Looking back: Hideout resident Deidra Dallas on getting away from it all
/To celebrate the fifth year anniversary of The Hideout residency program, we caught up with a number of previous Hideout residents to learn more about their writing projects and their advice for those considering a residency at The Hideout.
Hideout Resident DEidra Dallas Visits the Goats at Island Hill Farm in Hampshire, PEI.
Inspired by her love of PEI and Anne of Green Gables, Deidra Dallas returned to Prince Edward Island in 2023 for a weeklong residency at The Hideout, working on her novel-in-progress, The Goat.
Tell us a bit about the project you worked on during your week at The Hideout.
I worked on my novel The Goat: A Novel in 2 Acts, a humorous novel that incorporates elements of playwriting as well as traditional narrative elements to tell the story of Beatrice Smalls, a 32-year-old woman who moves back to her small West Texas hometown after the death of her father. Beatrice takes on the role of high school theatre teacher, and throughout the school year she falls a little bit in love with her new students, a lotta bit in love with the local agricultural teacher, and learns why living with your mother after the age of 18 is a terrible idea. Also, she adopts a goat. Chaos ensues.
What did you enjoy most about your residency week?
That it wasn't home! I got to get away from all of my responsibilities and obligations and put my writing at the forefront of my mind and to-do list. My favorite part of my residency, though, was that I was on PEI, my absolute favorite place on earth. I got to spend time on the Island visiting places that inspire me (like Green Gables and the L.M. Montgomery homestead) and places that gave me much needed experiences that will help develop my novel (like Island Hill Farm, a local goat farm). And there's something magical about being in nature without worrying about whether or not you should be mowing the grass that really helps me to refocus my creative energy.
Why are residencies and retreats so vital for writers?
Writing is such hard work mentally and emotionally, and it's especially hard to give it the commitment it needs when you have other mental, emotional, and physical draws on your time and energy. Getting to put everything else aside and focus on your craft is vital to anyone who wants to take their writing seriously. Residencies and retreats allow you to reset yourself and recommit to the big ideas swirling around inside your brain.
Any tips for folks thinking about applying for a residency?
I suggest looking at places that you know you'd like to visit to help make your list of potential residencies (like PEI or Wales or Providence, Rhode Island--all places I've done writing retreats!). And then look at the financials. Money can be a big deterrent, so finding a way to get the most bang for your buck and making it a bit of a working vacation--the work being your writing!--is always something that helps me make the decision. And most importantly--just do it! If you are serious about writing, make time for your writing, and residencies are some of the best ways to prioritize yourself and your art.
Deidra Dallas is a freelance editor and quilter living in Ballinger, Texas. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University in 2022 and has been published in Go World Travel where she wrote about a solo trip to Prince Edward Island in the middle of winter. In her free time, she assists with the Ballinger High School band, travels as much as she is able, and follows her niece and nephews around to all of their respective sporting and artistic events.
