Dog Trot Writers and Artists Residencies
The Dog Trot Residency program at the Nook of the Woods Retreat Center caters to artists and writers of all mediums, walks of life, and scholarly backgrounds.
We host creatives who are playful, insightful, and dedicated to their craft, regardless of their professional background or the length of their resumé. If you are a dedicated artist or writer, you belong at this residency.
This residency series aims to build creative community with artists from around the country. Living together is often as rewarding as the dedicated work time, and communal meals, group activities, and movie nights make for a cozy, wholesome experience.
Our mission is simple. We aim to provide artists and writers with the time to dedicate to their craft in an environment that is peaceful and bucolic, while also connecting artists in a communal setting that is supportive, caring, and above all, fun.
Scenes from Previous Residencies
For those with a wild kindness about them
Two weeks of uninterrupted writing
Dog Trot was such a gift because it gave me two weeks of uninterrupted writing time, in a beautiful location, with a group of supportive and creative minds who were always down to talk about craft. I left this residency with a completed short story, poems, and a new perspective on my novel. Thanks to Zena, Tom, Stella, and the rest of our crew!
-Rebecca Paredes, June 2025
Genuine, invigorating community
Dog Trot is something special. The mix of personal creative time, a beautiful and peaceful environment, and genuine community was incredibly invigorating. Whether I was walking the property, reading by the creek, or having a discussion about a shared essay, there was always something happy and enlivening to do. I loved my time there.
-Chas Gillespie, October 2025
Break free from blocks
A month at Dog Trot was a month spent engaging with myself as a writer in the company of others looking to expand, be critical about writing, and wanting to make community through movie nights, karaoke and warm slices of bread. The casual, unstuffy home Zena beckoned us into let me break free from my own blocks as a writer. So thankful for this experience!
-Rebecca Greubel, October 2025
Two Week Residencies
$350-$550
May 3-May 17
June 5-June 19
June 26-July 10
Sept 11-Sept 25
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Residency costs are sliding scale, depending on your room choice.
Four Week Residencies
$700-$1000
Mar 13-April 10
Aug 1-Aug 31
Oct 1-Oct 31
Residencies are open to artists, poets, fiction writers, creative non-fiction writers, and those who cannot be categorized.
The standard submission fee is $20.
We also offer a $50 submission for those who would like feedback on their materials.
You may choose either option – both are reviewed equally. The feedback tier helps us subsidize access for other writers while providing personalized engagement with your work.
All submission fees ensure that we can continue to keep costs as low as possible for chosen residents.
Some Details About the Residency
About the Application Process
Six residents will be chosen to participate in each residency based on the quality of their submissions.
Applicants who choose the feedback tier for their submissions receive a personalized editorial letter within two weeks of submission, regardless of their acceptance status.
If you choose this tier, please include a note in your work sample about the aspects of your work you’d like feedback on.
At the Residency
The fee for room and board depends on your choice of lodging.
Three vegetarian (and occasional fish) meals per day will be provided, as well as coffee, tea, and snacks.
Those who attend the Dog Trot residency are encouraged to provide one finished work to be published by Outlandish Press as part of the annual Dog Trot Review. Beyond that, the time is yours to work as you please.
For more details, please see our FAQ.
Our Mission
We seek to provide a platform and creative community for those who do not readily possess either. If you do not have or are not a candidate for an MFA, we want to host you. If you have never been published before, we want to publish you. If your work is undefinable or experimental, you will be in good company. We understand how difficult it is to find both time and space to work unfettered on a craft that is not your primary source of income.
Our goal is to provide writers and artists with well-deserved time to experiment and create in a space that is inspirational and interesting.
We are not externally funded and work hard to keep pricing low to afford as many folks as possible the chance to attend.
Meet Your Facilitator
Zenaida Smith is a poet from Cleveland, Ohio. She has been involved in many creative community endeavors over the past decade, and has facilitated more poetry open mics than can be accurately counted. She is an editor for Outlandish Press, a small press specializing in printed matter that is unusual and amusing.