Write A House, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing Detroit’s literary scene, is now accepting applications for its writer-in-residence program.
This is definitely a unique writer-in-residence program. The writer whose application is selected will be given a newly renovated home. This year, the home is about 1,100 square feet and has a nice little porch that’s perfect for relaxing during sunny summer afternoons. Pictures of the house in progress are available here. The 2015 Write A House is about seven miles from downtown Detroit and three miles from Palmer Park.
The home is located in Detroit just north of Hamtramck and south of the Davison Freeway. The residents in the neighborhood range include an established African-American population, an older Polish population, and a growing Bangladeshi population.
There are also a number of artists living in the neighborhood, and it’s home to Power House Productions, a visual arts nonprofit.
The first Write A House was awarded in September 2014 to Casey Rocheteau. Pictures of the house are available here. Interested applicants can follow her blog to get a sense of her experience with Write A House.
Write A House’s program is the only one like it in the nation. It offers writers a great opportunity to engage with a vibrant literary community without the hassle of mortgage payments. If you’re interested, mark your calendar and don’t forget to apply to Write A House. And yes, native Detroiters are welcome to apply.
To be eligible to take advantage of this very cool opportunity, applicants must be a working writer with some history of publication. They must also be 18 years old or older and a U.S. citizen. Applicants must be low or moderate-income writers, and they must be willing to engage with the Detroit literary community.
To apply, interested writers should complete the online application, which opened April 27. Applicants should include a writing sample not to exceed 2,500 words, a writer’s statement and a description of why they believe the program is a good fit for them.
Applicants who make it into the top 10 finalists will submit a full CV (resume) and income verification. They will also undergo a credit and background check. For full eligibility requirements and a more detailed look at the application process, click here.
Good luck, and it’ll be really interesting to see who’s the next winner!
