It’s a new year, and we’ve got a new partnership! The Guild is thrilled to collaborate with Write On, Door County, one of the most active writing communities in the region, to provide an incredible retreat experience for writers across the state.
In summer 2020, the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild and Write On, Door County will partner to host its first ever “writer exchange.” One lucky Door County writer will enjoy a free retreat at The Priory Writers’ Retreat in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and in exchange, one lucky Chippewa Valley Writers Guild member will receive a free week-long stay at Write On, Door County’s writers’ residence in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. (CVWG membership determined by social media following and/or free newsletter subscription.)
The Write On, Door County residence is on 40 acres of woods, orchards, and meadows between the water of Green Bay and Lake Michigan in beautiful Door Country, Wisconsin. For decades, writers have taken inspiration amid the landscape while avoiding the distractions that hound them at home. Both spaces are committed to creating the conditions that allow writers to thrive.
“The Chippewa Valley Writers Guild has long admired the fantastic literary citizenship work taking place in Door County,” said CVWG executive director B.J. Hollars. “In many ways, Write On, Door County is a model for what a thriving writing organization can be. We’re so excited to share writing expertise with one another.”
Jerod Stanek, artistic director of Write On, Door County added, “Wisconsin has such a rich, vibrant writing community. It's wonderful to develop a program that connects writers from different parts of the state and introduces them to new audiences."
Each organization will be responsible for selecting the writer who will take part in the exchange. The Chippewa Valley Writers Guild will host a contest which opens on January 1, 2020. Applicants will be screened in a blind submission process and selected by a panel of three writers. The winner will receive a residency in August 2020, though there is some flexibility, depending on availability.
Why should Guild members apply through the Guild? For one, the contest submission fee is half the Write On, Door County application price. And all proceeds help offset the cost of the exchange. Additionally, there’s far less competition. We know for certain that one of our Guild members will win!
To apply, click here.
Please find The Writer Exchange Contest rules below:
Rules:
Our panel of three judges will read each blind submission to determine, in their opinion, which submission receives the highest ranking in terms of quality. Identifying information will only be visible to the contest organizer and not the judges.
Submit up to 5 pages of poetry OR 10 double-spaced pages of prose through Submittable (click “Apply Now” above or below) between January 1, 2020 and March 1, 2020. Prose pages can be a selection from a larger work, or several short pieces combined into a single document.
Do not include your name or any other identifying information on your submitted creative work.
Include your name and contact information on the Submittable page prior to uploading your submission.
Include a brief cover letter, including the title(s) of your creative work and a brief biographical statement in the provided space. This will only be visible to the contest organizer and not the judges.
Applicants must be at least 21 years old and members of the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. (Membership is determined by social media following and/or free newsletter subscription.)
The winner will be announced in mid-March 2020.
Application Fee: $20.00 (half off Write On, Door County’s usual application fee)