Residencies

Alumni Residency
Febraury 2026
Two residents
Open to any alum from our Workshop program (Autumn/Spring/Summer/Winter; in-person or online)

The Break Residency for Writers in Recovery
March 2026
Two Residents
Sponsored by The Alano Club of Portland, this residency is open to any artist recovering from alcoholism, drug addiction, and other addictive disorders, without qualification. 

Debut 40 Residency
April 2026
One Resident
This residency is open to any unpublished author 40 and above working on a full-length manuscript. Debut 40 applicants may be under contract but cannot be scheduled to publish their debuts until 2027. Chapbooks and self-published works do not count towards this requirement.

General Residency
April 2026
One Resident
This residency is open to any writer working on a full-length manuscript.

We accept applications in the following genres: Fiction (novel/short fiction/YA), Nonfiction, Poetry, and Graphic Novel, as well as the translation of any of those genres.

When applicable, applicants may be under contract to publish the book they are applying with.

International writers may apply. 

Former Residents may not apply. Former Scholars and past Workshop faculty may apply.

You must be 21 years of age or older by the start date of the residency you are applying for.

The Tin House Resident will be housed in one of two 900 square ft. studio apartment next to the Tin House Workshop office in Northwest Portland.  The apartment includes a full kitchen, bathroom, and a small living room/office with WiFi. There are several coffee shops, restaurants, and grocery stores within walking distance of the apartment and access to public transit.

Please note this is a second-floor apartment that is only accessible by stairs. If a Resident cannot use the apartment due to accessibility, we will work with the Resident to provide alternative housing options (at no cost to the Resident). 

Partners and children are welcome to accompany Residents. Though the studio apartment features one queen bed,  Cribs/Pack ‘n Play/Air Mattresses will be available upon request.

Each Residency comes with a $1200 stipend, a 100$ Lyft credit, and a public reading/reception at Bishop & Wilde. Residents may also have an opportunity to participate in other gatherings with members of Portland’s literary community.

A list of past Residents can be found here.

We ask for one unpublished writing sample. In addition to the writing sample, the application includes several questions about your project.

For Fiction and Nonfiction, 6,000 words or less. If you are submitting an excerpt, please include a synopsis.
For poetry, six poems, totaling no more than 20 pages.
For GN, 30 pages or less of combined graphics/text.
Translation: Please follow the requirements for the genre in the original language and submit both your translation and the original text.

No reference letters, please.

Applications are read by Tin House Workshop staff and our 2025-2026 Reading Fellows. Our panel makes selections based on the writing sample, artist statement, residency plans, and through the lens of our core values.

Tin House offers a limited number of application fee waivers for our Residencies. We will be distributing these waivers on a first-come, first-serve basis. As an applicant, you can also Pay It Forward to help cover the cost of another writer’s application fee or contribute to our Residency Travel Fund, which provides travel assistance to Residents. 

 To inquire about a waiver, please email workshop@tinhouse.com with the subject line “Residency Fee Waiver.” Please wait until applications are open to do so. 

2026 Residencies

February: Alumni
March: The Break
April: Debut 40/General
July: TBA
August: TBA
September: TBA