Our residencies are quiet collaborations.
The Seventh Wave's in-person residencies are built to nourish your entire creative being: mind, body, and soul.
We offer three in-person residencies that vary in length and location, and are only open to past TSW contributors or digital residents. Meaning, once you have been published with us or you have been a part of a digital residency cohort, you are eligible to apply. Below, you’ll find information about each, as well as a few windows into our past residents’ experiences. If you’re unsure whether our in-person residencies are for you, tap the question below.
As noted above, our in-person residency program is open only to past TSW contributors (those whom we have published in an issue of our magazine or in a community anthology), past TSW staff (those who have worked for the organization in any capacity), and past digital residents (those who have gone through our digital residency program). If you do not fit into any of these categories, then unfortunately, we cannot consider your application. This is because our in-person residencies are how we continue to deepen our relationships with those we’ve worked with before: by providing new places and spaces for them to interact with us and with our community.
If you are looking for a residency where you don’t want, or need, to interact with anyone, our programs are likely not for you. While we absolutely encourage residents to dive deep into their work — in fact, we provide a recommended creative schedule, should you need the guidance, discipline, or infrastructure — we do ask that you resurface and join your fellow residents at the end of each day over shared meals. All of our residencies involve shared spaces that encourage exchange and conversation, so please keep this in mind when you apply. At our residencies, you’ll get the chance to unplug, wander, take a nap in a hammock or sit by a body of water, but do make sure to show up for yourself and for your fellow residents, as well.
A two-week residency in Rhinebeck, NY, for those working on longer-length work. Four artists/writers at a time. Past TSW contributors, staff, and residents only.
This residency is specifically for the artist or writer who is looking to work on a longer-length work, such as a chapbook, manuscript, film, or play. This is our longest-running residency — we hosted the first one in 2016 — and the property sits on 27 acres of forest, providing an oasis of lush silence and creative space amid the blues and greens of upstate New York. Known as The Crystal Cottage, the property is perhaps best known for the glass octagon attached to the side of the house, where our residents tend to congregate at different points throughout the day. (Note: the glass hut offers incredible acoustics during rainstorms, which are common during the summer months.)
- Applications. Applications for the Rhinebeck Residency, held in July, typically open in April.
- Eligibility. This residency is only open to past TSW contributors, staff, and residents. Once we have published you or worked with you in a digital residency cohort, you are eligible to apply.
- Costs. It is free to apply and free to attend. The only cost to you is your travel and transportation to and from Rhinebeck, NY. We also ask all residents to cook up to three meals during your two-week stay (you will cover the cost of the groceries, but we can shop for you), as all of our residencies are about what everyone brings to the table (literally and figuratively). We have found this community cooking aspect to be a special way for folks to share their favorite food, snacks, and/or culture with others.
- About the space. The Crystal Cottage has room for four residents. While there are some solo creative spaces, the majority are shared. On the main floor, there is a spacious, open-plan kitchen, a wood fireplace, a living room with several couches and plenty of lamps, and the acclaimed glass hut (pictured below), with double sliding doors that lead onto a wraparound deck. The residents’ rooms are upstairs, but do note that there are only three bedrooms: two single-occupancy bedrooms with queen beds in each, and one double-occupancy bedroom with two twin beds. The Crystal Cottage has a rich history of harmony. For many decades, The Chou’s made their part-time home here. Wen-chung Chou — born in Chefoo, China, in 1923, arrived in the U.S. in 1946 on an architectural scholarship to Yale; he went on to study music, become the protégé of Edgard Varèse, and lead the music program at Columbia University — and Yi-an Chang Chou — born in Shanghai in 1927, she traveled throughout Eastern Europe with her diplomat parents before settling in Los Angeles in 1941 and launching her concert piano career — loved the land and this house. Wen-chung composed much of his music here and Yi-an grew her second career as a floral designer here — all of her plants in the conservatory continue to flourish today. Yi-an passed away in May 2016, and Wen-chung currently resides in New York City. We continue to honor what they have created and are grateful to share it with you.
