On Using a Hotel Room as a Writing Residency

A few weeks ago, I received a zine by the prolific self-publisher, Marc Fischer, called the Self Initiated Hotel Artist Residency. It talked about using a cheap hotel room for several days as a kind of studio. This is not a new idea, but it was nice to see that notion explored so well by a talented writer.

He asked for those of us who have used a hotel as an artists' retreat to write him and send him a line. And that is what this is.

This open letter addressed to Marc sketches out how I have been going to Brattleboro, Vermont for weekends where I try to write as much as I can. I am not sure if the way I do it is a writers' residency, but I am game to explore the terms and how to use a hotel to help with creation of art.

I really enjoy the art scene in Brattleboro. Does that mean this is the wrong place to have an Artist's Residency? Should we just hole ourselves up in a place and never leave until the art is done, or can we go and take in a show, or go book shopping? Does that kill the artistic drive?

The main question that I have is, does it matter where you create art, as long as you do the work?

This is a short book that asks what is the importance of place in the act of writing. What do you think? Come, join in the conversation.