Frequently Asked Questions

What months do you host writers? May, June, July, August, September. Winners of the contest will choose from within this time frame (same window for the LGBTQ+ poetry awards). Each residency starts on a Friday and ends the following Saturday.

Why did The Rat stop taking applications? This is a Pa (Jeff) & Pa (Phil) operation—we only have the one suite with only the desert’s summer months (May, June, July, August, September) to invite writers. We have replaced the application with our annual contest, The Desert Rat Poetry & Fiction Prize. 95% of our visiting writers are culled from the annual contest (the other 5% are Director-discretionary).

What does 5% ‘Director-discretionary’ mean? This 5% means the Director (& Founder), Jeff Walt, invites people, for the most part, that he has partnered with in some way over his past thirty literary years (think important mentors, editors, publishers [e.g. Seven Kitchens Press, Gival Press]). Think of it as a direct invitation. Also, the LGBTQ+ poetry awards are Director-discretionary, BUT taken from the poetry genre finalists.

How many contest submissions do you get? 100+

How many finalists, generally, do you get from one contest? In 2024, we had fifteen poetry finalists and five fiction finalists. From the poetry finalists, we gave three LGBTQ+ poetry awards to those poets who identified themselves as LGBTQ+ in their cover letters.

Is there an LGBTQ+ award for the fiction category? Not at this time. The LGBTQ+ poetry awards are only possible because of a local, private donation.

Can the desert be intolerable in the summer? Depends on the person. For us, the exquisite summer months are generously quiet and the pool maintains at a refreshingly warm eighty-six degrees (heated only by the sun), so one gets more pool exercise, maybe some watsu, sunshine, & chill-time to contemplate the writing. If you are at all sensitive to the sun or know you get sick in higher temperatures, then this is not the residency for you. That said, the suite has its own air-conditioning and you control the temperature. And, of course, the saline pool is a great way to cool off. The folks who win The Desert Rat Poetry & Fiction Prize choose their weeklong stay within the May, June, July, August, September time frame.

Who started the program and why? Jeff Walt, a seasoned resident who wanted to create a visiting writer program that is not fifty miles into the woods down a dirt road with an ant infestation and pull-out bed. Here, a television, reliable wi-fi, a comfy bed, a stocked fridge, so that each resident can jump right into their work. During the desert’s winter months, the suite is sold as a vacation rental on VRBO (check out our reviews), so we got creative and began the visiting writer program as a passion project during our off-season months to help other writers realize their aspirations (when the VRBO is not occupied).

How are the LGBTQ+ poets selected? These are Director-discretionary and taken from the the poetry genre contest finalists who, in their email cover letters, have identified as LGBTQ+. Poem quality is the main consideration.

What should I include in my cover letter? What you might work on during a visit; if you want to be considered for a LGBTQ+ poetry award (again, generally taken from the contest finalists). List your contact info and website if you have one. Brevity is a bonus.

Can I bring my child? No.

Can I bring a pet? No.

Can I invite my husband/wife/familiar: If this person is a calming presence for you and helps you get the work done just by being in proximity then, of course, yes. Best to state that intent up front in your cover letter. Previous spouses have hiked, biked and strolled while the other person, the visiting writer, wrote. Idyllwild and Joshua Tree are a great day away.

What is expected of the writers during their stay? We don’t watch the visiting writers nor judge what they do—each person has been completely different—so the onus of work & ethic is upon the artist. And we ask for two things: an author photo with our “Poet’s Path” sign & a twenty to thirty word enthusiasm—both for our website. While in residence, some folks have completed entire chabooks based on the desert; finished chapters of a memoir; revised a third of a poetry manuscript; and someone finessed her novel for publication.

Do I need a car? Several writers have not rented cars. That said, it depends on you. Maybe you are the kind of writer who writes all morning and then needs a hike. Maybe you want to visit Joshua Tree or Palm Springs. If you do not rent a car, we can pick you up at the airport.

Might I get bored? Most of the visiting writers have been diligent in their practice. If you bring a solid work ethic and a desire to explore the desert then a week could fill up quickly. You might even feel busy.

Do you make money from the contest? Yes—and we funnel that back into advertising and food for the visiting writers.

Are you a literary non-profit? No, and we will never be a non-profit because we do not want a Board of Directors. However, we will be partnering with Fractured Atlas when we do fundraising and they will provide the tax paperwork to folks who donate.

Do you have first readers? Yes.

Do you pay your judges? Yes, we gift them a weeklong stay, so they can sample the goods.

How do I get in? The Desert Rat Poetry & Fiction Prize. Some of our early visiting writers like Kim Addonizio and Dorianne Laux were mentors/teachers of Jeff’s, so they were invited to give the space a test-drive.

Aside from housing is there a food credit? What am I responsible for? We provide a well-stocked fridge and pantry items. Visiting Writers are responsible for their own transportation to and from Palm Desert (nearest airport is in Palm Springs).

What does the space look like? Visit our Writer’s Studio page.

I have questions that are not answered here? jeffwalt@rocketmail.com