Every writer deserves the space and time needed to pen down and capture fleeting emotions in the right essence, make words come alive, impart knowledge through their piece or just get into their zone to soar high. This is where the writer’s residency program comes into play.
Writers-in-residence programs are establishments that offer temporary residential stays to writers to work on their creative writing projects. Some of the top writers-in-residence programs are Willapa Bay Air, Stockholm Writer’s Festival, Masterheads Writer’s Residency, History Joy Hogawa House, PlySpace, and more.
What is Writers-in-residence?
Writers-in-residence is when more than one writer holds a temporary residential post in an academic establishment to exchange professional insights over a week or more.
Juggling between home and work, writers feel the need of escaping to a place of solitude where they can pen down their thoughts within the silent lap of nature and recall the stories or memories that nestle within their minds. Attending to such needs of serious writers, writers’ residency comes to the rescue.
What is Writer’s Residency?
Writer’s residency is a program organized by a writers’ community for those who wish to write in picturesque setups for aesthetic reasons which are ideal for professional and published writers. That’s right! Although not all programs are open to accepting unpublished authors, there are a few non-super-competitive ones that you could consider from the vast list.
Writers at any stage of their career i.e. emerging, mid-level, and established are eligible to apply. However, for the competitive residency programs out there, you ought to be a published writer in some way either in a literary magazine or a similar kind of publisher. All types and genres of storytelling are considered such as writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, children’s literature, script, and screenwriting for stage, radio, television, film, and podcasts.
However, due to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, there has been quite a stir worldwide which is why the residency programs everywhere have been postponed for 2022 and they begin accepting applications somewhere around May, 2021. Visit their websites for precise details.
All things to lookout for while applying for a writers’ residency are listed below varying on the criteria of submissions.
- In most cases, it involves an application fee and a refundable deposit as a security amount to register which is credited to you at the time of arrival.
- Housekeeping facilities differ in each venue.
- Keep an eye out for thorough details on what you should be looking for to benefit from these residencies.
Writer’s Residency And Where To Find Them
Here is a list of residencies every writer should know.
Top Writer’s Residency in US, United States of America
1. Willapa Bay Air
Willapa Bay Air offers residency programs to writers and artists of various genres. It is a residency that aids the balance of solitude and community together with the exchange of ideas and thoughts that harmonize the productivity of every participant. They have loding, meals, and workspace at no cost to six residents each month from March 1 to September 30 of the year. A selected jury of working professionals and artists evaluate the applicants applying for this residency in their respective disciplines.
2. Vermont Studio Center
Vermont Studio Center is known to be the largest residency program in the US that hosts approximately 50 applicants of writers and artists from all over the world. Their residencies span from a week-long to two to 12 weeks. In a typical four-week-long course, they have opening night dinner & reception, 7 resident presentations (“Res Pres”) Nights, 2 Open Studios Nights, Public slide talks / Public readings from Visiting Artists & Writers on their website, Visiting writer craft talks (open to writers only), opportunities for studio visits/manuscript critiques with visiting artists/writers. The fellowship deadlines occur thrice a year mostly in Feb, June, and October.
3. Stockholm Writers Festival
Stockholm Writers Prize is fashioned to allow writers the time, space, and inspiration they need to focus on creative writing and fiction. If you are a writer who has not yet published a book-length of creative writing, you will be eligible for a seven-day residency only. Their testimonials speak about their programs highly of imparting knowledge with regards to writing, book publishing, and much more. Any writer accepted into a seven-day residency gets to attend the Stockholm Writers Festival and US$1000 towards travel costs. A $25 entry fee applies.
4. Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts
At Kimmel Harding Nelson Center, year-round residencies of between two and eight weeks in Nebraska City are offered, accommodating a mix of established and emerging writers, visual artists, and music composers worldwide, all at once; this makes for interesting conversations and the feeling of being in good company. Approximately 70 juried residencies are awarded each year. There are two deadlines annually; March 1 for residency programs between July and December, and September 1 for residencies between January and June.
5. Fine Arts Work Center
These have been the best two years of my life as a writer. No matter where I’m traveling to or what gig I’m going to do, knowing that I’ve had this home to come back to and work in has been invaluable. I think the FAWC is the most densely populated, interdisciplinary group of talent I’ve ever been a part of. — Jerriod Avant, poet
A well-established fellowship program that’s been offering residencies since the 1960s, the Fine Arts Work Center residency is pretty darn selective — but a great gig if you can land it. Each year, 10 writers and 10 visual artists are offered a seven-month stay (Oct 1 to April 30 annually) in its Provincetown, Massachusetts facilities, including lodging, studio space, and a $1000 monthly stipend. Writing fellowship applications are due December 1 annually, and have a hefty $50 fee which can’t be waived for any reason. But boy, if you make it in, you’ll be among exceptional company — alumni of this program have gone on to win virtually every major national award in their respective fields, including the Pulitzer and Pollock-Krasner prizes.
