Six Reasons Writers Should Go to Artists' Colonies

What's the number one reason you have for not finishing that novel? Yep, I thought so. There's just not enough time to write in my day, either. The best and most popular reason writers go to artists' colonies is to have an uninterrupted period of time to write. Most artists' colonies provide writers with meals as well as living quarters and private studio space. Think about how much you could get done if you didn't have to worry about work, the kids, running errands, or even feeding yourself. Some people swear they do more writing in a one-month residency than they do for the rest of the year.

2. Networking and making friends for life is the same thing at an artists' colony.

The people you spend time with at an artists' colony will often become good friends that you keep in touch with for years after your residency is over. Not coincidentally, they will also be incredibly talented people who may already be successful or on well on their way. It never hurts to know people who are actively publishing or showing art. They can offer you tips, recommend you for jobs, or even recommend you to an agent. And they will be people you've shared an incredible experience with and care about, so you won't feel like a total mooch.

3. Get inspired by the landscape.

Artists' colonies are places to "get away from it all," so it makes sense they're often located in remote rural areas. Use an artists' colony residency as an excuse to see New England's fall foliage or explore the prairies of the Midwest. The landscape you experience as part of an artists' colony will surely inspire you, especially if you're normally more of a city dweller.

4. Mild discomfort is good for writers.

The only real drawback about going to stay at an artists' colony for a month or two is that you'll start to miss the comforts of home. Your free room and board won't be anything to sneeze at, but when your crappy mattress gives you a stiff neck or the wireless internet goes out, living in an isolated artists' colony can quickly make you homesick. The weather might be lousy, the food might get repetitive, and seeing the same people day after day might start to wear on your nerves. All these little annoyances are part of the experience. Being outside your comfort zone will help you figure out pretty quickly what is important to you-your writing.

5. Learn something new without going back to school.

Some artists' colonies invite established authors and artists to give craft talks and make studio visits. Many encourage residents to participate in readings and open studio nights. The other residents will certainly be discussing work with each other and giving constructive feedback. All of these are excellent ways to learn something new about writing, whether it's solving a specific problem in a piece you're working on or acquiring new techniques in general. And you get to benefit from this learning experience without worrying about grades or getting up early for a lecture hall.

6. Collaboration happens.

Artists and writers living together in an artists' colony often end up spending a lot of time involved in each others' work. Collaboration happens naturally in this kind of creative environment. You may stay up late making a horror movie with a filmmaker or forming an impromptu band with a composer. You may end up writing poems in response to paintings, or collaborating on a handmade book with an illustrator. I think collaborations sometimes happen at artists' colonies because the level of trust needed for working together is established by the vetting process of the artists' colony itself. Even before you arrive, you know that you'll be in a special place with talented individuals who have been chosen from hundreds of applicants.