Sure, it’s just the beginning of June. Heck, the June cohort of writers has barely gotten their desks positioned and their routine down (whatever that routine is….hope it includes a little nap on rainy days). But in July and August, Storyknife is open for applications for the 2026 residency season. I thought you might like to know a little about the application and adjudication process.
Our full application process is outlined on our website at this link: https://storyknife.org/how-to-apply/. The page describes the questions that are part of the application and what format the writing sample should be in. Pretty much everything you need to know to be ready to apply in July is there. (That’s where the apply button will be on July 1.)
But what happens next? After the application period is over (August 31 at midnight), the applications are adjudicated by teams of former Storyknife writers in residence. At no point during the adjudication process do any adjudicators see the names of the applicants. In the first two rounds, adjudicators only see the writing sample. They are instructed to give a thumbs up to the work that is strongest or to samples that show that a writer is trying something new and difficult, whose skill might not be up to their aim.
If a writing sample makes it through the first two rounds, that means that four writers have read it and thought it was strong enough to move to the final round where five adjudicators read the answers to the application questions. They rank each application 1-5 based on how highly they recommend the applicant for a residency. Every applicant who gets to the third round is either offered a residency or put on the wait list. In 2024 for the 2025 residency season, there were 108 applicants who made that final round. 52 were offered residencies immediately, and at this point three people from the waitlist have been offered residencies.
As you can see, it’s a long and complicated process. We’re extremely grateful to the former Storyknife writers in residence who take the time to help adjudicate. It really means so much to know that every applicant’s work is taken seriously by excellent writers. The adjudication panels are never the same from year to year, but they are always filled with people who understand both good writing and the ethos of Storyknife.
If you thinking about applying this year and you still have questions after you look at the How to Apply page, just shoot me an email.
Take care, stay safe, keep writing,
Erin
Storyknife Writers Retreat 