DISQUIET International Literary Program

The 2025 DISQUIET International Literary Program, sponsored by Dzanc Books and Centro Nacional de Cultura, was held from June 22 to July 4 at the Centro Nacional de Cultura in Lisbon, Portugal. The conference featured workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as a multi-genre Writing the Luso Experience workshop, lectures, craft talks, and literary walks. The faculty included poets Erica Dawson, Diana Khoi Nguyen, and Terri Witek; fiction writer Gabriel Bump; and fiction writer and translator Bruna Dantas Lobato. Publishing professionals included editors from the Common and Granta. The cost of tuition was $2,200. To apply, writers submitted up to five poems totaling no more than 18 pages or 8 to 15 pages of prose with a $20 entry fee by December 2. The annual DISQUIET Prize, which awards a tuition waiver for the program or, if the winner is unable to attend, a $1,000 cash prize, was given to a poet, a fiction writer, and a creative nonfiction writer who also received publication in the Common, Granta, and Ninth Letter, respectively. One grand prize winner also received a $1,000 travel stipend and paid lodging in Lisbon. To apply for the prize, writers submitted up to six poems totaling no more than 10 pages or up to 25 pages of prose with a $15 entry fee by January 6, 2025. A limited number of additional scholarships were available; writers indicated interest via the application form. Visit the website for more information.

Accessibility accommodations included reserved seating at events and transcripts of talks with advance request.