Holmes County workshop draws 300 Amish and Plain community writers

More than 300 Amish and Plain community writers filled Dayspring United Mennonite Church in Berlin on March 13 and 14, turning a two-day workshop into a clear sign that Holmes County’s writing and publishing scene is no longer a small side interest. With publishers, sponsors and book vendors in the room, the Plain Community Writers Workshop looked less like a class and more like a local literary marketplace built around authors, readers and the businesses that support them.

The gathering has come a long way since 2019, when Amish writers in Ohio began talking about ways to learn more about writing and to connect with one another. The first workshop-style meeting followed in 2021 at a local home and drew about 100 people. Early sessions were conducted in Pennsylvania Dutch, but later workshops shifted to English as the audience widened. By 2026, attendance had climbed to about 200 on Friday and a peak of roughly 320 on Saturday.

That growth brought a broader mix of people to Berlin, including Amish attendees, other conservative Anabaptists and some participants from nondenominational backgrounds. Marcus Yoder, who is associated with the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center in Berlin, served as the keynote speaker and framed writing as a gift meant to be used for communication. The event’s planning circle included Emily Hershberger, David Kline, Amy Schablach, Reuben Shetler, Sue Weaver and Milan Wengerd, names that have become familiar to readers who follow Plain-community publishing.

The workshop’s own support network showed how much the field has expanded. Tables and backing from The Budget, Plain Communities Business Exchange and The Vendor gave the weekend a practical edge, connecting writers with outlets that print, promote and circulate Plain-community work. That ecosystem matters in Berlin, where a single event can send visitors into local businesses, introduce new readers to familiar names and keep books moving through the community.

Reuben Shetler has said writing is “not a high priority” in Plain communities, which helps explain why the workshop has become such a visible effort. Marion Kuhns said the event keeps growing because people value the chance to connect and mingle with other writers. Organizers have also encouraged attendees to join writing groups, some meeting in person and others by mail or email, while discussing a book of workshop writings and future annual gatherings.