Better Late Than Never.

I was visiting my parents and sister in Virginia last June when I received the email offering me a writing residency at Faberllull Olot. I immediately accepted; and then, since the residency wouldn’t be taking place until October, I had four months to spend researching the area and reading travel tips with what was probably a slightly unhealthy, obsessive dedication. I’d gone on a trip to Spain with my family when I was in high school, back in the ‘90s, but my parents had made our itinerary and it hadn’t included Catalonia. A residency at Faberllull Olot would not only be an opportunity to focus on my writing; it would be a chance to explore a part of the country I felt I’d missed out on when I was a teenager.

Perennially wary of potential mishaps, I also had four months to worry that my plans would be derailed by an unexpected calamity; but I lucked out (this time, at least!) and landed in Spain without incident. As the bus I’d caught in Barcelona entered Olot, I was immediately charmed by the views from Carrer de Marià Vayreda as we crossed the bridge over El Fluvià. For the rest of the week, I walked into Olot nearly every day to wander its winding streets and admire its historical buildings, delighting in getting to explore the town. One highlight of my explorations was the Espai Cràter Volcanoes Museum, which offers a comprehensive account of the Garrotxa Region’s geological history. As someone who often feels inspired by scientific topics—I’ve written one play about continental drift and another about a marine biologist, to name a few examples—I found the museum’s explanations of volcanology fascinating. I even made notes about a few historical eruptions that particularly grabbed my attention; perhaps they’ll show up in a future writing project!

Speaking of writing projects: the project I worked on during my residency was a novel-in-progress I’ve been writing for some time. It’s currently entitled AUDREY, and it integrates prose and screenplay formats to tell the story of an aspiring actress as she navigates both the genuine storytelling magic and the sneaky sexism of Hollywood. The setting of my book is admittedly far removed from that of Olot—and that was exactly the appeal of this residency. Writing about Los Angeles while living in Los Angeles, writing about the entertainment industry while working in the entertainment industry…it can feel oppressive. Putting distance between myself and Hollywood allowed for a needed sense of detachment that isn’t always possible when I’m in the midst of that world.

One of my strongest-held beliefs about creativity is that artists need to expose themselves to new situations and new environments in order to come up with new ideas. I found this to be the case at Faberllull in terms of being in an unfamiliar location, of course; but the idea held true when it came to the company, as well. The members of my cohort—Alicia, Carlos, Ida, Jordi, Karen, Monica, and Rita—were fascinating people who filled the residency’s breakfasts and dinners with interesting conversation. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to be in residence with such an engaging and impressive group, and the sense of community enriched my experience immeasurably. I might have had to wait a quarter of a century since my first Spain trip to return, but I can’t imagine a better way to finally get to appreciate Catalonia than through my Faberllull Olot residency.