Best Writing Residencies of 2025
Top 10 Prestigious Programs for Writers
This curated list features the ten most respected writing residencies around the world, each providing dedicated time, space, and often generous funding to help writers concentrate on their craft. Whether you’re looking for a quiet cottage in the woods, a historic villa by a lake, or a creative hub in the heart of a city, these programs support both emerging and established writers in developing new work and engaging in meaningful cultural exchange.
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#1 MacDowell Fellowship for Writers (Peterborough, NH, USA)
MacDowell invites writers to fully funded residencies lasting two to six weeks (most fellows stay around 30 days), offering a private studio, lodging, and three daily meals. Applications require a $30 fee, and recipients may receive up to $1,500 in need-based stipends plus travel reimbursements. With no residency costs and generous support, writers benefit from a serene, wooded retreat and a legacy of nurturing Pulitzer, National Book, and MacArthur winning authors, making it one of the nation’s most prestigious literary residencies.
Link: MacDowell website
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#2 Hedgebrook Writer‑in‑Residence Program (Whidbey Island, WA, USA)
Hedgebrook offers fully funded residencies exclusively for women‑identified writers, lasting two to three weeks in private handcrafted cottages. Participants enjoy lodging, chef‑prepared meals, and quiet time for writing, reading, and reflection in a secluded, wooded retreat—travel is the writer’s responsibility. With up to six residents per session, the program emphasizes creative solitude balanced by evening gatherings. Renowned for uplifting underrepresented voices, Hedgebrook is widely esteemed as one of the top residencies for women writers seeking focused time and community support.
Link: Hedgebrook website
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#3 Ucross Foundation Residency for Writers (Clearmont, Wyoming, USA)
Ucross offers fully funded writer residencies ranging from two to six weeks (most fellows stay about a month). Each writer receives a private studio, comfortable accommodations, and all meals prepared by a professional chef. There is a $40 non-refundable application fee and a $50 refundable deposit. Accepted writers receive a $1,500 stipend at orientation to help cover costs plus travel support. Nestled on a 20,000‑acre High Plains ranch alongside up to nine other artists, Ucross provides uninterrupted time and space in a beautiful, inspiring setting.
Link: Ucross Foundation website
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#4 Yaddo Residency for Writers (Saratoga Springs, NY, USA)
Yaddo invites writers to fully funded residencies lasting from two to eight weeks (with the average stay around five weeks), providing a private studio, room and board on a sprawling 400‑acre estate. Applications require a $30 fee plus a small media‑upload charge; travel grants are available to invited fellows. There is no residency fee, and need‑based financial aid supports living expenses. Known for its serene setting, rich community of peers, and illustrious alumni—including Nobel, Pulitzer, and National Book Award winners—Yaddo is one of the most prestigious retreats in the literary world.
Link: Yaddo website
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#5 Fine Arts Work Center Writing Fellowship (Provincetown, MA, USA)
The Fine Arts Work Center offers emerging writers a seven-month, fully supported residency from October 1 to April 30. Fellows receive private housing, workspace, a $1,250 monthly stipend plus a $1,000 exit stipend, and a travel/living award of up to $2,500. Applications require a tiered fee ($40–$65) depending on the date submitted. With no residency costs and generous financial backing, FAWC provides writers with an extended period of uninterrupted creative time in a vibrant arts community, making it one of the most prestigious long-form writing fellowships in the U.S.
Link: FAWC website
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#6 Vermont Studio Center Residency for Writers (Johnson, Vermont, USA)
The Vermont Studio Center (VSC) offers writers immersive residencies of two, three, or four weeks, with most residents staying about a month. Participants receive a private studio, shared housing, catered meals, and optional engagement in a Visiting Writer program featuring craft talks and manuscript critiques. Approximately 35% of attendees receive full fellowships, while all accepted writers are awarded partial fellowships to offset program fees (ranging from $2,700 for two weeks up to $4,950 for four weeks). VSC’s vibrant international community, historic rural setting, and robust mentorship opportunities make it a leading choice for writers seeking focused creative development.
Link: Vermont Studio Center website
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#7 Hawthornden Castle Writers’ Retreat (Lasswade, Scotland, UK)
Hawthornden Castle hosts six writers per session, each enjoying a fully funded four-week residency in a quiet, 15th-century castle. Fellows receive private bedroom and board, including communal breakfast and dinner with lunch delivered for uninterrupted writing. Stipends are provided—£1,000 for European writers or £2,500 for those coming from further afield—to help with travel and living costs. With silence encouraged from 9 am to 6 pm, historical ambience, and a deep tradition of literary focus, Hawthornden offers a uniquely immersive environment for serious writers.
Link: Hawthornden Castle website
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#8 Camargo Foundation Fellowship (Cassis, France)
The Camargo Foundation offers 10-week, fully funded residencies for writers, scholars, and interdisciplinary thinkers in a tranquil setting overlooking the Mediterranean. Fellows are housed in private, furnished apartments with access to shared workspaces and a library. The program provides a weekly stipend of €350 and covers basic travel expenses. With its focus on reflection, research, and cross-disciplinary exchange, Camargo stands out as a premier residency for writers seeking time, space, and intellectual community in the south of France.
Link: Camargo Foundation website
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#9 Casa Lü Sur Writers’ Residency (Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico)
Casa Lü Sur offers a focused 4–6 week residency for writers in a peaceful, artist-run house in southern Mexico City. Writers are provided with private accommodations, a dedicated studio, weekly cultural outings, one-on-one feedback sessions, and a final public reading. The program fosters a balance of solitude and engagement, offering time for writing alongside meaningful cultural exchange. Partial scholarships are available, and invitation letters can be provided to support external funding. Casa Lü Sur is ideal for writers seeking both quiet concentration and thoughtful connection.
Link: Casa Lü Sur website
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#10 Bellagio Center Residency (Lake Como, Italy)
The Bellagio Center offers writers and creative leaders a fully funded four-week residency on the shores of Lake Como. Fellows receive a private studio, room and board in a historic villa, and join a small, interdisciplinary cohort (up to 14 participants). Travel funding is provided to support arrival and departure. In residence, writers enjoy uninterrupted time, deep intellectual exchange, and ongoing connections through the Bellagio Network of Nobel, Pulitzer, and globally influential alumni—making it one of the world’s most prestigious and impactful creative residencies.
Link: Bellagio Center website
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