List of Writer's Communes (and should one use them in one's list of achievements?)

[macandal]

Is there a listing of the best writers' communes there are? I was thinking in terms of Macdowell, my friend was telling me about this one the other day. She was saying that getting into a commune is as good as getting a short story/novel published. Is this true?

[victoriastrauss]

Only publication is as good as publication. That said, I should think that a fellowship at MacDowell or Yaddo or one of the other prestigious artists' colonies would be something you could add to your writing resume.

It is NOT easy to get a fellowship. It's very, very competitive.

- Victoria

[Garbarian]

what victoria says about publications is true. but getting into macdowell or yaddo -- the two most prestigious and competitive by far -- is as hard or harder than getting published in all but the most prestigious publications/houses, and reflects very well on you. seriously, look at the list of their alumni. its like a who's who in the history of american literature and art.

[emeraldcite]

miss snark says the following on this subject (Writers%20Colonies%21%20Miss%20Snark%20has%20hear d%20such%20wild%20tales%20she%20almost%20wishes%20 to%20take%20up%20the%20pen%20and%20apply.):


Writers Colonies! Miss Snark has heard such wild tales she almost wishes to take up the pen and apply.

For those not familiar with the concept: Writers retreats or writers colonies like MacDowell (http://macdowellcolony.org/), Yaddo (http://www.yaddo.org/), and Hedgebrook (http://www.hedgebrook.org/) are like going to a free hotel for writers. Nothing to do but write all day. Many of them do your meals too, or do meals cooperatively so you don't have to starve. It's also a great place to meet other serious writers. No editors, agents or snarks attend. Here's a link to a whole slew of them Artists Communities (http://www.artistcommunities.org/)

You bet I pay attention to that in a cover letter. For starters, MacDowell, Yaddo et al are not first come first served. You have to apply -and the competition is pretty stiff. If you get in, that's akin to a literary journal publishing your work: someone read it and thinks you've got something to say in an interesting way.

It would be impossible to quantify "more or less". Sufficient unto the day to say if you won a fellowship to one of these places, it's definitely worth mentioning unless you have six prize winning novels you'd tell me about first.

I'm not a snarkling, and I think taking her advice depends on whether or not you like her, but she does have an opinion on this topic. She also has an interesting blog she that updates regularly.

[Christine N.]

Emeraldcite beat me to the Miss Snark thing.

[DamaNegra]

I'm going to show my omnipresent ignorance yet again but...

what exactly is a writer's commune??

[Garbarian]

read the excerpt emeraldcite cited from miss snark, and click on the links of any of the ones listed to get an idea.

[Jamesaritchie]

Getting into one of these places can be impressive. But, really, count the number of published writers who did get in, and then count the number that never heard of any of these places, and it becomes pretty obvious they aren't requirements.

All things like this do on your resume is get you read faster, and often by a higher placed agent or editor. But they do not sell fiction. Only fiction sells fiction.

The reason many who go through these places turn into selling writers is because they were good enough, they had the talent and the skill, to get into these places in the first place. Which means they also had the talent and the skill to succeed without these places.

Many very good writers have come trhough such places, but a great many more very good writers have never even heard of them.

If you sell fiction it's always because you can write fiction that agents and editors believe is something the reading public wants.

[Garbarian]

True, James, but I doubt there is a quality agent or publisher who has never heard of them. But you're right, the only way to get published is with a good manuscript. Of course, most likely if the manuscript is good enough to warrant acceptance at Macdowell, it is good enough to get published, which I suppose speaks to your point about being read faster and more closely by agents and editors.

[Jamesaritchie]

True, James, but I doubt there is a quality agent or publisher who has never heard of them. But you're right, the only way to get published is with a good manuscript. Of course, most likely if the manuscript is good enough to warrant acceptance at Macdowell, it is good enough to get published, which I suppose speaks to your point about being read faster and more closely by agents and editors.

Yes, quality agents and editors have probably all heard of them. But most quality writers probably have not. Not many writers go through McDowell, Yaddo, etc. There isn't enough room, for one thing. And from my experience, most who do are literary writers.

Also just from my experience, going through such a place, while impressive, is not as impressive as an actual sales record to good magazines.

[Garbarian]

Not many writers go through McDowell, Yaddo, etc. There isn't enough room, for one thing. And from my experience, most who do are literary writers.



That's a good point, James. I suppose for literary writers these places are more important and impressive than for genre authors.

[victoriastrauss]

That's a good point, James. I suppose for literary writers these places are more important and impressive than for genre authors.I think a genre editor or agent would be no less (or more) impressed with a MacDowell fellowship than any other type of editor or agent. I do suspect, however, that the colonies themselves might be biased in favor of non-genre writing.

I agree with James: putting things like this in your cover letter may give you an attention advantage at the slush stage. But they won't have any effect on a decision to buy or represent your manuscript.

- Victoria