Edith Wharton Writing Residency
In Partnership with Straw Dog Writers Guild
About the Program
The Edith Wharton & Straw Dog Writers Guild Writing Residency offers one-week residencies during the month of March to nine emerging poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers.
The Residency is hosted by The Mount, the former home of Edith Wharton, a 1902 Georgian revival mansion in Lenox, Massachusetts. Selected writers will receive a $500 stipend, travel reimbursement up to $250, dedicated workspaces at The Mount, and lodging at a neighboring inn in the Berkshires.
Applications
2027 Residency Dates:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
An application fee of $25 is required. This fee is waived for Members of The Mount and Straw Dog Writers Guild, or in the event of financial hardship.
2027 Residency Application Timeline:
Application opens September 1, 2026, 9:00 am
Application deadline October 1, 2026, 5:00 pm, or once 300 applications have been received
2027 Residents and Finalists announced on December 15, 2026
2026 Writers in Residence
Congratulations 2026 Residency Finalists:
*2026 Residency Alternates
Charlotte Adamis
Chidima Anekwe*
Ned Averill-Snell
Magdelena Bartkowska
Kate Blakinger
Griffin Brown
Samantha Chung
Emma Deshpande
Christina Drill
Kate Hubbard
Leslie Johnson*
Christine Johnson-Duell
Siqi Liu
Sarah Nance*
Ava O’Malley
Noor Qasim
Jessica Rotondi
Anne Schuchman
Sarah Starr Murphy
Mary Warner
Who is Eligible?
Emerging writers in the genres of:
- Creative Non-Fiction
- Fiction
- Poetry
Emerging writers are defined as authors who have published no more than one book or chapbook in any genre by the start of the Residency. Self-published works do not count toward this limit. If you have published books in another field or discipline but consider yourself an emerging writer, please provide additional context in the application form.
How to Prepare:
Applicants must provide a proposal (double-spaced, using a standard 12-pt font) that includes:
- A one-page biography
- A one-page statement of purpose outlining your proposed project while at The Mount. Tell us about your writing and what you’d like to accomplish at The Mount.
- A ten-page writing sample, ideally from a work-in-progress. Your sample can include several short pieces or sections
About Straw Dog Writers Guild
Based in Western Massachusetts, the mission of Straw Dog Writers Guild is to support the writing community by strengthening, engaging, and connecting writers at all levels of development. A non-profit volunteer organization, its members are dedicated to the craft and transformative power of writing and service by promoting individual growth, community outreach and enrichment, and building community.
Have questions?
Email us at writersinresidence@edithwharton.org