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