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Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices

The Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices is the nation’s premier LGBTQ writing residency. It is the only multi-genre writing residency devoted exclusively to emerging LGBTQ+ writers. The Retreat is an unparalleled opportunity to develop one’s craft and find community.

Since 2007, the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices has offered sophisticated instruction in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young adult fiction, playwriting led by the most talented writers working today. In 2022, the Writers Retreat expanded to include instruction in screenwriting and speculative fiction, and in 2026, we will introduce the newest cohort: romantic fiction.

 

Our Writers Retreat takes place annually around the end of July into the first week of August. In addition to our full suite of programming which includes 5 days of workshops, and 8 days of panels, craft talks, and generative writing sessions, we also offer the opportunity to connect as a community by reading at our nightly reading series, attending social events, and building camaraderie over coffee chats and virtual mealtimes.

 

We are excited to announce that we plan to return to an in-person Retreat in 2027 at our home, Chestnut Hill, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, this does not mean our virtual offerings will end. Our staff is hard at work dreaming up a new Virtual Retreat model that is expected to launch in the Winter of 2027/2028. We can’t wait to share all of the magic we’re cooking up.

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The 2026 Retreat

The Writers Retreat will take place from August 1-8, 2026. As we did in 2025, we are holding our Writers Retreat online. This format allows for us to continue building our organizational resources while offering the same high-quality programming that remains accessible to folks who may not otherwise be able to attend in-person programs. Not only that, but the Virtual Retreat was a hit in 2025! Fellows and Faculty reported the Lambda Literary Virtual Retreat model was “one of the more accessible and inclusive retreats of its kind available to writers, and is driven forward by leadership who are dedicated to supporting queer artists and their development” (Sam Heyman, 2022/2025 Fellow).

 

Tuition for the 2026 Virtual Retreat is set at $1,100.

 

Accepted fellows will no longer have to fundraise for their own tuition–Lambda Literary will provide financial support to those who need it. We are working hard to make our spaces as accessible as possible, and those who cannot pay their own way should not have to expend more time and energy just to attend. With this new plan, Lambda Literary will be offering financial support to make sure every accepted writer can attend, regardless of financial status. 

 

Applications for fellowships open on November 21, 2025 and close at 11:59 PM ET on January 8th, 2026.

Learn More About the 2026 Retreat

Relive the Virtual Retreats: Images and Videos

The 2025 Writers Retreat program manager and faculty members pictured in zoom boxes: chloe feffer, Nisi Shawl, Steven Canals, Fatimah Asghar, Roger Q. Mason, Aiden Thomas, Kay Ulanday Barrett, Hansol Jung
Check Out Some of Our Favorite Moments from the 2024 Virtual Writers Retreat

Our Impact

Launched in 2007, Lambda Literary’s Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices is the only multi-genre writing residency in the world devoted exclusively to emerging LGBTQ writers. It provides a uniquely powerful opportunity to participants, jumpstarting the careers of dozens of LGBTQ writers every year.

