Vermont advice needed
12/26/2004 02:40 a.m.
Please, fellow poets, read about my acceptance into the Vermont Studio Centner (www.vermontstudiocenter.org) and give me some advice or your opinion.

Between now and the end of May, I have to come up with $2500 for the month-long residency. This is a lot of money, comparably speaking, I am told.

A teacher of mine says I ought to forego it and apply to a residency that does not cost as much. She says that I should apply next year or the one after to the Vermont as well as the other biggees like Bread Loaf and Yaddo (once a book is published) because I "shouldn't have to" pay that much money. She was sweet enough to say I'm "too talented to pay that much."

And, indeed, I looked at some of the other residencies that she suggested. One in Wyoming looks good. And then there's Ragdale which is in Lake Forest, IL, a place I know from growing up in Harwood Heights, and you only have to pay $25 per DAY... for 2 weeks that roughly equals the deposit I put down for Vermont last month - $300.

So... I'm thinking... if I had this huge amount of money to save off my shoulders...I'll feel a lot lighter....

yet... being accepted to Vermont is VERY good and it's such a prestigious place...

oh dear,

will someone give me opinions and such? I'll ultimately decide, myself, but I'd love to converse with anyone who might have an opinion.

Thank you!
I am currently Frustrated
I am listening to "At Last" by Etta James

my gut feeling is that your teacher is probably right. One can pour a great deal of money into the study of the art, and it doesn't mean the school in Vermont is wrong, and I'd take it as a high honour to be invited, but if there are other fine ones less costly, it may be wise to look into them or wait a bit. The talent will still be yours next year of course. Or see if there's a student bursary, sometimes the government at least here in Canada, has these, to help support the tuition costs. I did that for screenwriting summer courses here. You have to find out about them and apply, and the Vermont school may be able to tell you of soon. Good luck.

sorry, I meant to say in my last line, of "some" not soon.