The McCormack Writing Center Residency
McCormack Writing Center Residency 2026: Funding and Space for Writers
The McCormack Writing Center Residency is designed to give writers dedicated time, space, and financial support to focus on their manuscripts. Established in 2019, the residency helps writers reconnect with their creative practice while making meaningful progress on long-form writing projects.
For Summer 2026, the residency will run between June and September, with applications open from March 2 to March 23, 2026. Selected writers will receive housing, a stipend, and the opportunity to engage with Portland’s literary community.
If you are preparing a manuscript for a residency, improving your writing routine can help strengthen your submission. These resources may help:
Residency Programs
The Summer 2026 residency offers several themed opportunities for writers:
June
- First Book: For writers who have not yet published a full-length literary manuscript.
- Next Book: For writers who have previously published a full-length manuscript.
July
- Parents: Open to writers with children aged 18 or younger living at home.
- Without Borders: For writers born outside the United States.
August
- General Residency: Open to any writer working on a full-length manuscript.
September
- The Break: Sponsored by The Alano Club of Portland and open to writers recovering from alcoholism, drug addiction, or other addictive disorders.
Residents may stay for any length of time within the month of their awarded residency.
Eligibility Requirements for the McCormack Writing Center Residency
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be 21 years or older by the start of the residency.
- Submit work in one of the accepted genres:
- Fiction (novel, short fiction, YA)
- Nonfiction
- Poetry
- Graphic novel
- Translation of any of these genres
- International writers are eligible to apply.
- Projects already under contract may still be submitted.
- Former residents are not eligible to apply, though former workshop scholars and faculty may apply.
Residency Benefits
Selected residents receive several benefits designed to support their creative work:
- Private studio apartment near the McCormack Writing Center in Northwest Portland
- Full kitchen, bathroom, Wi-Fi, and workspace
- $1,200 stipend
- $100 Lyft credit
- Public reading and reception at Bishop & Wilde
- Opportunities to connect with Portland’s literary community
Partners and children may accompany residents, and family-friendly arrangements can be provided when requested.
Application Guidelines
Applicants must submit:
- One unpublished writing sample
- Responses to application questions about the project
Writing sample limits include:
- Fiction / Nonfiction: Up to 6,000 words (include a synopsis if submitting an excerpt)
- Poetry: Up to six poems, not exceeding 20 pages
- Graphic Novels: Up to 30 pages
- Translations: Follow the requirements for the original genre and submit both the translation and original text
Applications are reviewed by McCormack Writing Center staff and reading fellows.
Deadline
Apply by March 23, 2026
