Sarah Frye

Sarah Frye is a fiction writer and the host of Out of State Plates Literary Series in Providence, RI. She received her MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop and is currently at work on a novel.


Did the retreat meet your expectations?
Yes. The tranquility of the vineyard was perfect for writing.

Did the vineyard setting inspire you and/or your writing? In what ways?
I’ve spent the past twenty years living in cities and it was startling how much having physical space cleared my mind. Just being able to stare out over the fields as I was thinking gave me a fresh perspective on my project.

What was the most enjoyable aspect of your retreat?
My co-resident and I would end our writing day in time to catch the sunset and discuss our progress over a glass of wine. It was such an encouraging and relaxing way to wind down.

What did you work on during the retreat?
I worked on my novel.

What other activities did you do during the retreat?
We hiked at a local park, and drove into downtown Petaluma to pick up dinner.

If your retreat was a co-residency do you have any advice or tips for future applicants that wish to apply and work together?
It’s important to set expectations before the retreat. For our co-residency we decided to write all day and reconvene for dinner. We both knew we wanted to work without unexpected interruption, and discussing it ahead of time ensured we both had the experience we were looking for.

Can you sum up your experience in eight to ten words?
A generous gift of time and space to write.