Normandy Park Retreat

Two of our 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 was born (NPR for short). This retreat is a little different than both the Rhinebeck and Bainbridge residencies: whereas those 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 the 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 opportunities, as a good number of our team members live 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. 

Eligibility 

This is only open to past contributors, digital residents, and staff. Once we have published you, or have 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 to be a special way for folks to share their favorite food, snacks, and/or culture with others.

About the space 

Each resident will have their own room, 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. Located 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 witness 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.