SUMMER RETREAT APPLICATION
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
Who is eligible to apply?
The Watering Hole Summer Retreat welcomes adult writers (21+) who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Our retreat is grounded in a commitment to centering and celebrating BIPOC voices by providing a space where writers can deepen their craft, build community, and create free from the pressures of marginalization.
No publications or formal credentials are required to apply. Whether you’re just beginning your journey, are a seasoned poet, or fall somewhere in between, you are welcome here. We embrace writers of all backgrounds and styles—from academic scholars to spoken word artists, from page poets to lyrical storytellers.
Application Fee
$10.00
Applications close June 22, 2025.
Application Materials
Applicants must submit the following:
- Cover Letter (with an aesthetics statement)
- The cover letter must be in a written format. We do not accept audio cover letters.
- The type of aesthetics statement that we ask for is a paragraph or two that details:
- who influences your writing?
- what challenges have you faced on your creative journey?
- what do you seek to accomplish in your poems?
- what does The Watering Hole mean to you as a writer of color?
- Writing Sample of 3 recent poems:
- the poems may be written or audio; we accept a variety of file types.
- poems may be published or unpublished.
- recent means written within the past 2 years.
Please do not include your name or any identifiable information in your cover letter or writing sample.
Make certain your submission is your final version. Corrections and new versions will not be accepted.
For support with crafting your cover letter, check out our HOW TO WRITE A POETRY COVER LETTER POST.
Review Process
New applications are reviewed and accepted by The Watering Hole graduate fellows. They have a vested interest in continuing to build the TWH Tribe, as well as a wide variety of talents, backgrounds, and aesthetics.
Notifications will be sent via email by or before July 1, 2025.