Writers Helping Writers
Conjunctions is proud to announce a new three-week writer’s residency under the auspices of the recently established Conjunctions Foundation. The mission of the Conjunctions Residency is to recognize and support writers of poetry, fiction, essays, hybrid and other literary works who have a publication history of accomplished, innovative work and have shown an ongoing personal commitment to helping other writers achieve their own creative goals.
The residency will take place in May 2026 in the vicinity of our upstate New York office in Livingston Manor at the foot of the Catskill Mountains. Residents will receive full room and board for the length of their stay at the beautiful Hemlock Neversink hotel. Surrounded by a 230-acre campus of hiking trails, woods, and wildflower meadows, writers will be provided a serene, private place in which to work without distraction. All meals will be provided by one of Foster Supply Hospitality’s award-winning chefs, and residents will have access to a spa facility, indoor swimming pool, and other amenities. An honorarium of at minimum $1000 to help facilitate travel will also be provided to accepted residents.
• writers who volunteer at an organization that supports the literary arts;
• writers helping to develop literary activity in underrepresented communities, rural or urban;
• writers who have launched and/or curate a reading series, youth writing workshop, literary advocacy or other literary outreach program;
• writers who work at a literary journal, indie publishing house, or publishing project.
Those whose work in the literary community differs from these several examples are also most welcome. We are selecting toward engagement outside formal academic settings but not excluding those who teach for a living. Our mission is straightforward: to support writers who have personally taken on the dual role of serving their muse while dedicating some of their time to help others who are devoted to the written word. The goal is to provide these generous individuals with unfettered time to focus on their own manuscripts in progress—whether in the first or final phase of composition—in a tranquil, supportive environment.
The successful applicant will be expected to lead a single-session workshop for local aspiring writers at the Livingston Manor-Roscoe Public Library midway through their residency and to give a public reading at Catskill Art Space in downtown Livingston Manor.
Applicants are required to have published at least one book. Each application must include a cover letter describing the applicant’s service to other writers or literary organizations, a current CV including works published, a writing sample of no more than 8-10 pages, and a proposal of no more than six hundred words about how the applicant envisions their residency time would be spent. Each applicant must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States. A non-refundable $35 fee must accompany each application.
Applications will be accepted via Submittable from Monday, December 29, through Tuesday, January 20. An announcement of the successful applicant will be made on Wednesday, March 4. The judge for this inaugural residency is award-winning novelist, memoirist, essayist, and poet Rick Moody. Future residents will be selected by a rotating panel of judges. The link for the application will be available on December 29 on the Conjunctions website, in social media, and in the newsletter.
The Conjunctions Foundations Inc. is grateful for the support of our partners, Foster Supply Hospitality and Catskill Art Space.
FAQs
Q. Who is eligible to apply?
A. Applicants are required to have published at least one book and demonstrate substantial contributions in support of other writers.
Q. Is the residency set up as a community of multiple artists?
A. No. This is intended to be a private retreat for an individual writer during which they may focus on their work. There are arts organizations in the area that will be offering programs during the period of the residency and we will be glad to guide you to those programs.
Q. How long is the residency?
A. Three weeks in May 2026, with the exact dates to be determined in consultation with the awardee.
Q. Will my travel expenses be covered?
A. The Conjunctions Foundation will provide a stipend of at least $1000 use toward travel expenses.
Q. Can I bring partners, children, or friends to accompany me during part or all of my stay?
A. This award and residency is intended to provide focused time to facilitate the creative work of the awardee alone.
Q. Will Wi-Fi be available?
A. Yes. This will be available at no cost.
Q. Will meals be provided?
A. Yes. All meals will be provided.
Q. How far will I be from general amenities?
A. The hotel has facilities such as laundry, indoor pool, and gym. It is located in a vibrant community within walking distance to general amenities and nature walks. Transportation can be arranged for longer distance needs.
Q. Is this residency open to international applicants?
A. All applicants must be a US citizen or legal resident of the United States.
Q. Is there a fee for the application?
A. Yes. A non-refundable $35 fee must accompany each application.
Q. Must my writing sample be from recently written work?
A. Applications may choose from up to 10 pages of poetry or prose that they think best represents their work.
Q. I have more questions—who can I contact?
A. Please email managingeditor.conjunctions@gmail.com