A four-day residency on Bainbridge Island, WA, for those who can’t take as much time away. Four writers/artists at a time. Past TSW contributors, staff, and residents only.
Known as The Bloedel Bunkhouse, our Bainbridge Residency is a three-night, four-day residency. It was first offered in 2019, about a year after TSW went bicoastal. This residency is perfect for the artist or writer who can’t take off much time from work, life, family, or other obligations, but could still use a boost of energy wherever they’re at in their creative process. Situated a short ferry ride from Seattle, WA, the Bloedel Bunkhouse will warp your sense of time. And because this residency takes place in the heart of winter — February — it also provides all the warmth and creative kindling your work might require. Set on two acres of dense forest, the property itself offers a clearing of silence and space amid tall evergreens, often accompanied by the pitter-patter of rain that is so unique to the Pacific Northwest. This residency is especially great for a writer or artist who is working on a shorter piece, and who could use a few other creative souls to exchange ideas, visions, and thoughts about it.
- Applications. Applications for the Bainbridge Residency, held in February, typically open the previous September.
- Eligibility. This is only open to past TSW contributors, staff, and residents. Once we have published you or worked with you in a digital residency cohort, you are eligible to apply.
- Costs. It is free to apply and free to attend. The only cost is your travel and transportation to and from Bainbridge Island, WA. We also ask all residents to bring a side dish to cook during the weekend (you will cover the cost of the groceries, but we can shop for you), as our residencies are all about what everyone brings to the table (literally and figuratively). We have found this community cooking aspect to be a special way for folks to share their favorite food, snacks, and/or culture with others.
- About the space. We call our Bainbridge Residency The Bloedel “Bunkhouse” for a reason. The downstairs features two sets of bunk beds for our residents (though, for those with any sleep issues, there are possible alternate options). It might sound a bit untraditional — bunking up with three other creatives — but with only three nights and four days in this space, we’ve seen our residents taking advantage of the early mornings, as well as the later evenings, to really sink into their work, and so the bedroom itself really does become a space just for sleeping purposes. Upstairs on the main level is a sprawling home of glass and wood, and we often find our residents seeking out the elevated reading nook or abundant chairs and couches to read and write. There is a spacious library with a wall of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and several offices in case working behind closed doors is more your speed. Similar to The Crystal Cottage in Rhinebeck, The Bloedel Bunkhouse has windows for days, which flood the entire home with natural light and unobstructed views of the surrounding forest.
A one-week retreat at TSW headquarters in Normandy Park, WA, for those who need to recalibrate their inner compass. Two writers/artists at a time. Past TSW contributors, staff, and digital residents only.
Two of TSW’s co-founders, Joyce Chen and Bretty Rawson, always hoped to one day host a retreat for The Seventh Wave community. This dream came to fruition in 2021, and thus, the Normandy Park Retreat (NPR for short) was born. This retreat is a little different than both the Rhinebeck and Bainbridge residencies: whereas those two residencies are catered toward creative work, NPR is centered around creative rest. How often do writers and artists get to rest? How often do you get the opportunity to press pause, and allow yourself the space to process thoughts, experiences, and stressors that may be impacting your art? Residents are welcome, and encouraged, to bring their work, but we also want you to foreground yourself. This retreat will be open to only two residents at a time, but during your one-week stay at NPR, there will be plenty of social moments, as a good number of TSW staff lives in the greater Seattle area. You can expect some calm dinner parties, as well as plenty of coffee, tea, and time to walk toward the water, through the woods, or into your own journal.
- Applications. Applications for our retreats open in August the previous year. Dates to be announced soon.
- Eligibility. This is only open to past TSW contributors, staff, and digital residents. Once we have published you, or worked with you in a digital residency cohort, you are eligible to apply.
