Residency - Writers Omi at Ledig House

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Since its founding in 1992, Writers Omi at Ledig House has hosted hundreds of authors and translators, representing more than fifty countries. We welcome published writers and translators of every type of literature. International, cultural and creative exchange is a foundation of our mission, and a wide distribution of national background is an important part of our selection process.

Guests may select a residency of one week to two months; about ten at a time gather to live and work in a rural setting overlooking the Catskill Mountains. Ledig House provides all meals, and each night a local chef prepares dinner. Daytime is reserved for writing and quiet activities, while evenings are more communal. A program of weekly visits bring guests from the New York publishing community. Noted editors, agents and book scouts are invited to share dinner and conversation on both creative and practical subjects, offering insight into the workings of the publishing industry, and introductions to some of its key professionals. Click here for a list of former guest speakers.

German publisher, Heinrich Maria Ledig-Rowohlt, for whom the program is named, was noted for his passionate commitment to quality in literature. His list of authors included Thomas Wolfe, William Faulkner, Yukio Mishima, Jean-Paul Sartre, Vladimir Nabokov, John Updike, Toni Morrison and Thomas Pynchon.

Writers Omi has hosted hundreds of writers and translators from roughly 50 countries around the world. The colony's strong international emphasis reflects the spirit of cultural exchange that is part of Ledig's enduring legacy.

Each applicant is required to provide 4 (four) separate items in total:

1. A cover letter, which provides the following details: country of birth, country of residency, the language in which you write, your preferred residency dates. Additionally, please let us know how you heard about Writers Omi at Ledig House, why you want to come to Writers Omi and what you expect to get from the experience.

*Important Note*: If you are eligible for one of our sponsored residencies, such as the Amazon.com Translation Fellowships or the residency set aside for a Whiting Award winner please indicate so in your cover letter. For a full list of sponsored residencies, please see the "Sponsorships & Endowments" tab on our webpage.

2. A brief (2 pages, maximum) statement about your work history, referencing publications, performances and writing credits. This can be submitted in CV format.


3. A writing sample, no more than 50 pages. (Please be sure to indicate if the writing is published or unpublished; if it is published please provide details.)


4. A one page description of the work to be undertaken while at Writers Omi.



Your writing sample does NOT have to be an English translation; please submit your writing sample in your mother tongue. All other documentation must be submitted in English.



Your cover letter should be provided in the designated Cover Letter field. Items 2-4 should each be provided as separately uploaded files.

In addition to these requirements, every applicant must arrange to have a letter of recommendation submitted separately. The letter can be provided by a fellow writer, teacher, editor, literary agent, or any informed individual who can speak to your character and work.



Please use the Reference Letter field in your online application to send a request for a letter to the individual who will provide your recommendation. Once that individual receives this prompt he or she will be able to upload a letter separately to your application file.

To be considered for a 2017 residency, your application (including separate letter of recommendation) must be received electronically by the end of the day, October 20, 2016 (11:59 p.m. EDT).

We look forward to receiving your application.