Dog Trot Writers and Artists Residencies
The Dog Trot residency series at Nook of the Woods Retreat Center caters to artists and writers of all mediums, walks of life, and scholarly backgrounds.
We want to host creatives who are playful, insightful, and dedicated to their craft, regardless of their professional background or the length of their résumé. 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.
The mission of Dog Trot 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 the October 2024 Writers Residency
2025 Calendar
April 4-18 Writers Residency
June 6-20 Writers Residency
July 11-25 Mixed Media Residency
Aug. 8-22 Writers Residency
Sept. 5-19 Mixed Media Residency
Oct. 1-31 Writers Residency
Eligibility:
Writing residencies are open to poets, fiction writers, creative nonfiction writers, and those who cannot be categorized.
Mixed media residencies are open to visual artists of any medium, maximum, or minimum, as well as writers of all genres.
Application Fee-$20-Your application fee ensures that we can continue to keep costs as low as possible for chosen residents.
Some Details About the Residency
Per each residency, up to six residents will be chosen to participate based on the quality of submissions. The fee for room and board is: Two week residency- $250 – $400; one month residency-$450-$750 +7% sales tax, depending on your choice of lodging.
Three vegetarian (and occasional fish) meals per day will be provided, as well as coffee, tea, and snacks.
Writers who attend The Dog Trot residency should expect 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.
The Residency will be facilitated by Zenaida Smith.
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 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.