- Costs. It is free to apply and free to attend. The only cost is your travel and transportation to and from Normandy Park, WA. We will ask you to co-cook one or two meals with us during your stay, but food and meals will be otherwise provided. We have found this community cooking aspect a special way for folks to share their favorite food, snacks, and/or culture with others.
- About the space. The two residents will have their own rooms, both on the lower level: one is a bedroom with a queen bed and writing desk, and the other is a spacious office with a comfortable sleeper sofa. A 20-minute drive south of Seattle’s downtown, the two-story cantilever house overlooks a greenbelt defined by the sounds of the creek that courses through it. The main floor features an open-plan living room and dining area (both optimal for reading and writing), as well as a deck that makes you feel like you’re sitting among the trees. The house also has a technology-free sunroom on the lower level that opens onto a covered deck with a pair of rocking chairs. NPR is a 12-minute walk from the Puget Sound, where you’re welcome to plunge or simply sit and be in witness of the clouds as they slip over the Olympic Peninsula. One important thing to note is that this house is run by a miniature dachshund, which is to say you could occasionally hear a cute but piercing bark. If you are allergic to dogs, please let us know in your application, as it’s possible we can schedule to have the dog away during your stay.
“I didn’t think it was possible for a handful of days to pull me out of a creative slump that had lasted more than a handful of years, but I was so wrong.”
“It must have been the soft pine needles against my feet, the yeasty forest air, the dragonfly racing over the pond. But it was just as much the listening that happened between us. Thank you for the way you listened. It made me want to keep on speaking.”
"I walked away from our days together with a new knowledge of what it feels like to show up in space as myself — exactly as I am, without trying to become more or less of one shape or another just to avoid standing out. I walked away understanding what it feels like to be me and to be seen and loved and celebrated in exactly who that person is. That's a gift I will never forget."
“It’s hard to accept, looking back, how short the time was, and how much we made of it.”
"I went into the weekend thinking I’d be working on one or two stories to include in a nearly finished collection. But what I found was confidence to say that no, in fact, the collection was finished, and what I wanted to be working on was a new project which I started during the weekend we had together. ... this was a revelation that made the weekend that much more magical."
“Used to the solitary nature of writing, it was out of my comfort zone to embark on a weekend with new people in an unknown place. I am so grateful that I did.”
“The serenity only a mountain abyss can muster was immediate. Keyboards, books, pens and colored pencils scattered the table, each individual’s method of choice set out before them. These were my people, and I was welcome.”
"I am taking away the reminder that strangers can nurture well. It reminds me of something one of my elders often shared, which is that we should always be good guests; that we may be strangers, but it is worth remembering that strangers become guests become family become kin — it was only four days, but I felt kinship grow between us. "
"It took such little time for the house to collectively cohere into a single unit of creativity and productivity. Being in the Crystal Cottage motivated me to wake up earlier, read closer, write longer, and nourish my sense of community and possibility.”
"I learned what it means to hold space for each other, a concept that doesn’t exist in my mother tongue in that way. I hope I can help to introduce it and use it a lot!"
Two weeks, four artists/writers at a time
This is specifically for the artist or writer who is looking to work on a longer-length work, such as a chapbook, manuscript, film, or play. This is our longest-standing residency, and the property sits on 27 acres of wildness, providing an oasis of lush silence and creative space amid canopies of green and disappearing paths perfect for some natural inspiration. Known for, and as, The Crystal Cottage, our residents tend to congregate in the glass octagon attached to the side of the house, which offers incredible acoustics during rainstorms.
- Applications. Applications for 2023 Rhinebeck Residency open April 2023.
- Eligibility. This is only open to past TSW Contributors. Once we have published you in our magazine, you are eligible to apply.
- Costs. It is free to apply and free to attend. The only cost is your travel and transportation to and from Rhinebeck, NY. We also ask all residents to cook up to 3 meals during your two weeks (you will cover the cost of the groceries, but we can shop for you, etc), as all of our residencies are about what you literally and figuratively bring to the table. It is a special way for you to share your favorite food, snacks, and/or culture with others.
