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, femme, trans and nonbinary artists of literary projects 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.
The 7-night residency will be writing intensive with the primary purpose of providing protected time in which to write and to allow for the imaginative wandering that leads to writing. Part of the “protections” of that time will include a schedule outlining the daily group sessions devoted to craft principles, individual conferences, and sharing projects. The residency will include a simple seasonal vegetarian meal plan, with staff-prepared group dinners and on-your-own supplies for breakfasts and lunches. At the end of each day the group will be invited to come together to share their work by reading to each other – an obligation-free, stress-free alternative to the workshop model that has become a beloved core practice for Birds & Muses writers.
This year’s Hewnoaks – Birds & Muses collaborative residency is an extension of 2024’s highly successful residency for women-identified writers at all stages of their work. The ten writers who attended the 2024 residency became a supportive community both during their week together and continuing over the year since, staying in contact with accomplishments and personal news and attending each other’s artistic events. This lasting and energizing sense of communal art-making and art-sharing lies at the heart of the missions of both Hewnoaks and Birds & Muses.
For full details on retreat pricing, cabin options, and the unique experience of a Birds & Muses residency at Hewnoaks, please visit our Birds & Muses page. There, you'll find everything you need to know about accommodations, what's included in residency fees, and what to expect during your stay!
Accommodations & Pricing:
- Hewnoaks’ cabins, which vary from single- to small group-occupancy, all have expansive lake views and retain much of their original rustic, Arts-and-Crafts décor and character.
- All cabins have simple kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, with the main lodge a common gathering place for group meetings and meals.
- In keeping with the goal of providing protected, unencumbered time for the making of art, there is no WiFi in the cabins and cell service is virtually nonexistent, with a communications room for WiFi and a landline in the main lodge.
- Lodging option choices will be first-come, first-served upon enrollment. Please click the images below for more information about each cabin!
Ready to Join Us This September?
The application deadline has been extended to July 15, offering additional time for writers finalizing their materials.
Here's how to get started:
step 1.
explore key program details
Before applying, we recommend reviewing the key program details on our main
Birds & Muses page.
step 2.
Submit your application by 7/15
Admission is by application only. There’s a $20 application fee, which will be credited toward your enrollment if accepted.