Emerging writers since have taken part in the retreat since 2011.
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Faculty, including Dorothy Allison, Danez Smith, Andrew Holleran.
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genres, including poetry, young adult fiction, screenwriting, & more
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Anthologies, presenting Retreat Fellows work.
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"Working with the Lambda Lit Fellows was not only on my bucket list personally, but also brought such unexpected illuminations! It was an honor to steward and celebrate Queer and trans writers as they navigated their art. It is not lost on me that queer and trans writers, especially disabled and BIPOC are facing extended scrutiny in the U.S. Lambda Lit was the perfect conduit-- accessible and virtual, fully generative, reflective, and strategic. The creative space for our poems to thrive for a better future demonstrated what queer community and writing can do. How we can revel together in our fullest possibilities."
Kay Ulanday Barrett
Kay Ulanday BarrettFellow, 2017; Writer in Residence, 2018; Poetry Faculty, 2025
"I often panic before entering a new artsy space, the imposter syndrome hits hard and I feel like I don't deserve the opportunity, but the minute I logged into our orientation zoom, I knew without a doubt that I belong here...Every last member of my cohort and some lovely humans from other cohorts have reminded me what true blessings are/can be, that writing lives beyond pages and computer screens, that there's still hope and beauty in this realm. Hope’s a powerful being. If you have the time/capacity, apply, experiencing this retreat is a solid way of nurturing your voice and artistry. As my lovely cohort and this experience has reminded me, this reminder I will pass on to you: Never forget your power. Remember, we must keep creating and fighting because we all deserve true liberation and community."
a dark-skinned, Black, AFAB person with long locs in twin ponytails, a labret and a nose piercing. There's a red brick wall behind them and they're wearing a white shirt with a skull on it and a black, velvet vest, with a mischievous grin on their face.
Nay HarrisScreen/Play/Writing Fellow, 2025
"Teaching at the Lambda Literary Emerging Writers Retreat was an absolute joy! It was full of brilliant queer voices, each brimming with stories only they could tell. It was thrilling to see their excitement grow as we dug into the craft together, and to witness their courage in exploring new ideas. The writers were generous, inspiring, and so much fun — I left feeling as energized and encouraged as I hope they did!" --After his stint as Faculty at Lambda, Aiden decided to pursue teaching–"Being a workshop faculty for Lambda really made me remember how much I LOVE teaching and it would be a dream to teach students at the college level!"
Aiden Thomas
Aiden ThomasYoung Adult Fiction Faculty, 2025
"You know how some shrimp can see trillions of colors? I feel like that, except with emotions (shrimp emotions). I came in with some skepticism about how much community we could build in a remote retreat and now I'm just in awe. The faculty craft talks and supplemental programming deepened my understanding of the publishing industry and taught me new techniques and approaches that are already turbo-charging my creative process. Without exaggeration, this retreat was a life-changing experience. I am leaving with my brain chemistry altered, new confidence in my writing, and (at last) a personal understanding of that beloved queer trope of found family. This retreat healed something in me, some lingering world-suspicion and loneliness that has been lurking within me since the pandemic/lockdown. Thank you."
Simo is a nonbinary person of South Asian and Southeast Asian descent with light brown skin, chin-length wavy black hair, dark brown eyes, and some stubble. They are wearing a blue denim vest over a navy blue hoodie and are looking at the camera against a cream-colored background.
Simo SrinivasSpeculative Fiction Felllow, 2025
"I may already be known within the community as a poet, but I’m learning a new craft as a screenwriter, and this retreat has reminded me that you’re never too old to learn. The opportunity to work with Steven Canals was truly transformative. His openness, honesty, and professionalism created an environment where every participant felt heard and supported. Though I initially hesitated at the idea of a virtual retreat, the format ended up being perfect—offering flexibility while still fostering meaningful connections and growth. Surrounded by such a talented, diverse group of writers, I left the retreat with not just a deeper understanding of my craft but also a new, supportive community. This experience is a must for anyone looking to expand their skills and be part of an inclusive, empowering literary environment."
Emanuel Xavier, a Latinx man with light brown skin, short dark hair in a fade cut, and a thin goatee, stands outdoors in a wooded area during late winter. He wears a colorful shirt featuring Renaissance-style religious artwork, and he smiles softly at the camera with bare trees and soft sunlight in the background.
Emmanuel XavierScreenwriting Fellow, 2025
Lambda Literary Writers [Retreat] is a true queer commons. It is so moving to be in the company of brilliant writers, thinkers, and artists committed to aesthetic innovation and social change. It is a space animated by a generosity of spirit and solidarity.
Raquel Gutiérrez is a person with medium skintone and dark hair pictured smiling at the camera, wearing a colorful sweater and a tan hat with the word "Honest" on it.
Raquel GutiérrezNonfiction Faculty, 2024
"...So much of the work and love shared this week will manifest immediately in our hearts... but some (maybe most) will not manifest for decades to come. [Lambda Literary's Writers Retreat] is potent (and organic!) time-release fertilizer for our Garden of Queer Voices. The 2024 Retreat was truly the honor of a lifetime. I'm still stunned that I was lucky enough to be included. I'm overwhelmed with Queer and Creative Joy. I'm positively thrumming with purpose and the desire to uplift our community in every possible way. I'm uplifted by new possibility and hope for our collective future. The one we're building together."
Kristen Wolfe
Kristen Wolfe2024 Screenwriting Fellow
"Lambda cultivates a space that centers queer/trans experience totally and in doing so circumvents the debate of whether I am a person worthy of a reader’s love and attention...It allows us to ask better questions of our work. When we strip away all the conversations about whether this is subversive, is this niche, is this morally palatable it gives us room to ask: is it good? Does it stand on its own? Does it make me feel? Does it make me think? Is it art?'"
STEPHEN PATRICK BELL
STEPHEN PATRICK BELLFiction Fellow, 2022
"The Retreat helped me embark on a serious focus, not just in writing but — and this is what’s most important for me — forging a sense of community within the literary world.”
Miah Jeffra
Miah JeffraLambda Fellow, 2014
"As a faculty member I can attest to the unique and extraordinary talent who participated in this extremely competitive writing residency. I met a cohort of some of the most exciting and talented emerging artists in my field. I was inspired to help move the field forward and create a new body of work from one of the most diverse groups of artists I had ever worked with. We now have a new playwriting family."
LUIS ALFARO
LUIS ALFAROPlaywriting Faculty, 2018
"As a non-binary and disabled author from the deep south, I used to constantly feel like I was playing catch-up, like I was pretending at being an author. Why couldn't I write the stories other people wanted to read? It turns out that I had been writing those stories all along -- I just needed to find the right people. By sharing my writing with other LGBT+ writers, I was able to focus on the story I wanted to tell, rather than having to justify the presence of queerness in my work. In short, the Retreat allowed me to see myself as a writer again."
ELLIOT WREN PHILIPS
ELLIOT WREN PHILIPSFiction Fellow, 2022

The Emerge Anthology

The Emerge Anthology is a collection of work from Lambda Literary’s Retreat Fellows, exhibiting literary works in the 7 genres reflected by the Retreat’s cohorts. It is meant to showcase the vast talent of our fellows, and to serve as an archive for this special once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Buy the 2024 Anthology

Faculty and Fellows Directory

Use the database below to find information on our alumni.

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Explore titles published by our fellows in one handy lists. Purchases made from our affiliate shop benefit Lambda’s programs.

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