Back to the land

Yesterday I had the blissful experience of returning to Hedgebrook, a retreat for women writers I attended this spring on lovely Whidbey Island.

I was punctual for what I suspect was the second time in my life. I wrote about the first time I visited Hedgebrook (and was punctual) here.

I can’t remember if it was Annie Proulx or Ang Lee that said they thought each of us has our own Brokeback Mountain, but the statement struck me. I take this to mean not necessarily that we’ve all had the good fortune to share a tent with Heath Ledger or Jake Gyllenhaal, but that we all know what it means to lose ourselves in bittersweet nostalgia and serious longing. And Hedgebrook is pretty much my own Brokeback Mountain, only without all the hot gay cowboy sex.

But. I. digress.

Reason I went to Hedgebrook yesterday was to read applications for the 2007 residency season, along with a dozen or so other alums. And I just wanted to share. Because reading dozens of applications for a writing fellowship was quite the eye-opening process.

The applicants’ personal histories were so vastly varied and fascinating, no matter what their writing background. What’s more, I learned exactly what not to write next time I go to apply for a grant or fellowship.

When asking people to give you money or room-n-board so that you can do your creative thing uninterrupted, you certainly don’t want to serve up the artist’s version of an “I love long walks on the beach and romantic candlelit dinners” personal ad. Nor do you want to sound utterly devoid of personality. But making the review committee fall hopelessly in love with you — sight unseen — man, that’s the hard part. I hope I can pull it off next time I’m on the other side of the page.

4 comments October 22nd, 2006