Guest Author - Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman

In spring, a young man's fancy may indeed turn to Love, but for poets and writers, summer is the perfect season for entertaining that most romantic of ideas - serving a residency and writing in an idyllic setting - perhaps even somewhere across the sea.

What is a Writer's Residency?

Essentially, a writers residency is a place where you, the writer, are offered the opportunity to reside in a community for free in order to work on your craft. Residencies are as diverse as the people and institutions that host them - some require lengthy applications detailing a specific project you plan to work on while undergoing the residency; while others offer more flexibility and generally let you work on whatever you choose.

In either event, there is usually an application process in which your work or query is evaluated for merit and appropriateness, as well as a determination process in which you are either granted a residency or denied. And while your initial housing costs are generally cared for, items such as food and transportation remain your resonsibility. Allocated residency times can vary ranging from a few days to months, again depending on the particular venue involved.

Residencies offer a wonderful opportunity to travel, meet other artists and develop your work in a peaceful, natural setting purposefully suited towards the development of inspiration and creativity. Party houses they are not.

2008 Writers Residencies

Here are just a few to jumpstart your own fanciful wanderlusts.

Ledig House, located two hours outside of New York City and offering residencies anywhere from one week to two months. Accomodates writers, artists, musicians and dance.

Millay Colony offering comprehensive resedencies to poets, writers and composers founded in 1973 by the sister of Edna St. Vincet Millay (and in her honor);

Anam Cara, a retreat/workshop center for artists and writers located in Ireland.