Aditi Malhotra
Aditi Malhotra is a writer, independent journalist and poetry reciter based in Oakland. She is a professional juggler of many editorial hats. Her news writing and narrative nonfiction has appeared in Huffington Post, PBS Newshour, theAtlantic.com, Hechinger Report and Wall Street Journal, among others. Currently, she’s writing a book on epilepsy from a public health perspective at Hesperian Health Guides. She also writes prose fiction and performs spoken word. Her work spans intersections of gender and migration, mental health and education, food and identity, and books!
Did the retreat meet your expectations?
I took to writing-in-residence between the vines in early 2022 after plans to complete the residency in 2020 were snowed in by the world-class Covid-19 pandemic. When time arrived to depart for the residency after a couple of years of being in lockdown, it felt right and ripe. Traveling to another American state with writing material that was fresh-off-the-press from my desk-in-lockdown felt thrilling and surreal at the same time.
What was the most unexpected part of your stay?
I arrived at our residence in Alloro vineyard with my necessary handwriting tools and gadgets in tow. Along with pens, paper and a laptop I wanted to use sparingly, I'd packed a few books for keepsake. I hadn't set any big reading goals for my week in the vineyard. However, thanks for the levels of relaxation unlocked at the retreat residence, I was able to read two novels in a 7-day period while working with my own written material. That, to me, was quite an unexpected breakthrough given how much of a struggle achieving concentration, focus and calm had been during the preceding two years in lockdown.
What was the most enjoyable aspect of your retreat?
I enjoyed co-living and writing-in-community with my fellow resident, Melissa Pandika. The residence itself was large and spacious. Cooking meals together and introducing each other to our respective cultural roots through food was so memorable!
Did the vineyard setting inspire you and/or your writing? In what ways?
On the second day of my residency at Alloro vineyard in Oregon's Willamette Valley, snow fell onto charred vines still recovering from recent bush and wildfires. It was a breathtaking sight and energetic experience to welcome white blankets to turn the dynamic landscape.
What did you work on during the retreat?
A chapbook with dramatic spoken-word that introduces readers to an odd affliction on a teenage girl's appearance—her hair starts turning grey right around the time she gets her first period. This poetry/drama is based on the events of a true story and is set in the backdrop of 1990s India.
What other activities did you do during the retreat—any napping, hiking, or exploring the local area?
I sure did nap a lot. My co-resident and I especially savored a Friday evening decision to visit the neighboring town of Newberg for honey pie pizza. Next morning, before our departure back to our respective home cities, we visited an alpaca farm right around the corner from the vineyard in the town of Sherwood. What a soothing-country experience that was!
Did you participate in any activities or events arranged by the host winery? If so please elaborate.
Yes! The vineyard manager and staff extended warmth and wine to us on the last day of our retreat.
If your retreat was a co-residency do you have any advice or tips for future applicants that wish to apply and work together?
One of the best parts about the retreat was the decision to apply to a co-residency with a writer-friend. As a BIPOC writer, it was important for me to feel safe and supported during my residency experience. Being in-community with a fellow BIPOC writer for our weeklong vine-writing residency turned out to be a neat, need-based handcrafted plan.
Can you sum up your experience in eight to ten words?
Read. Write. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.