The F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference was founded in 1996 to commemorate the 100th birthday of celebrated American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, whose paternal ancestors were from Montgomery County, Maryland.

Now in it’s 28th year, the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival returns to Rockville to Honor the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald and honor prominent American fiction writers, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, and other literary figures and artists. This year’s Festival theme is “Writing the Hard Stories.”

At the heart of the Literary Festival lies the prestigious F. Scott Fitzgerald Award for Achievement in American Literature, a distinguished honor bestowed upon an eminent American writer. The recipient, gracing the festival with their presence, not only receives the accolade but also engages attendees with a captivating reading and a master class. This year’s award honoree is Jesmyn Ward, a highly acclaimed American novelist and professor known for her poignant explorations of race, family, and Southern life.

Register to attend Writing Workshops, the keynote talk, and special bus tour.