Elspeth Wilson named as inaugural fellow of the Write Within Residency in Wales

Elspeth Wilson is named today as the inaugural fellow of the Write Within Residency who will be hosted in the Writers’ Cabin near Machynlleth in mid Wales next year.

She will be hosted at the Writers’ Cabin, a self-catering sanctuary in which "writers across all disciplines are welcomed to delve into their works-in-progress in peace within the contemplative atmosphere of the Dyfi biosphere", residency organisers said.

The judging panel, consisting of Ayisha de Lanerolle of the Conversation Agency, Si Griffiths, a poet currently taking part in Literature Wales’ Representing Wales initiative, and Julia Forster who runs Write Within, assessed 50 entries from writers “of minoritised identities working across genres” across the UK and Ireland.

Forster said: “As a panel, we were struck by the number and range of applications and the palpable need for a self-directed residency – especially one such as this, where no output will be asked of the writer.  

“There isn’t an obligation for the successful applicant to write a commission, to deliver any public-facing events, or to report on their progress at the end of their week-long residency. In fact, we encourage the opposite – that the writer uses their time to enjoy the tranquillity of the retreat to write, read, research and dream. It will be a pleasure to host Elspeth next year.”

Wilson is a writer and poet whose nature writing has been shortlisted for Canongate’s Nan Shepherd Prize and Penguin’s Write Now scheme and she has contributed to the Guardian’s "Country Diary".

Her debut poetry pamphlet, Too Hot to Sleep, is published by Written Off Publishing and was shortlisted for the Saltire Society’s 2023 Poetry Book of the Year Award. Her debut novel, These Mortal Bodies, is forthcoming with Simon & Schuster UK in 2025. She is also featured in the recently unveiled 404 Ink anthology, Fierce Salvage and managed Inclusion’s guide on ensuring accessibility for literary events.

The 2024 residency was funded by Write Within. In order to run the programme again in future years, Forster will be putting a proposal together for funders this autumn.  

Anyone interested in supporting the residency to run again with financial or in-kind support is encouraged to contact julia@writewithin.wales.