The Cuttyhunk Island Writers' Residency is a seven-day workshop and residency for fourteen writers on Cuttyhunk Island, off the coast of Cape Cod. In 2020, two residencies will be held from September 16-23 and October 2-9. Five days are dedicated to workshop, two to free writing time.
In 2019: Workshop leaders Hernan Diaz (Spring Session), Chen Chen (Fall), and Cynthia Zarin (Fall)
In 2018: Workshop leaders were Ethan Canin and Julia Glass. In 2017: Margot Livesey (June) and Wells Tower (September). In 2016: Paul Harding.
Past Visiting Readers and Authors include:
Geraldine Brooks
Tony Horowitz
Emma Cline
Eric Jay Dolin
Anna Noyes
Nathaniel Philbrick
Jim Shepard
Cynthia Zarin
CIWR offers you time to work on your writing in a beautiful, remote setting. We invite serious writers from all stages in their careers to learn from one another and from the mentorship of an instructor -- who will run a workshop for five of the seven days, hold hours for one-on-one meetings, and give a reading. Workshop is optional. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a sample schedule.
Participants stay at the Avalon Inn (see "Accommodation").
Program cost options below (which include accommodation, meals, workshop fees, lecturing and visiting musicians support, and round-trip transportation on the ferry from New Bedford, MA.)
A: $950 (Triple room)
B: $1,350 (Double room)
C: $1,900 (Single room; master bedroom)
All scholarship winners are assigned to a triple room. If you win a scholarship and would like a single or double room, that's fine -- we just ask that you make up the difference in cost. See the application form for further instructions.
There are SIX SCHOLARSHIPS that cover the entire cost of residency. Please click on the APPLY tab for further instructions.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
Day 1:
8:30 – Ferry from New Bedford, Massachusetts
10:00 – Arrive on Cuttyhunk Island! Light snack and coffee.
12:30 – Lunch
2:00 – Walking tour around Island; afternoon writing time
5:30 – Cocktail hour with local oysters!
6:15 – Sit-down Dinner
8:15 – Moby Dick Reading; social hour; writing time.
Day 2:
7:30 – Coffee and tea served in the kitchen
8:30 - 9:30 – Buffet-style Breakfast
10:00 - 12:30 – Workshop
12:30 – Buffet-style lunch
1:15 - 5:15 – Afternoon writing time
5:30 – Cocktail hour
6:15 – Dinner
9 pm – Nightly Salon: attendees reading series
Day 3:
7:30 - Coffee and tea
8:30 - 9:30 - Breakfast
10:00 – Workshop
12:30 - Lunch
1:30 - 5:15 - Afternoon writing time
5:30 - Cocktail hour
6:15 – Dinner
7:30 – Evening Concert / Visiting Author Reading
9 pm – Nightly Salon: attendees reading series
Day 4:
7:30 - Coffee and tea
8:30 - 9:30 - Breakfast
10:00 – Workshop
12:30 - Lunch
1:30 - 5:15: Afternoon writing time / one-on-one meetings.
5:30 – Cocktail hour
6:15 – Dinner
7:30 – Concert Series / Visiting Author Reading
9:00 – Nightly Salon: Moby Dick; attendees reading series
Day 5:
7:30 - Coffee and Tea
8:30 - 9:30 - Breakfast
10:00 – Workshop
12:30 - Lunch
1:30 - 5:15 – Afternoon writing time / one-on-one meetings
5:30: Cocktail hour
6:15: - Dinner
8:30 – Visiting author reading
9 pm – Nightly Salon: attendees reading series
Day 6:
7:30 - Coffee and Tea
8:30 - 9:30 - Breakfast
10:00 - 12:00: Workshop 5
12:30: Lunch
1:30 - 5:15 - Afternoon writing time. One-on-one meetings
5:30: Cocktail hour
6:15 – Dinner
9:00 – Nightly Salon: attendees reading series.
Bonfire on beach
Day 7:
7:30 - Coffee and Tea
8:30 - 9:30 - Breakfast
10:00 - 12:00 - Workshop
12:30 - Lunch
1:30 - 5:15 – Afternoon writing time
5:30 – Evening farewell drinks on the beach
6:15 - Dinner
9:00 pm: Nightly Salon, attendees reading series
Day 8:
7:30 - Coffee and Tea
8:30 - 9:30 – Breakfast
10:00 – Please leave rooms (cleaning) and enjoy Avalon common areas
12:00 - 1:15 - Lunch
3:00 – Ferry from Cuttyhunk to New Bedford. Farewell!