The Second Quarry Farm Graduate Student Workshop: “From Seminar Paper to Academic Article”The Center for Mark Twain Studies is happy to announce their second Graduate Student Workshop: “From Seminar Paper to Academic Article.” This in-person workshop will provide an intensive writing experience for students to transform a seminar or conference paper into an article ready to submit for publication. Although all approaches are welcome—and interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged – the paper must give substantial attention to Twain.

 Ph.D. candidates are invited to apply for the five-day workshop which is scheduled to take place immediately following Elmira 2026: The Tenth International Conference on the State of Mark Twain Studies. After the conclusion of the conference, students will work with two senior, well-established American literature scholars, Sandra Gustafson and Shirley Samuels, and with each other, affording ample time for writing and access to the Mark Twain archive and library at Quarry Farm. Successful applicants will have their Elmira 2026 conference registration waived, be housed for free in Elmira College dormitories during the conference and workshop, and be provided with food throughout the conference, then breakfasts and lunches for the duration of the workshop.  The workshop will take place both on the Elmira College campus and at Quarry Farm in Elmira, NY. Participants will receive a $200 stipend and $500 towards travel expenses.

Workshop participants are strongly encouraged to attend Elmira 2026 and deliver a paper. Preference will be given to those applicants who intend to present at Elmira 2026: The Tenth International Conference on the State of Mark Twain Studies.

Applications are due by Friday, February 20, 2026. Applicants should provide a cover letter giving their name and institution, their program and their current progress within it (i.e., second year Ph.D., ABD, etc.), their dissertation project where determined, and a letter of recommendation. Please also provide a proposal (700 words maximum) of the paper to be presented at Elmira 2026 and then transformed in the workshop.

 Applications should be submitted simultaneously to Shirley Samuels (shirley.samuels@cornell.edu) and Joseph Lemak (jlemak@elmira.edu.). Applicants will be informed of their acceptance by March 20, 2026.

Important Dates and Deadlines 

• Proposal submission deadline – Friday, February 20, 2026
• Decisions deadline – Friday, March 20, 2026
• Elmira 2026 Conference – Thursday, July 30 to Saturday, August 1, 2026
• Quarry Farm Graduate Student Workshop – Monday, August 3 to Friday, August 7, 2026