Our Alumna readers and Guest Alum Judges are the gatekeepers. We cannot do our work without you.

Much like your own experience at Hedgebrook, your decisions will have an impact on the trajectory of another writer’s life. We rely on alum to do the critical work of selecting our new Writers-in-Residence.

If you’re interested in reading Round 1 applications for the 2026 Writers-in-Residence adjudication, please fill out the form here by March 7, 2025.

This is the first step towards applying to be a Guest Alum Judge, which includes a 2-week (12-night) residency. 

The Guest Alumnae Judge (GAJ) role is an essential part of our Writers-in-Residence selection process.

GAJs are actively involved in the 2nd and 3rd (final) rounds of adjudication. Much like your own experience at Hedgebrook, your decisions will have an impact on the trajectory of another writer’s life.

If you've read Round 1 applications at least once, you may apply to be a GAJ as long as you are proficient to read in one of the genre categories and you haven't stayed at Hedgebrook for at least 3 years.

If you are selected as a GAJ, you would be awarded a two-week (12-night) residency during the application cycle you are adjudicating.

We look at each application with a similar lens our adjudicators use with new writers - seeking compelling, urgent projects, weighing diversity of voice in all its intersections, as well as the ways alumnae have engaged with Hedgebrook and/or worked with other women-identified writers/artists to lift up their voices in other communities.

This process becomes more and more competitive each year, as it is the primary path for our growing alumnae community to receive a return residency at Hedgebrook. Thank you for taking time and care with your applications!

2025 applications are currently closed.

In 2025, we're innovating with an eye toward sustainability and this is a new option for women-identified writers to experience Hedgebrook. These partially subsidized residencies are a conscious act of radical reciprocity - the gift of time on the land for yourself and your creative practice works to sustain our historic free-to-writers residency program and allows us to continue to support women who are authoring change. This program is an opportunity for new residents and returning alumnae to plan a residency that fits their schedule, foregoing our anonymous adjudication process.

APPLY HERE

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round via our SlideRoom portal. Residencies are scheduled between February and November 2026. Applicants will be notified as soon as possible.

2026 Mother Tree application coming soon.

We have several opportunities to celebrate you and amplify your work including:

Alumnae Showcases:

Alumnae are invited to bring finished & in-process work for Hedgebrook's virtual and in-person Alumnae Showcases including our Filmmakers Showcase, Songwriters Showcase, Writers Conference, and more.

Regional Amplifiers for Hedgebrook:

We're looking for 2-3 alumnae representatives deeply engaged with Hedgebrook in regions where we have large groupings of alum (Bay Area, LA, NYC).

This commitment would include virtual quarterly check-ins and planning sessions and a once-a-year return to the land for training and hospitality as a cohort, ending with our Board retreat, where you'll get to meet, greet & discuss your work with our Board members.

Future Opportunities:

Our Programs Team is happy to join in dialogue with our alumnae about new creative ways to engage with your work. We want the world to hear your voice!

Tell us how you would like to engage here.

Hedgebrook has a Bookshop.org shop and we would love to include and promote your book(s) on our lists.

Tell us about your upcoming or current book that you would like added here.

Establish a fellowship in honor of your favorite things, such as women, genres, issues, or cottages. Maybe even engage your Hedgebrook cohort to collectively contribute.

Learn more.