Freelance Writing Jobs: the best writing residencies to apply for in 2025
All the deadlines and locations you need to know about.
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Hello! How are you doing today? I’m away in Canada on a press trip so instead of the usual listings, I’ve compiled a special edition this week: a collection of over 30 writing residencies to apply for, running all the way through to Autumn next year.
The next issue to land in inboxes will actually be on Monday – the second instalment of my editor interview series with Amit Katwala, features editor at WIRED. I’ll be back at my desk with the regular listings next week; until then, get inspired by some of these wonderful residencies. They really can change writing lives.
This is the best information as I currently have it, but links and deadlines may change, and some residencies may not run in 2025. Keep an eye on the regular monthly round-up for the most up-to-date details. I’ve shared the likely application deadline – not the residency dates – so you can plan ahead for the opportunities that chime with you.
Likely deadlines before the end of the year:
The Yan Kit So Award is a wonderful opportunity. It offers an Asian food writer a bursary of up to £2500 for a research trip to Asia to support their first cookbook. Applications for next year’s award will open in autumn.
Arvon’s next round of funding for its residential courses will open this month for courses running January-March. Deadlines are usually a very short window.
The Churchill Fellowship offers the chance to spend two months abroad, learning from innovators across different fields. Arts is a big part of the fellowship, but they’re open to all ideas. This one’s open for applications until 12th November.
There’s still time to apply for the Literature House residency in Bremen. This one comes with a bursary of €2500 and closes at the end of next month.
Whitechapel Gallery’s writer-in-residence usually takes up their post in January, so I anticipate details of applications launching soon and closing in December. There’s a young writer in residence position, too.
Brisons Veor in Cornwall has a small bursary for its writing residencies. Applications for summer 2025 close 20th December.
Likely to have a deadline in winter:
The Stephen Palmer Travel Bursary – for freelancers in Scotland – will likely open for applications again in the new year.
This one’s a goodie. The Royal Society for Asian Affairs Travel Awards helps fund practical projects and research, including journalism and travel writing. Applications will open in October and they’re likely to close in January.
Scotland’s poetry festival StAnza usually hosts a poet-in-residence, and if next year’s festival does the same, you should get your poetic ducks in a row for January.
One of my favourites, the Alpine Fellowship comes around every January with a brilliant new theme each time. There’s a bursary, and a retreat with other winners that always looks dreamy.
The Old Electric in Blackpool hosted a writer-in-residence this year. Were the opportunity to be offered again, applications would probably close at the start of 2025.
This summer, Hauser + Wirth hosted a residency for early career writers with Art Review called Write Now. If it runs again next year, look out for a closing deadline around February.