-02-21 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
CCE Contemplative Enrichment Day
Saturday, February 21, 2026
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET)
Sophfronia Scott
Though Thomas Merton craved the solitude of a hermitage and the silence in which “God shines there and is immediately found,” his mysticism and writing life were deeply fed and influenced by special friendships that he developed both in person and through a prolific correspondence that connected him to writers and spiritual thinkers all over the world. Sophfronia will discuss how we can find and nurture similar bonds today to the great benefit of our lives and work.
This program will be offered both in-person and online via Zoom. Information on how to access the program on Zoom will be sent to participants in advance.
This program will include a morning and an afternoon session of Centering Prayer.
Offering: $75, includes lunch
Scholarships are available, please contact Mike Smoolca at cce@holyfamilyretreat.org for more information.

Journal on Teaching Writing Colloquy, Online
2026-01-29 - 2026-02-01
The Wabash Center for Teaching Religion and Theology’s Journal on Teaching is modeling a change in scholarship by utilizing a collaborative peer-review process. Writers/Contributors are invited by the Wabash Center to participate in our collaborative Peer-Review process, beginning with a writing colloquy held in the winter. In the JoT Writing Colloquy, authors participate in mutual workshopping of their work, dialogue about the craft of writing, consider ways of making their potential article submissions multi-modal, and have opportunity for writing coaching beyond the workshop. We expect that Writers/Contributors who participate in the colloquy will submit a piece for publication in the journal.

In Conversation with Angela Flournoy on The Wilderness, Mark Twain House, Hartford, CT
2026-01-28 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, United States
Bestselling and award winning author Angela Flournoy will be in discussion with Sophfronia at the Mark Twain House & Museum about Angela’s latest novel, The Wilderness.

Contemplation Talk, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, New Haven, CT
2026-01-27 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Berkeley Divinity School at Yale
The Color of Contemplation with Sophfronia Scott

The contemplative life is essential to grasping the wholeness that may heal divides. But what if contemplation means different things and looks like a different ideal in groups of various races and cultures? Does that mean our spirituality will always separate us? Does that mean we’re reaching for a unity that will always be beyond our reach? Author and spiritual writer Sophfronia Scott joins Executive Director Brandon Nappi for an engaging discussion at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale.

Alma College MFA Winter 2026 Residency, Alma, MI
2026-01-08 - 2026-01-17
As director of Alma’s MFA program, Sophfronia is pleased to announce its winter 2026 residency. Residency is the heart of the MFA experience. Students, faculty, visiting writers, and guest speakers from the publishing industry come together to form a diverse and dynamic artistic community teeming with the energy of a shared commitment to writing. Visiting writers will join the residency with craft talks, informal talks for students and public readings in the evening.

Author Workshop at Schuler Books, Okemos, MI
2025-11-15 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Schuler Books, 1982 W. Grand River Avenue, Okemos, MI, United States
Inside Tips for Publishing and Beyond
Calling all local writers! Join us in our Okemos event studio for an afternoon of learning, networking, and fun!

Here’s what you can expect:

An author panel featuring three amazing, Michigan-based published authorsFeatured authors: Sophfronia Scott, Sarah Arthur, and Christina Wyman
A bookseller panel that will include general tips related to how to submit event proposals, market your book, and build relationships with local bookstoresFeatured booksellers: Our events coordinator and our marketing manager
A writing break-out session where participants can choose to network, workshop with fellow authors, or solo write/edit their work
Information on how to reach out to us if you are interested in getting your book stocked on our shelves, or if you are interested in being considered for an eventPlease note: We will not accept any in-person pitches or proposals, and we will not make any firm decisions regarding our stock or events calendar at the event
Who this event is for:
This event is perfect for writers of all stages, especially writers who are curious about the different paths to publishing, how to market their books, and how to build relationships within the book communityWe love writers of all ages, however, this event is recommended for adultsWe love seeing who is planning to join us! Tickets are mandatory for this event. The cost of your ticket will help us provide light refreshments as well as a mini author package.

Grab your tickets here.

Alma MFA Summer Residency, Oxford England
2025-08-19 - 2025-08-28

Wabash Center Creative Writing Roundtable, Lake Geneva, WI
2025-07-20 - 2025-07-26

Character Writing Workshop, Chautauqua, NY
2025-07-05 - 2025-07-11
Sophfronia will teach a morning class during Week 3 of Chautauqua Institution’s summer programming.

Hobart Book Village Festival of Women Writers, Hobart, NY
2025-06-06 - 2025-06-08
Sophfronia will deliver a workshop.

On Spiritual Friendships: Meditative Talk, The Meditatio Centre, London, England
2025-05-17 10:30 - 16:00 (Europe/London)
Though Thomas Merton craved the solitude of a hermitage and the silence in which “God shines there and is immediately found,” his mysticism and writing life were deeply fed and influenced by special friendships that he developed both in person and through a prolific correspondence that connected him to writers and spiritual thinkers all over the world.
Sophfronia will discuss how we can find and nurture similar bonds today to the great benefit of our lives and work.
Please join us to spend the day looking at this beautiful topic together, along with fellow meditators and seekers.
We will have the opportunity to meditate together and be together and drink tea and coffee.
Register:

On Spiritual Friendships

The Bath Literary Festival, Bath, England
2025-05-14 - 2025-05-25
Sophfronia will be in attendance at the famed literary festival.

