Throughout the year, the Wellstone Center in the Redwoods offers monthlong fellowships for visiting writers.
We offer a setting of spectacular beauty sure to inspire any writer not only to find new directions to make progress with a writing project, but also a chance to pamper yourself with a break from many of the pointless distractions of day to day life. A visiting writing fellow can enjoy many hours of solitude, either in the Library House where she or he will be staying, or with a soak in our hot tub or a walk out on our private trails through the redwoods or elsewhere on our 4.7 acres of beautiful land, four miles up from the Pacific Ocean near Santa Cruz, California. Or the visiting writing fellow can also enjoy joining the permanent residents of the WCR for our delicious common meals, prepared with fresh fruit and vegetables from our own organic gardens, eggs from our hens and milk from our goats. Twice a week we have morning yoga and we also have regular cooking courses as well.
Founded in 2012 by Sarah Ringler and Steve Kettmann, the Wellstone Center in the Redwoods was named to San Francisco Magazine’s 2013 “Best of the Bay” issue for its weekend workshops. We are a small community looking to work together to inspire each other through close contact with nature and a commitment to using creativity to make a difference in our lives – and those of others. Writing fellows are invited to join us for three meals a day and encouraged to cook for all of us on occasion.
The fellowship does not include transportation expenses to come to us, but we will pick you up at a local airport on the day of your arrival. Writing fellows will be asked to join us for at least an hour of work a day in our gardens or orchards, to experience firsthand a connection with nature. Writing fellows will also be asked to contribute one essay on reading for our forthcoming collection from Wellstone Books, I Read It in the Library House, during the monthlong fellowshop, and to lead one weekend workshop and to host at least one book event – a book party or reading – for anyone in the Santa Cruz area or larger Bay Area who would like to attend.
To apply, please email a letter of no more than 500 words explaining your interest and why you would be an asset to our community; two samples of your writing, previously published or not, each between 1,000 and 2,000 words long; and a CV listing your work experience and publications. Preference will be given to writers with at least one book published.
Mail your application to steve@wellstoneredwoods.org or to 858 Amigo Road, Soquel, CA 95073 by July 15, 2014, to be considered for our fall fellowship.