Lynne and Louis M. Earle
Writing Residency Program

Mission

The mission of the Lynne and Louis M. Earle Residency is to foster creativity by providing writers with a serene, private space to work and reflect in the inspiring surroundings of the Texas Hill Country. While writers in residence spend most of their time on the ranch, the program also offers writers the opportunity to connect with the community through readings and creative writing workshops. Residents help take care of the ranch’s animals—and through this work, gain a unique sense of place.

Description

Located 50 miles south of Austin in the heart of Texas Hill Country, the 52-acre ranch provides residencies year-round. The grounds include a working stable, the donors' main residence, and the writer’s cottage. The ranch is home to three horses and a donkey; deer and other wildlife are plentiful and can be sighted from the cottage.

Residencies are three to four months in length. They run in summer (June 1 through August 31), fall (September 1 through December 31), and winter/spring (January 15 through May 31). Actual start and end dates may vary. One residency is awarded per term.

The program accepts applications in the fields of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and playwriting.

Accommodations and Board

The writer’s cottage, a cozy stone structure, is fully furnished, with a kitchen, writing nook, full bath, and wireless Internet service. The cottage’s back door opens out to a large deck, with a wonderful view of the countryside. Additional amenities include laundry facilities, an outdoor grill, and an outside shower. Linens, kitchen utensils, and paper supplies are provided.

Telephone service is available to residents for a fee. It is suggested that residents bring their own cellular phones.

Residents must provide their own food and supplies, and prepare their own meals. Groceries can be bought less than 2 miles away. 

Work Exchange

The residency requires a minimum work requirement of 1.5 to 2 hours per day, 6 days per week. Residents perform light-to-medium barn work, such as feeding and caring for the horses. For those needing financial support, work opportunities with compensation may be made available. These additional tasks typically involve maintenance or construction projects on the ranch and offer a chance for residents to learn new skills and or provide diversity to the residency experience. There also may be opportunities to teach creative writing in Badgerdog’s after-school programs.

All residencies are supported by public and private funding and work exchange.  

Transportation

Residents must provide transportation to and from the residency. Parking for personal vehicles is plentiful at the ranch; it should be noted, however, that the ranch roads are unpaved. Although Badgerdog staff can occasionally assist residents with transportation (to pick up supplies or attend readings), this service cannot be guaranteed and it is highly recommended that residents have personal transportation.

Eligibility

Residencies are available to writers 18 and older without regard for race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. The program is designed for single individuals, not for families or pets. The ranch is a smoke-free environment. Writers applying for the residency must be able to lift 30 pounds.

Application

Applications (in PDF) are available now. Please note: The admissions panel is currently not accepting applications.

You need Acrobat Reader to display or print the form. To download the software, click here.

Selection Process

Residents are chosen by an anonymous rotating panel of writers and literary professionals.

Current Writer in Residence

Cyrus Cassells is the author of four acclaimed books of poetry: The Mud Actor, Soul Make a Path through Shouting, Beautiful Signor, and More Than Peace and Cypresses. His fifth book, The Crossed-Out Swastika, is forthcoming. Among his honors are a Lannan Literary Award, a William Carlos Williams Award, a Pushcart Prize, two NEA grants, and a Lambda Literary Award. He is a tenured Associate Professor of English at Texas State University-San Marcos, and lives in Austin and Paris.

Residency Donors

No newcomers to literary endeavors, Lynne and Lou Earle have supported the arts for many years. Lynne is an avid dressage rider; Lou is a retired high-tech executive and an avid runner. Together, the Earles own
AustinFIT Magazine and Austin Runner Magazine.

The Earles established the residency in winter 2007, with literary management and administrative support provided by Badgerdog Literary Publishing.