Let me tell you about the blessing. I sent letters to the women writers who have been selected to be in residence in 2024. It’s joyous because I know that Storyknife will be a place that those writers will feel cherished and productive.
At the same time, I sent out letters to the women writers who are on the waitlist. Even though it’s not the best news that they could receive, there is still a chance that they’ll spend some time at Storyknife next year. We always have writers from the waitlist who get an opportunity because someone else couldn’t accept the offer for a residency. So there is still hope.
Let me tell you about the sadness. I sent letters to the women writers who were not selected for either a residency or on the waitlist. We had 985 women apply this year for a 2024 residency. You now get a sense of the number of letters that went out with disappointing news. And here’s the worst part – these women writers need the time and space to devote to their writing. They have worthy stories to tell. Their voices are important. We just don’t have space for everyone who applies.
Each year I feel a great sadness for these women who receive letters with discouraging news. I’ve been one of them, advocating for myself and not receiving an opportunity. Please know that I’m sending up my love, my care, my hope that every woman writer keeps putting her words on the page. That everyone who applies to Storyknife knows that their stories are the way we change the world. And that women’s stories are needed now more than ever.
~Erin Hollowell
Executive Director of Storyknife
Storyknife Writers Retreat 