In the fast-moving and chaotic lives of this generation, it is almost impossible to dedicate yourself to one task and stick to it. We are always multitasking, doing one thing after another. And by chance, if we are not doing something physically, we are definitely thinking of an endless number of things. It is just not easy to concentrate and pay attention to one thing. Our attention span is sinking.
A hobby or a career in writing is one of the most affected careers that might go downhill because of this problem. Writing requires being in one world for too long, not caring about the surroundings. It requires passion, dedication, hard work and constant connection with the piece you are working on. Urban life seldom helps.
To tackle this, The Usawa Writing Residency is set to bring together emerging writers for an immersive programme designed to give them the time, mentorship and community needed to develop their writing. Created for early-career fiction and non-fiction writers, the residential programme will offer a focused space to step away from everyday distractions, engage deeply with their craft and gain insights into the literary and publishing world.
This matters because:
Personal guidance helps in picking weaknesses and improving them immediately
Dedicated time away from daily distractions helps in strengthening focus
Constructive criticism prevents the writer from getting stuck and encourages them to keep moving ahead
It is beyond conventional classrooms and helps with practical, project-specific guidance
Makes young writers confident; working with established mentors makes the process less intimidating
It introduces you to similar people, forming a community in a rather isolated choice; it helps discuss new ideas and challenges
Days: 6 days/ 5 nights, Dates: 3 - 8 October, Location - Turiya Villa, Goa
The Usawa Writing Residency is an intensive residential programme for early-career writers developing a sustained body of work and looking for time, guidance and community to deepen their practice.
Writing can often be solitary. The residency creates a space for writers to step away from everyday demands, focus on their craft, reflect on their writing goals and engage in thoughtful conversations around literature and publishing.
The residency will bring together a small cohort of 12 writers working on prose, either fiction or non-fiction. Over the course of the programme, participants will take part in workshops, guided writing exercises and individual editorial sessions designed to strengthen their work and help them think more clearly about the journey from draft to publication.
Each day will be structured around three key components, combining collective discussion with focused individual mentorship:
1. Workshops
Participants will attend craft workshops led by invited writers, editors and publishing professionals. These sessions will explore elements of writing and the literary ecosystem, offering practical insights alongside craft discussions.
2. Writing Exercises
Guided writing sessions will encourage participants to experiment with form, voice and perspective. These exercises are designed to generate new work and help writers approach their drafts in fresh ways.
3. Mentorship Sessions
Each participant will receive direct editorial feedback on a selected piece of work through individual reading and feedback sessions with mentors and peers.
Hemali Sodhi/Arpita Das/Smita Sahay
The residency will begin with a reflective conversation led by Smita Sahay, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Usawa, where participants will introduce themselves and speak about their writing journeys, motivations and goals. The session will set the tone for the residency by encouraging writers to think carefully about their relationship with writing.
Spokespersons: The residency will have sessions by Arpita Das, founder-publisher at Yoda Press; Dr Rupleena Bose, professor and author of Summer of Then; Kavita Kabeer, writer and content creator; Smita Sahay, editor-in-chief and founder of Usawa Literary Review; Sumana Roy, author and professor; and Hemali Sodhi, founder of A Suitable Agency.
With a carefully curated mix of workshops, writing exercises, conversations and one-on-one mentorship, the Usawa Writing Residency aims to help emerging writers move from ideas and early drafts towards more developed, purposeful bodies of work. By bringing together writers, editors, publishers and literary practitioners, the residency hopes to foster a lasting community while encouraging participants to approach their writing with greater clarity, confidence and intention.
