On My Impending Welsh Writing Residency

I don’t speak Welsh. But I’m headed to Wales for a six-week stint as writer-in-residence. Through July 3, I’ll be at Stiwdio Maelor in the tiny village of Corris.

Some quick facts about Welsh Corris:

• It’s in the county of Gwynedd, a primarily Welsh-speaking area in northern Wales.
• Corris is historic for its slate mining. These days, sheep and logging rule the area.
• The village is near the base of Cadair Idris, the second-highest peak in Wales.
• Corris is also near Dolgellau, where the gold for the royal wedding bands was mined.
• The area is part of Snowdonia National Park, a sweeping biosphere of peaks and bogs, crags and drainages.
• Dyfi Distillery is an award-winning gin maker in the area.
• Corris has one small market and one pub along the narrow main street. It’s tiny, people.
• People come from far and wide to ride Corris’ steam train, a restored bit a rail line with a working steam engine.
• The valley lies on the Royal Air Force Mach Training Path. More than once, I’ve been lucky enough to be on a high peak and see jets flying in formation below me. Really cool.

What I’m looking to glean from my residency:

• A clearer head. I spend so much time running and chasing and worrying and trying. Residencies help me disconnect and rediscover the joy of creation. I also hope to figure out where to go from here.
• Better fitness. As a sea level dweller, I don’t get to climb things as much as I’d like. With mountains practically out my front door, I hope to climb and think and be healthier. Sheep are good listeners, as are faeries.
• Lots of words. I’m finishing I Am Number 13 during the early days of this residency. From there, I’m working on a personal project about my family. Nothing may come of it other than catharsis for me. Typically, I write 25,000 words per week while on residency.
• Omelet mastery. I always make cheese omelets with the freshest eggs I can find and only eat one full meal per day. One night a week, I’ll walk to the pub in the next village for a perfect burger.
• New friends. I meet interesting people from all over the world while on residency. I’ve shared space with people from Germany, Ireland, Australia, Canada, the US, the UK, and Denmark. Residencies push me beyond my boundaries and make me more flexible and accepting as a human being. At least, I hope they do.

Have you ever been to Wales? Or some other favorite place? Tell us about it in a comment.