On Using a Hotel Room as a Writing Residency

A few weeks ago, I received a zine by the prolific self-publisher, Marc Fischer, called the Self Initiated Hotel Artist Residency. It talked about using a cheap hotel room for several days as a kind of studio. This is not a new idea, but it was nice to see that notion explored so well by a talented writer.He asked for those of us who have used a hotel as an artists' retreat to write him and send him a line. And that is what this is.This open letter addressed to Marc sketches out how I have been going to Brattleboro, Vermont for weekends where I try to write as much as I can. I am not sure if the way I do it is a writers' residency, but I am game to explore the terms and how to use a hotel to help with creation of art.I really enjoy the art scene in Brattleboro. Does that mean this is the wrong place to have an Artist's Residency? Should we just hole ourselves up in a place and never leave until the art is done, or can we go and take in a show, or go book shopping? Does that kill the artistic drive?The main question that I have is, does it matter where you create art, as long as you do the work? This is a short book that asks what is the importance of place in the act of writing. What do you think? Come, join in the conversation.