Parent-Writers’ Residency

About

Balancing the demands of caregiving with the focus required for sustained creative work can make dedicated writing time feel out of reach for parents. This residency is designed to ease those pressures by offering time, space, and financial support for parent-writers to immerse themselves in their craft.

This month-long residency includes dedicated access to our Granville Island studio, a $4,000 grant and an additional $1,000 in childcare support to help alleviate the practical and financial barriers parent-writers often face.

What are the goals of this residency?

Parenthood can be one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of a lifetime. Yet for writers, creative processes often compete with the invisible labour and daily responsibilities of caregiving, leaving little room for the sustained focus that literary work requires.

Through this residency, we aim to provide material support for parent-writers, not only through financial resources, but by offering a quiet space where their creative vision is prioritized. Our goal is to support the development of a work of fiction or non-fiction that pushes boundaries in form or content, and to provide the time and resources necessary for the writer to complete a polished draft ready for publication or submission.

What will the resident receive?

• A $4,000 grant, delivered in two installments (half upon commencement, half upon completion).
• An additional $1,000 to support childcare needs or other caregiving costs.
• One month of personal access to our writing studio during opening hours — a quiet, work-only, semi-private space in our upstairs loft on Granville Island.
• Opportunities for community engagement through two workshops or events in partnership with Upstart & Crow.

Who is eligible?

This residency is intended for mid-career and established writers who are also parents or primary caregivers, with a demonstrated body of work and experience in their field.

Mid-career writers are those who have at least one published work of fiction or non-fiction (book, essay, or substantial piece in a reputable journal, magazine, or anthology). The successful candidate must be in the process of developing a significant literary presence.

Established writers are those with at least one published full-length book of fiction or nonfiction with an established publisher, or an equivalent body of work across respected magazines, journals, or anthologies. They must have a well-developed professional presence through readings, residencies, awards, or other literary recognitions.

We recognize that systemic barriers can shape the pathways through which writers gain recognition or build traditional literary credentials. We remain committed to maintaining a low barrier to access and will make exceptions to this criteria for candidates whose work demonstrates exceptional talent and originality, even if their formal record of publication is not extensive. Outstanding applications from such emerging writers will be given full consideration.

Additional eligibility criteria:

• Applicants must be parents or primary caregivers of children or dependents.
• Applicants must currently reside in Canada, including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and Protected Persons.
• While applicants are not required to reside in the Vancouver area, this residency prioritizes writers who are able to make full use of the studio space in person. The selected resident will be expected to work from our Granville Island studio regularly throughout the residency, as in-person engagement is a central component of the program. Exceptions will be made for applicants experiencing physical limitations to attend in person, though we ask that you specify this in your application.
• Writers must be actively working on a significant fiction or nonfiction project that displays a strong voice, a clear creative vision, and innovative potential.

How will applications be evaluated?

Applications will be assessed by a panel of three carefully selected jurors. Each juror will receive a portion of the submissions to review in two rounds, first independently, then together as a group. The review process will take roughly one month.

Our 2025 jurors are: Kevin Chong, Michelle Cyca, and Robyn Smith. 

Applications will be evaluated on the following:

• Innovative potential: the potential for the writer and their work to expand the boundaries of literary form, explore fresh perspectives, and connect meaningfully with a broad and diverse readership.
• Project vision: the clarity, originality, and feasibility of the proposed project, including its concept, scope, and artistic goals.
• Engagement potential: the writer’s ability to engage genuinely and collaboratively with the literary community, demonstrating openness to dialogue, exchange, and creative contribution.
• Residency fit: the depth and intention with which the writer plans to make use of the studio space to develop their work, and how in-person time will contribute to their creative process.
• Relevance and contribution: the relevance of the writer’s work to engage with core questions and themes of importance and relevance, and the extent to which their work offers new, different or deeper reflections and contributions to the literary conversation.

Dates and details: 

• Applications for the 2025 Upstart Parent-Writers’ Residency will open on Friday, October 17
• Applications will close on Friday, November 28 at 11:00pm PST
• The residency will commence in Spring 2026 (exact date to be determined by the recipient)