“I’m not going to lie; I look good in a robe. Specifically, white, fluffy hotel ones. From Ohio,” wrote Gretchen Cion of Berkeley, California, in her pitch for the chance to live in a hotel for two uninterrupted weeks to finish her novel. “I’ll tell everybody about us. People will be like, ‘Hotel what?’ trying… Read More
We have lined up dozens of remarkable authors, bloggers and humorists to review and rank the 2025 entries in A Hotel Room of One’s Own: The Erma Bombeck Humorist-in-Residence Program. The judges, all established writers, will narrow the field for final judging by W. Bruce Cameron, bestselling author and humorist best known for his novel… Read More
Bestselling author W. Bruce Cameron and nationally renowned stand-up comic Wendy Liebman will select two humor writers for a fun, unconventional writing residency that promises winners the gift of time to hole up in a hotel, write — and order free room service. The University of Dayton’s Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop is offering two emerging writers… Read More
“My computer is filled with works-in-progress and my desk is a hodgepodge of ideas, inspiration and Cheetos dust. I would love the opportunity to wallow in words for multiple days,” wrote one applicant in a pitch to be selected for A Hotel Room of One’s Own: The Erma Bombeck Humorist-in-Residence Program. Another added: “I always… Read More
I recently spent two weeks living and writing in the Dayton Marriott, a prize supported by humorist, Anna Lefler, and named in honor of my first newspaper crush, Erma Bombeck. As a mother of three, I’m constantly playing catch-up. Today, I stretched two pieces of lunch meat into four sandwiches. Last week, my son wore… Read More
“Comparison is the thief of joy, Mom.” The nerve of this kid. Even as I basked in the glow of being selected as an Anna Lefler Humorist-in-Residence at the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, the fruit of my loins had written an essay of his own. I was excitedly preparing for the singular opportunity to hole… Read More