- About the space. The Crystal Cottage has room for 4 residents. While there are some solo work spaces, the majority are shared. It’s important to note, and know, that our residencies are designed to be quiet collaborations. There is a spacious, open-plan kitchen on the main floor, which features a wood fireplace, a living room with several couches and plenty of lamps, the Crystal Cottage (pictured below), and double sliding doors that lead to the outdoor wraparound deck. The Residents’ rooms are upstairs, but do note that while there are only three rooms. Two single bedrooms and one double. In your application, please do let us know if you are open to sharing a room, or if you require a single room. Depending on our applicants, we will either accept 3 or 4 residents, to make sure we are providing a safe and comfortable space for everyone
- History. The Crystal Cottage has a rich history of harmony. For many decades, The Chou’s made their part-time home here. Wen-chung Chou (born in Chefoo, China, in 1923, arrived in the U.S. in 1946 on an architectural scholarship to Yale; went on to study music, become the protégé of Edgard Varèse, and lead the music program at Columbia University) and Yi-an Chang Chou (born in Shanghai in 1927, travelled throughout Eastern Europe with her diplomat parents before settling in Los Angeles in 1941 and launching her concert piano career) loved the land and this house. Wen-chung composed much of his music here and Yi-an grew her second career as a floral designer here – all of her plants in the conservatory continue to flourish, which is where the house gets its name: The Crystal Cottage. Yi-an passed away in May 2016, and Wen-chung currently resides in New York City. We continue to honor what they have created and share it with you.
Four days, four writers/artists at a time
Known as The Bloedel Bunkhouse, our Bainbridge Residency is a three-night, four-day residency. This residency was first offered in 2018, which is when The Seventh Wave went bicoastal. This residency is perfect for the artist or writer who can’t take off a whole week from work, life, family, or otherwise. A short ferry ride from Seattle, WA, The Bloedel Bunkhouse will warp your sense of time. Four days will turn into forty. Taking place in the heart of winter—February—this residency provides all the warmth, and kindling, your work needs. On two acres of forest, the property itself offers an oasis of lush silence and space amid tall evergreens and a pitter-patter of rain that is so unique to the Pacific Northwest. This residency is especially great for a writer or artist who is working on a piece, and who could use a few other creative souls to exchange ideas, visions, and thoughts with. There are nooks, books, and windows for days, giving you the retreat you never knew you needed. You can see more info about the Bainbridge Residency.
- Applications. Applications for 2024 Bainbridge Residency open September 2023.
- Eligibility. This is only open to past TSW Contributors. Once we have published you in our magazine, you are eligible to apply.
- Costs. It is free to apply and free to attend. The only cost is your travel and transportation to and from Bainbridge Island, WA. We also ask all residents to bring either a side dish or a main meal to cook during the weekend (you will cover the cost of the groceries, but we can shop for you, etc), as our residencies are eating residences, in that it’s all about what you literally and figuratively bring to the table. We have found this community cooking aspect a special way for you to share your favorite food, snacks, and/or culture with others.
- About the space. You might be wondering why we call our Bainbridge Residency the Bloedel “Bunkhouse.” The downstairs, which is often rented out when we creatives don’t take it over, features two sets of bunk beds, which is actually where our residents sleep (though, for those with any sleep concerns, there are possible alternate options). It might sound a bit untraditional — bunking up with three residents — but with only three nights and four days in this space, we see our residents taking advantage of the early mornings, as well as the later evenings, to really sink into their work, and share in the space of their fellow residents. So while we always, and obviously, prioritize rest, sleep is mostly functional at this residency. In terms of the rest of the space, it’s a sprawling home of glass and nook, and we often find our residents seeking out the elevated day beds and sprawling chairs to read and write from. Similar to The Crystal Cottage at Rhinebeck, The Bloedel Bunkhouse has windows for days. In fact, it actually has windows for walls, which floods the entire space with natural light and views of the surrounding forest.
