The third annual Weekend Writers' Retreat is a long weekend of workshops, literary talks, and evening events, presented by A Public Space in partnership with Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in New York’s Hudson Valley. This year's retreat will be held Thursday, October 8, 2026 - Sunday, October 11, 2026. Find a detailed retreat schedule here.  

Eligibility 

Applicants must be 21 years of age by October 1, 2026, to attend the retreat. Capacity is limited, and early registration is recommended.   

Registration Fees (excludes housing)

• Early Registration (June 2 - July 2): $875 
• Regular Registration (July 3 - August 15): $975
• Late Registration (after August 15): $1,125

Cancellation Policy 

A full refund (less $100 for administrative fees) will be processed for cancellations before August 15.  A 50% refund will be processed for cancellations before September 1.  There is no refund for cancellations after September 15.

Questions? Write to office@apublicspace.org.  

Please submit only one (​1) story at a time. Additional submissions will be returned unread. Only previously unpublished work will be considered. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but if your piece is accepted elsewhere we ask that you please withdraw it from our system. Novellas and novel excerpts are welcome. If you wish to submit a work of translation, please navigate to our translation category.

We suggest reading recent issues of A Public Space to acquaint yourself with work the magazine has published. Subscriptions are available here. We have also made a selection of pieces from the magazine available as part of our Public Access series here.

We will make every effort to respond to your submissions within four months, though at times it may be longer. If it has been ​more than four months and you have not yet received a response, we will be happy to reply to a query regarding the status of your submission.

Please submit only one (​1) essay at a time. Additional submissions will be returned unread. Only previously unpublished work will be considered. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but if your piece is accepted elsewhere we ask that you please withdraw it from our system. Excerpts are welcome. Memoir is welcome. Long-form cultural criticism is welcome. If you wish to submit a work of translation, please navigate to our translation category.

We suggest reading recent issues of A Public Space to acquaint yourself with work the magazine has published. Subscriptions are available here. We have also made a selection of pieces from the magazine available as part of our Public Access series here.

We will make every effort to respond to your submissions within four months, though at times it may be longer. If it has been ​more than four months and you have not yet received a response, we will be happy to reply to a query regarding the status of your submission.

Please submit up to five (5) poems in one document. Only one submission at a time is allowed; additional submissions will be returned unread. Only previously unpublished work will be considered. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but if a poem is accepted elsewhere, we ask that you withdraw your submission from the system or, if you've submitted multiple poems, that you add a note to your submission letting us know which poem(s) you are withdrawing. If you wish to submit a work of translation, please navigate to our translation category. 

We suggest reading recent issues of A Public Space to acquaint yourself with work the magazine has published. Subscriptions are available here. We have also made a selection of pieces from the magazine available as part of our Public Access series here. 

We will make every effort to respond to your submissions within four months, though at times it may be longer. If it has been ​more than four months and you have not yet received a response, we will be happy to reply to a query regarding the status of your submission.

Please submit only one (1) translated story or essay at a time. Alternatively, submit up to five (5) translated poems in one document. Only one submission at a time is allowed; additional submissions will be returned unread. Only previously unpublished work will be considered. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but if your piece is accepted elsewhere we ask that you please withdraw it from our system. If you've submitted multiple poems, you can let us know which poem(s) you are withdrawing. Novellas and novel excerpts are welcome. Nonfiction excerpts are welcome. Memoir is welcome. Long-form cultural criticism is welcome. Please note it is the translator's responsibility to secure rights to the work before it is submitted. 

We suggest reading recent issues of A Public Space to acquaint yourself with work the magazine has published. Subscriptions are available here. We have also made a selection of pieces from the magazine available as part of our Public Access series here.

We will make every effort to respond to your submissions within four months, though at times it may be longer. If it has been ​more than four months and you have not yet received a response, we will be happy to reply to a query regarding the status of your submission.