Tin House Writers’ Residencies 2025

2025 Summer Residencies

Parents
June
This residency is intended to support writers with children 18 or younger.

General Residency
July
This residency is intended for any writer working on a full-length manuscript.

First Book
August
This residency is intended for debut writers who have not yet published a full-length book. Applicants may be under contract but cannot be scheduled to publish their debuts until 2026. Chapbooks and self-published works do not count toward this requirement.

2025 Summer Residencies Application Schedule
Dates: June, July, August
Type: Parents, General, First Book
Applications Open: October 2024
Deadline: November 3, 2024

About:

  • The Tin House Resident will be housed in a 900 square ft. studio apartment next to the Tin House Workshop office in Northwest Portland.  The apartment includes a full kitchen, bathroom, and a small living room/office with WiFi. There are several coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores within walking distance of the apartment and access to public transit.
  • Please note this is a second-floor apartment that is only accessible by stairs. If a Resident cannot use the apartment due to accessibility, we will work with the Resident to provide alternative housing options (at no cost to the Resident). 
  • Partners and children are welcome to accompany Residents. Though the studio apartment features one queen bed,  Cribs/Pack ‘n Play/Air Mattresses will be available upon request.
  • Each Residency comes with a $1200 stipend, a 100$ Lyft credit, and a public reading/reception at Bishop & Wilde. Residents may also have an opportunity to meet (virtually) with editors from Tin House Books and participate in other gatherings with members of Portland’s literary community.
  • Executive Director Lance Cleland and Director of Online Programs A.L. Major hosted an open house to discuss applying to the Tin House Residency program. Topics included what makes for a stand-out residency application, what to do if you have previously applied and have not been selected, and if residents can meet Mingus, the Residency pup. View the recording here.

Eligibility:

  • We accept applications in the following genres: Fiction (novel/short fiction/YA), Nonfiction, Poetry, and Graphic Novel, as well as the translation of any of those genres.
  • When applicable, applicants may be under contract to publish the book they are applying with.
  • International writers may apply. 
  • Former Residents may not apply. Former Scholars and past Workshop faculty may apply.
  • You must be 21 years of age or older by the start date of the residency you are applying for.

Applications:

  • We ask for one unpublished writing sample. In addition to the writing sample, the application includes several questions about your project.
  • For Fiction and Nonfiction, 6,000 words or less. If you are submitting an excerpt, please include a synopsis.
    For poetry, six poems, totaling no more than 20 pages.
    For GN, 30 pages or less of combined graphics/text.
    Translation: Please follow the requirements for the genre in the original language and submit both your translation and the original text.
  • No reference letters, please.
  • Applications are read by Tin House Workshop staff and our 2024-2025 Reading Fellows. Our panel makes selections based on the writing sample, artist statement, residency plans, and through the lens of our core values.
  • Application cost: $30

Fee Waivers:

  • Tin House offers a limited number of application fee waivers for our Residencies. We will be distributing these waivers on a first-come, first-serve basis. As an applicant, you can also Pay It Forward to help cover the cost of another writer’s application fee.
  •  To inquire about a waiver, please email workshop@tinhouse.com with the subject line “Residency Fee Waiver.” Please wait until applications are open to do so. 
  • All additional funds will be transferred to our next residency application period.

To apply, visit the Tin House submissions page: https://tinhouseonline.submittable.com/submit/186243/tin-house-summer-residency