6. Mastheads Writers Residency
Applications for the Mastheads Writers Residency for July 2021 will open in February 2021. The residency runs in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, for the month of July. In order to qualify, applicants are expected to submit a 10-page writing sample, a letter of intent, and a CV. Five writers across disciplines namely, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, translation, playwriting, comics, and design are awarded residencies. Residents receive exclusive use of one of the Mastheads studios, a $900 stipend, travel reimbursement, and a room in a communal house in downtown Pittsfield, shared with the other residents. The studios have a rustic appeal and are open-air.
7. PlySpace
PlySpace grants residencies for established as well as budding writers, visual artists, performers, designers, and other creative individuals that strive to facilitate collaborative projects that benefit the citizens of Muncie. Applicants must be over 21 years of age and shouldn’t be enrolled in a degree program. Applicants with disabilities should contact the residency in advance to discuss accommodations prior to submitting an application.
8. Ucross Foundation
Each year, Ucross Foundation provides residencies to approximately 100 individuals that range from two to six weeks in duration. This residency usually has a typical of 10 residents namely four visual artists, four writers and two composers at a time. There’s a $40 non-refundable application fee; plan for March 1 and September 1 deadlines.
Please note: Due to COVID-19, there are no open calls for submissions. Check their 2021 roster on their website.
9. Omi International Arts Center
Located on 300 acres overlooking the Catskill Mountains, Omi International Arts Center hosts translators and writers from all around the world throughout the year accommodating 10 writers at a time frequently hosting dinner quests from the New York publishing community. The residency provides a strong international emphasis on their programs that foster a cultural exchange of global literary voices across one platform. Here the translators work alongside writers. The residents must bear their own travel expenses however the application fee is free.
Please note: Due to COVID-19, there are presently no open calls for submissions. Check their website to keep a track of the new entries.
10. Norton Island Residency
Norton Island Residency nestles on 150 acres of an island off the coast of Maine sprawling with rare vegetation and endangered species that produce a microclimate of the area offering a rustic appeal to any traveler in the abundant wildlife and picturesque surroundings of the island. The place has the serenity to offer that writers and artists look to delve into. Although all this and a few limitations like little network coverage, limited wifi, and lack of running water in cabins deter a few writers but not all. The programs involve a no-fee application and any expenses will be covered by the residency.
Please note: Due to COVID, the residency wasn’t open to applications in 2020 however, check out their website to track the dates of 2021.
Top Writer’s Residency in UK, United Kingdom
1. Historic Joy Kogawa House
The Historic Kogawa House is built upon Joy Kogawa’s legacy as a writer who is also a former Canadian intern of Japanese heritage. Located in British Columbia, this residency welcomes published and self-published writers to participate in their residency programs that are held throughout the year. For more details, visit their website.
Top Writer’s Residency in Europe
1. Tartu City of Literature International Residency Program
Tartu has been accepted into UNESCO’s network of Creative Cities and has been awarded the title of International City of Literature which hosts artists’ and writers’ residency programs throughout the year. What the recipients do receive along with a two-month stay is a scholarship of € 600 per month and travel costs to and from Tartu up to € 350. Residencies take place in April and May. The deadline for applications is 21 February.
2. Gröndal’s House UNESCO City of Literature Residency
Gröndal’s House UNESCO City of Literature Residency offers a one-month stay for a visiting writer with special criteria to strong ties or affiliation with the 38 UNESCO Cities of Literature. The writers must have published at least one work in any genre (poetry, prose, play, or screenwriting). Writers of every age, nationality, and language can apply as long as there is a strong affiliation with a UNESCO City of Literature.
3. American Library in Paris Visiting Fellowship
The American Library in Paris Writer-in-Residence program was founded with the vision of cultural exchange between prominent writers and the Library. The jury selects a writer for a short-term residency that gives a distinguished opportunity for engagement. The resident receives a stipend of $3000 along with an award that is ideally designed to cover the resident’s traveling expenditure to Paris, their accommodation, and expenses that occur within the residency.
4. Mineral School
Mineral School selects around 20 creative residents from May to September who wants to advance their work in screenwriting, poetry, nonfiction, fiction, installation art, book arts, painting, and photography. They provide meals, lodging, and studio space at the price of $425. They host four 2-week residency programs for a total of 12 writers/artists and one special 1-week residency period for four artists in September. Applications open on January 1, 2020 and run through February 15, 2020.
5. Wildacres Retreat
Wildacres Retreat hosts artists, musicians, writers, and similar creative residents over the past decades. A true retreat, undisturbed by the noises of the city, it spans over the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Pisgah National Forest. The buildings are modern yet rustic offering a cozy nuzzling experience. Residents are accommodated in one of the three cabins in the mountains of North Carolina. Meals are served in the main lodge where you can interact with other residents. The residency programs involve a $20 application fee and applications are accepted till the month of November.