Hewnoaks-Birds & Muses

Sept. 6 — 13, 2025

All Stages Residency

We’re pleased to announce that the September 2025 week-long collaborative residency between Hewnoaks and Birds & Muses now offers a combined curriculum, encompassing all stages of development of literary projects, from early, generative explorations of a project through advanced drafts of a long-form manuscript, and anywhere in between. Women-identified literary artists at any stage in their project are invited to take part in daily group craft & process sessions to inspire their writing, individualized conferences to further identify and advance their nascent projects, and protected time to write. 

This All Stages Residency is designed for up to 10 writers deeply committed to their craft, whether published or yet to be published. The daily group sessions offer a curriculum in literary craft & process unique to Birds & Muses teaching: a non-academic and decidedly more artistic, intuitive, and emotionally/sensorily based approach to literary artistry than is typically taught. Participants are invited to take part in any or all of the sessions: 

• Morning sessions will cover foundational principles of craft & process; topical conversations will include assigned short readings and generative exercises designed to open up the possibilities of each writer’s project, or help them recognize areas of passion and curiosity that could lead to bigger projects. 
• Afternoon sessions will take the form of discussion of aspects of late revision and literary professionalism, such as guidance toward publication and seeking support and readership for their work, with probing exercises designed to further each writer’s project and artistic growth and confidence.

Each writer will have an individual conference with Kate to discuss their project and needs going forward. Optional full manuscript assessments will be available for an additional discounted fee. 

Please note that while offering unencumbered time, sanctuary, and mentorship for artistic exploration, this residency is not a pampered retreat but a focused environment where writers will devote themselves to intensive creative growth – of their projects and of themselves as writers.

Bringing together any group requires care – especially assembling a group of strangers doing the deep, vulnerable work that art demands. This application is designed to allow us to learn a bit about you and your work so that we can be sure we can support you in your artistic process individually and as part of a dynamic, shared experience. 

KEY DATES

• March 24: Application opens.
• March 24 - July 22: Applications reviewed and invitations extended on a rolling basis. Once notified, accepted applicants will have 1 week to secure their enrollment by paying the full fee.
• July 15: Deadline for applications.
• July 22: Final accepted applicants notified.
• Sept. 6: Arrivals (2-5pm).
• Sept. 13: Departures by noon.
   

INFORMATION ABOUT HEWNOAKS:

Participants will live in small, rustic cabins equipped with basic kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. Food for prepare-your-own breakfasts and lunches will be provided, and dinners will be prepared by residency staff.

The property is about a 90 minute drive from Portland, and residents are responsible for their own transportation to Hewnoaks.

While WiFi is available in the main lodge, it does not extend to the artist cabins themselves, and cell service is virtually nonexistent throughout the property.

Our historic property is not ADA-compliant, and has steep hills and unpaved paths; participants with limited mobility may have difficulty navigating the property. If you have questions or concerns about this, please email program staff at info@hewnoaks.org.

PLEASE read the information on our website to ensure that what we have to offer and what you hope to do are aligned properly: https://hewnoaks.org/workshops/birds-muses/