Community of Hope International Annual Conference, Hendersonville, NC
2025-05-06 - 2025-05-09
Sophfronia will present on the conference theme, “Embracing Change.” Register at cohi.org

Visiting Writer at Westminster School, Simsbury, CT
2025-04-25 - 2025-04-26

Association of Writers and Writing Program Conference, Los Angeles, CA
2025-03-27 - 2025-03-30
Sophfronia will read at the launch of the anthology “Past Ten.”

The Soul of Writing Nature and Spirituality: A Workshop, Lansing, Michigan
2025-03-22 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | St. David’s Episcopal Church, 1519 Elmwood Road, Lansing, MI, 48917, United States
We all have our own story, a personal narrative of significant events or special encounters with the outdoor world that has shaped our spirituality. Writing it, though, presents a specific kind of challenge: We are trying to capture the ineffable in words. But if we choose the right words, we successfully communicate our own faith and give others a way to access their own. Using as our model the writing of the monk Thomas Merton, who had a particular divine connection to nature, we will spend the day working with prompts and discussing the development of essays and memoir. The day will be led by Sophfronia Scott, a Merton expert and director of Alma College’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program.
Register:
https://admissions.alma.edu/register/?id=0f22ea43-61b2-4f0f-b6c9-4ae0fa4f91f0

CPI Colloquy, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, IN
2025-03-10 - 2025-03-13
Leading sessions on creative writing for those writing about how to teach preaching.

Alma MFA Winter Residency, Lake Junaluska, NC
2024-12-27 - 2025-01-04
The MFA community will gather for lectures, readings, and workshop.

Veterans Writing Workshop, Alma College, Alma, MI
2024-11-16 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Veterans have stories to tell—stories that are powerful, healing, and inspirational. To honor those words and help bring them to light, the Alma College MFA in Creative Writing offers this no-cost one-day workshop for all who have served in the military. The event will feature:

Teaching sessions by award-winning MFA faculty
Writing prompts to get you started
Information on how to continue your work with the support of the MFA program.

Lunch will be served. Participants need to only bring their favorite writing tools.

The Literary Cleveland Inkubator Writing Conference, Cleveland, OH
2024-09-20 - 2024-09-21
Sophfronia will represent the Alma College MFA in Creative Writing at the conference bookfair

Sermon, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Petoskey, MI
2024-09-15 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 020 E Mitchell St., Petoskey, MI, 49770, United States
Sophfronia will deliver the sermon at the 1oam service and answer questions at the coffee hour afterwards.

“A Circle of Quiet” The Madeleine L’Engle Writing Retreat, Petoskey, MI
2024-09-12 - 2024-09-14
This year the L’Engle Writing Retreat will take place in beautiful Petoskey, Michigan on the shores of Little Traverse Bay, back-to-back with the annual Northern Michigan C. S. Lewis Festival.
Join the retreat starting Thursday evening and all day Friday, followed by an enchanting weekend of á la carte festival events celebrating the storytelling legacies of three twentieth-century spiritual writers: Madeleine L’Engle (A Wrinkle in Time, A Circle of Quiet), C. S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity), and Thomas Merton (The Seven Storey Mountain).
In addition to leading the L’Engle Retreat, co-directors Sarah Arthur and Sophfronia Scott are this year’s CSL festival speakers, together with L’Engle’s granddaughter, Léna Roy (plus cameos by Léna’s sister, Charlotte Jones Voiklis).
For registration information go here.

Glen Workshop 2024, Seattle, WA
2024-07-21 - 2024-07-27
At the Glen, daily morning workshops offer artists at all skill levels an opportunity to develop their craft in a wide variety of genres with acclaimed faculty. Meanwhile, morning seminars offer substantive conversation and engagement with art, mystery, and faith. Afternoons and evenings feature a smorgasbord of readings, field trips, panel conversations, concerts, open mics, and worship services incorporating the arts.

Sophfronia will be on the faculty teaching a workshop for this year’s event.

Wabash Center Creative Writing Roundtable, Chattahoochee Hills, GA
2024-07-08 - 2024-07-12
A Wabash Center workshop.
This writing workshop, held at the Inn at Serenbe, is for scholars of religion and theology who have written exclusively or primarily in the scholarly genre for other scholars of religion but long to share their knowledge or personal experience in a more creative way with a wider audience.
Many scholars yearn to speak to a broader audience through creative nonfiction, blogs, op-eds, and memoir. Many scholars want to write with more clarity and imagination. Participants in this workshop will develop their writing voice in service to topics they care about, and for which they have passion and curiosity. A combination of plenary, small group and individual instruction, our week together will help scholars free the creative spirit, structure their writing more effectively, and speak on the page in a truer, more engaging voice. Our focus will be on releasing the professors’ voice to the public square, giving permission to be imaginative, and finding new ways of being inspired.

Alma College MFA in Creative Writing Summer Residency 2024, Alma, MI
2024-06-20 - 2024-06-30
As director of Alma’s MFA program, Sophfronia is pleased to announce its summer 2023 residency. Residency is the heart of the MFA experience. Students, faculty, visiting writers, and guest speakers from the publishing industry come together to form a diverse and dynamic artistic community teeming with the energy of a shared commitment to writing. Visiting writers will join the residency with craft talks, informal talks for students and public readings in the evening.

Thomas Merton Weekend Retreat Program, Trinity Retreat Center, Cornwall, CT
2024-05-31 - 2024-06-02
