the finch manuscript lab

The Finch Manuscript Lab is a 2.5-month residency to support writers and artists completing book-length manuscripts. It takes place at the Finch Country House in Serramezzana, Italy, along the Cilento coast south of Naples and Salerno. The residency is designed as the ‘final sprint’ in the marathon of writing a book.

It offers free living and work space, a stipend and travel allowance, writing time in a tranquil setting, creative community, and professional development (including manuscript consultations, craft discussions, and publishing seminars).

The residency blends self-directed freedom and solo writing time with communal dinners, craft discussions, and one-on-one mentorship to help writers complete their manuscript. Mentors were chosen for their exceptional experience across literary creation, editing, translation, and the international publishing industry. Mentors include former editors at Penguin Random House and FSG, award-winning authors, and more. The residency dates are from 1 October to 15 December 2026.