[M]y experience at DisQuiet was absolutely life changing. I will be forever grateful for the things that I learned and the people that I met. I believe that life long relationships have been born. Yma Johnson, 2015 Participant
Alumni
One of the core ideas behind DISQUIET is that a community supports and sustains writers. And you’ll have plenty of time–whether it’s in workshop or on a walking tour of Cascais or over a morning coffee or a late dinner in a courtyard cafe–to get to know the many writers of all levels that come to the program.
Many lasting friendships have formed over the course of DISQUIET, sparking creative collaboration and generating new ideas. For example, Presence/Presença is a Luso-American/Luso-Canadian writers collective that formed during 2011 program and is now over 300 members strong.
Here’s what some of our past participants have to say about the program:
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The workshop with Leslie Jamison, fellow writers and their works, the readings, events, and Lisbon itself, etc.--they all truly surpassed anything I'd imagined. Somehow, in spite of how rigorous and stimulating (and packed) the schedule was, I ended up writing quite a bit. I also managed to go out and explore and eat (a lot) and drink (a bit) and talk and laugh (a lot) and get to know truly amazing folks, some of whom I am happy to call friends now. A group of us were talking about this phenomenon one night and someone offered the theory that the intensity of this experience and thoughtful structure of the program allows folks to be a bit more open and vulnerable--often more quickly--to each other in meaningful ways. I think this has been true for me. Being in Lisbon and participating in Disquiet offered a much-needed recalibration. Esther Lee, 2015 Participant
Disquiet 2014 rescued and ruined me: great workshops, great lectures and readings, great people. How am I supposed to get back to real life? Hugo Dos Santos, 2014 Participant
I've had an incredible time, had great conversations with good people, spent time in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and learned a lot about writing. I'll never forget it. Wes Blake, 2014 Participant
Three words for any writer looking to attend an outstanding summer conference/workshop/festival of literature, culture and art exchange: Disquiet. Lisbon. Go. Jamie Figueroa, 2014 participant
Last year Disquiet for me was life changing. This year, 2012, Disquiet was life affirming. Lara Gularte, 2011, 2012, 2013 participant
This whole experience was almost too good—it’s been nearly impossible to readjust to regular life! I particularly loved how we were [...] engaged by both the academic literary establishment as well as marvelous Portuguese writers. Caitlin Myer
I am most impressed by the way program participants seemed diverse, kind, and easy to be around. But I was also blown away by the degree of preparation and welcome put into our program experience. Aisha Sloan
I adored every second of my stay in Lisbon, and the literature and culture of Portugal is my New World. It was life-changing and inspired a spate of poems. Kathleen Willard
Excellent workshops, literary excursions, film screenings, meeting writers from all around the world, and all packaged in an inviting city—what more could I ask for? Carlos Quieros