Writers-in-Residence

Initiated in 1979 by Sam Ragan, Weymouth President, N.C. Poet Laureate, and member of the Friends of Weymouth Board of Directors, it was a natural addition to the literary tradition established by James Boyd. Boyd was a writer of significance who, together with his wife Katharine, hosted several literary greats such as Thomas Wolfe, Paul Green, Maxwell Perkins, Sherwood Anderson, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, among others.

Open to North Carolina natives, current residents, or to those with significant ties to the state, the program has nurtured and inspired hundreds of writers over the years, many of whom attribute their flow of creativity to the beautiful surroundings and peaceful solitude.

Requirements

• Be a North Carolina native, current resident or direct tie to North Carolina
• Publication credits (poems, short stories, screenplays, novels, articles or works of nonfiction)
• A plan to work on a specific project during the stay
• A minimum stay of one week (coming in on Monday and leaving the following Monday), with a maximum stay of two weeks per year.

For each writer, we provide a room with a desk, bed, reading chair, bed sheets, pillowcase, blankets and a pillow. Food and beverages, toiletries, towels/facecloths and travel expenses are the participant’s responsibility. The writers’ area of the house has a full kitchen; three baths; a sitting room; covered veranda; and four bedrooms. In order to preserve the peace and solitude in the writers’ section, please use earphones when using any audio playback features on your devices, and keep phone conversations at low volume.

Though there is no charge for the residencies, we do ask for donations so that we may keep the house and grounds in good repair and available for our writers for years to come. Suggested minimum donation: $300/week.