- Testimony.
“I’ve been trying to find the right words to share how absolutely wonderful the residency was, but I haven’t been able to find the perfect set of sentences that convey how beautiful, restorative, peaceful and productive it was.”
— Malaka Gharib, 2020, whose work “The Scent of Oud” was published in Issue 11: Actionable Storytelling.
One week, two writers/artists at a time
The two remaining co-founders, Joyce Chen and Bretty Rawson, always hoped to one day host a residency for The Seventh Wave community. This dream recently came to fruition in 2021, and thus, the Normandy Park Retreat (NPR for short, obviously) is now open. This retreat, as you can likely tell, is a little different than both the Rhinebeck and Bainbridge residencies. Whereas those two residencies are catered toward creative work, NPR is centered around creative rest. How often do writers and artists get to rest? More often is the case, we are scrambling to make time in order to do our creative work. How often do you get the opportunity to press pause, and allow yourself the space to process thoughts, experiences, and stressors that would otherwise never get the time or place? Residents are welcome, and encouraged, to bring work, but we also want you to foreground yourself. This residency will be open to only two residents at a time, but during your one week stay at NPR, there will be plenty of social moments, as a good number of The Seventh Wave staff lives in the greater Seattle area. You can expect some pretty epic, but calm, dinner parties, as well as a lot of coffee, tea, and time to walk to the water, through the woods, or to your own journals.
- Applications. Applications for our 2024 retreats open August 2023. There will be 6 Normandy Park Retreats, each 1 week, taking place throughout 2024. Dates to be announced.
- Eligibility. This is only open to past TSW Contributors. Once we have published you in our magazine, you are eligible to apply.
- Costs. It is free to apply and free to attend. The only cost is your travel and transportation to and from Normandy Park, WA. We will ask you to co-cook one or two meals with us during your stay, but food and meals will be otherwise provided. We have found this community cooking aspect a special way for you to share your favorite food, snacks, and/or culture with others.
- About the space. The two residents will have their own rooms, both on the lower but above-ground floor: one is a bedroom with a queen bed and writing desk, and the other is a spacious office with an extremely comfortable couch bed. A 20-minute drive from the bustle of downtown, the two-floor cantilever house overlooks a greenbelt defined by the sound of the creek that courses through it. An upper deck that makes you feel like you’re sitting in the trees, the house also has a technology-free, meditation sunroom on the bottom floor that opens onto a covered deck with a pair of rocking chairs. The house is a 12-minute walk from the Puget Sound, where you’re welcome to plunge, or simply sit and be in witness of the clouds slipping over the Olympic Peninsula and drifting toward you. The only thing to note is that this house is run by a miniature dachshund, which is to say you could occasionally hear a cute but piercing bark. If you are allergic to dogs, let us know, and it’s possible we can schedule to have the dog not around for your residency stay.
“I loved that we all hailed from different parts of the country, that we each brought something different (literally) to the table. I feel nourished and sustained by their company, inspired and challenged by their work. The Bloedel Bunkhouse — with its wide windows, myriad nooks, and fireplaces — facilitated the perfect mix of solitude and fellowship. It was dreamy to float from room to room, reading, writing, and drawing as I felt led, the cedars and the snow offering their quiet, majestic stillness all around. I loved walking to the water in the afternoons, allowing the morning’s thoughts to tumble in my brain. The editors, our hosts, were so warm and well organized. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so deeply taken care of. Food appeared. Music played. Fires crackled in the hearth. I felt free to breathe, absorb, and create with so much freedom. This retreat is a shining example of what artistic community and fellowship can be. I feel so lucky to have been a part of it.”
—Gabrielle Bates, 2019 Bainbridge Resident, Featured Artist for Issue 9: What We Lose, and author of Judas Goat