James Merrill Writer-in-Residence Application Process

Selection Criteria

Applicants should be:

• A writer or scholar with a specific project of literary or academic merit who is committed to full-time residence in Stonington during their stay. We regret that the residency is not intended for the completion of a dissertation. Genres accepted include poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and plays.
• Willing to contribute to the community. This will generally include a reading and/or workshop for the community and participation in our filmed Studio 107 Series.
• A person of integrity and responsibility who can be entrusted with the Merrill Apartment and its contents.

We also welcome suggestions from applicants about ways our fellows might strengthen the community’s connection to writing, poetry, and James Merrill’s legacy.

About the Residency

We have six residencies available for 2027–2028.

PLEASE NOTE: We are undergoing major renovation work this year, so we are not yet sure exactly when the residencies will be held. We expect to have a better sense of the scope and timeline of the work by the time the application period ends.

Please indicate your preferred months on your application, but understand that the exact residency dates for this cycle have not yet been determined.

For more information about living and working in the Merrill Apartment, please visit the James Merrill House website.

The Writer-in-Residence program includes a stipend of $1,100 per month, prorated according to the length of stay.

Applications

We accept applications for the 2027–2028 residencies from October 1, 2026 through Monday, January 11, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Decisions will be made by mid-March.

A complete application includes:

1. A résumé of four or fewer pages.
2. A writing or work sample of ten or fewer pages.
3. A statement describing your plan of work while in Stonington, Connecticut.
4. Two letters of reference (at least one is required) 
5. If applicable, a brief biographical sketch of a spouse or partner who would be residing in the apartment with you. Please note that, due to the age and nature of the building, we cannot accommodate pets or children as residents. The apartment is located on the third floor and is accessible only by stairs.
6. A $30 application fee. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer application fee waivers.

Please direct questions about the application process or the status of an application to jmhprograms@gmail.com.