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(ORLANDO)—The Kerouac Project of Orlando is looking for six writers to each spend two months living and working in the same house where Beat writer Jack Kerouac lived in 1957–58 when he wrote The Dharma Bums.

The Project is accepting applications for its writers-in-residence program between February 1 and April 14, 2024. The selected writers will be announced in late May 2024.

“We’re excited to start our residency program back up,” said Erik Deckers, president of The Kerouac Project. “We were on hiatus for a year to deal with repairs and fundraising. Now we’re ready to start welcoming new writers back into the house.”

This year brings a change to the 24-year-old program: The program now has increased its residency openings to six writers from its usual four.

“Many writers aren’t able to put their lives on hold for three months and be away from family and work,” said Deckers. “We thought it would be more manageable for people to handle seven weeks away.”

Each resident will live and work on their writing in the uninterrupted peace of the Kerouac House in the College Park neighborhood, two miles northwest of downtown Orlando.

Not only did Kerouac write The Dharma Bums in this house, but he also lived there with his mother when On The Road was published, making him an overnight sensation.

The residency has had writers from all over the world—including the U.S., New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Singapore, and Australia. Novelists, poets, nonfiction writers, short story writers, and essayists have attended so far. Previous residents include Ph.D. candidates, MFA recipients, and writers who have never taken a creative writing course in their lives. BIPOC and LGTBQ writers are encouraged to apply.

“If you’ve got a story to tell, we would love to hear from you,” said Deckers.

Six writers (and six alternates) will be selected to spend time in the historic house. Selection is based on the quality of their submitted work, which has been outstanding over the years.

While at the Kerouac House, each writer stays free with their utilities covered and a $600 food and supplies stipend to use during their residency. The residents are required to participate in four events: a welcome potluck dinner held in their honor, two creative workshops, and a final reading of their work at the end of their residency. They are also encouraged to participate in other readings and events around the Central Florida literary community.

The 2024-2025 residency slots to be filled are as follows:
Residency 1: September 1 through October 20, 2024
Residency 2: November 1, 2024 through December 22, 2024
Residency 3: January 3, 2025 through February 23, 2025
Residency 4: March 1, 2025 through April 20, 2025
Residency 5: May 1, 2025 through June 22, 2025
Residency 6: July 1, 2025 through August 2, 2025

Interested writers may submit their work in one of the following categories that best fit their chosen writing field: Poetry, Play, Screenplay, Fiction/Short Story, and Nonfiction.

For more information or to apply for the residency, please visit the “Apply” page on the Kerouac Project of Orlando’s website https://www.kerouacproject.org.

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About The Kerouac Project
The Kerouac Project seeks to foster literary talent by offering six writing residencies to writes from around the globe. The organization was founded in 1998 by a group of volunteers and fans of Jack Kerouac who sought to save this important historic home. It has been a writer’s residency since Fall 2004. The Kerouac Project keeps the spirit of the Beat Generation alive, nurturing the next generation of literary voices through residencies, workshops, and vibrant community events.

https://www.kerouacproject.org/submissions/

Opportunity Website

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