Washington State Writers' Residencies and Retreats

Washington State may be one of the best destinations for a writing retreat. Clean air, beautiful landscapes of forest and ocean, and generous, quiet stays offered to help you start—or finish—your next book. Here are some of the best options organized by location.

If you want to expand your horizons, check out Oregon writers residencies and retreats.

Washington State Writers’ Residencies and Retreats

Washington’s Islands: Notable retreats and residencies

By far the most popular destination for writers, the islands clustered near and around Seattle provide solo and group experiences.

Bloedel Reserve Community Creative Residency

Bainbridge Island, Washington

A three-week residency for writers in an architecturally stunning two-bed, two-bath home amid the beautiful Bloedel forest, meadows, and gardens. Independent, solo writing time. Provide your own food but no fee to stay, and free use of a Smart Car. The competitive juried process is open to a variety of artists, including poets and writers of prose fiction and nonfiction. The 2024 residency has closed, but is accepting applications for 2025.

Hedgebrook

Whidbey Island, Washington

Fully-funded residencies for two to four weeks for woman-identified writers on an creative island near Seattle. Hedgebrook's Radical Craft Retreats are limited to 6 woman-identified writers. Partial scholarships available, costs run up to $3,500 for a stay in a handcrafted cottage, meals, and instruction.  

Helen R. Whiteley Center

Friday Harbor (San Juan Island), Washington

For new and well-established scholars and artists, The Whitley Center offers space to write and create. The one-or two-bedroom cottages cost between $125 to $171/night. A dining hall serves three meals per day during spring, summer, and fall quarters at $61.50/day. The Whiteley Fellowship and Whiteley Fellows in Residence provide financial support for 2-to 4-week stays. Associated with the University of Washington.

Vashon Artist Residency

Vashon Island, Washington

Private room in shared housing, communal kitchen, studios and space for writers. The Vashon Artist Residency hosts up to four residents at each session at this writer's residency near Seattle. Provides lodging and workspace, on a need-based fee structure. Costs are $1,125 for a two-week session, and $1,875 for a 3 1/2 week session. NOTE: they wrote to me to say: “We work on a sliding scale and the majority of the residents pay a small portion or none of that fee.”).

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Washington Coast Writer Retreats and Residencies

While some writers’ residencies on the Washington Coast have gone into either temporary or permanent hiatus, these two residencies are still going strong.

Centrum

Port Townsend, Washington

The new Emerging Writers Residency offers free housing and $1,500 stipend for writers from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana. Self-Directed General Residencies cost $450/week, available in 1-4 week stays. Maintains a waitlist for cancellations. Set in a Washington Victorian seaport town, with private bedrooms and shared kitchens and living spaces. Meals not included.

Willapa Bay AiR

Oysterville, Washington

Fully funded month-long Willapa Bay writer residencies on the Southwest Washington Pacific Coast. These month-long, self-directed residencies are for both emerging and established artists from various fields. Lodging, meals, and workspace are provided to six residents each month from April 1 through October 28.

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Mountain and Forest Retreats and Residencies

These Washington retreats and residencies offer very different experiences—a one-woman residency opportunity, and a residency with special fellowships for parents and other writers.

Holly House

Shelton, Washington

Within Hypatia-in-the-Woods retreat center on the Olympic Peninsula, the Holly House Residency offers stays to one creative woman at a time for one to three weeks. Rolling deadlines. Donations of $35/day accepted. by donation, in a secluded and wooded cottage called Holly House.

Mineral School

Mineral, Washington

One- and two-week writer residencies in a former school near Mt. Rainier, and primarily aimed at writers. Provides all meals and living space within an 800-square-foot former classroom. Fellowships are available for Northwest writers, Spanish-speaking writers, and parent writers.

Rockland Woods

Bremerton, Washington  

Nestled on 20 acres of forest with lake access, Rockland Woods offers two 3-week residencies for 8 artists in October and 6 in January. Buffet-style lunch, family-style dinner. Accommodations include personal live-work spaces, and shared accommodations with private studios.

FAQs About Writing Residencies

What’s a Writing Residency?

A writing residency is essentially a quiet retreat where you can work on your novel, short stories, memoir, or personal essays. Often, residencies may be fully funded—which means you don’t pay anything for the experience. Some come with meals included. Others residencies may charge, but rates are typically below what you’d pay to stay at a hotel, and will still include meals. You may be expected to share work you created sometime over the next year.

When Should I Apply for a Writing Residency?

Apply for a writing residency up to a year before you want to attend. Some residencies offer rolling applicaitons and deadlines, but more have longer lead times. Expect competiton to be fairly intense, particularly for any residency that’s fully funded.

How do I prepare for a writing residency?

Make sure you’ve taken vacation time from work and packed the essentials for a writing retreat. Some residencies are more remote and located far from cell service, so think about any tasks that might need to be accomplished while you’re gone.