There are many kinds of artist and writing residencies and retreats, as well as words that people use to describe them. It can get confusing: residencies, retreats, fellowships, etc. The main commonality across most residencies is that they provide some amount of uninterrupted time for a writer or artist to work on a piece or project. Some are catered more toward solitude — where a writer might have their own studio to work in — whereas others may involve more social times and collaborative spaces. Some may include built-in mentorship, where you meet with an established author to talk about your work, whereas others are simply meant for you to get as much creating done as you know you need. We call TSW’s in-person residencies “quiet collaborations,” as there are no studios, just shared spaces. Conversation and exchange are key to our experiences. Currently, our in-person residencies are reserved for TSW alum, meaning only folks we have to published or worked with in some capacity are eligible to apply.