Why Renting a Typewriter Could Be the Secret Weapon for Your Next Writing Retreat, Workshop, or MFA Program
Are you planning a writing retreat, MFA residency, summer camp, or creative workshop? Want to offer something that actually changes how people write?
Here’s a secret more and more programs are discovering:
Renting typewriters is a game-changer.
Whether you're leading a screen-free writing retreat in the woods or designing a transformative MFA semester, adding typewriters brings depth, presence, and creative firepower your participants will never forget.
✨ 8 Reasons to Rent Typewriters for Your Writing Program
1. Total Focus. Zero Distractions.
Typewriters are beautifully offline. No pings, no emails, no endless editing loops. Just a writer, a page, and the sound of words being born. Perfect for workshops focused on flow, discipline, or first-draft breakthroughs.
“I got more done in three hours on a typewriter than I usually do in a whole weekend with my laptop.” – Writer, Vermont Residency
2. Build Real Writing Muscles
Typewriters force writers to slow down, commit to their words, and embrace the rhythm of thinking before typing. For students in MFA programs or attendees at professional intensives, it’s a radical (and refreshing) return to craft.
3. Perfect for Camps and Young Writers
Want to give teens or college students a tangible, unforgettable writing experience? Rent a few manual typewriters for your creative camp. Suddenly, writing isn’t a chore—it’s an event.
4. First Drafts, Not Final Drafts
On a laptop, writers can get stuck in a loop of editing before finishing a thought. Typewriters remove the urge to perfect every sentence mid-stream. Ideal for freewrites, experimental fiction, and poetry sessions.
5. Create a Literary Vibe
Nothing sets the tone quite like the clack of vintage keys and a row of Olivettis or Royals in a quiet room. Your space transforms from “writing class” to “Paris in the '30s.”
Great for residencies, salons, and creative spaces looking to elevate the mood.
6. Low-Cost, High-Impact
Buying a typewriter can be expensive, especially for programs with limited budgets. Renting lets you access high-quality machines for the time you need—without the commitment.
It’s a small investment that makes a huge impact.
7. Digital Detox with a Purpose
So many people are looking to unplug. Offering typewriters shows that your program isn’t just screen-free—it’s designed to support deep, meaningful writing.
8. Memorable Moments that Last
When participants leave your program, they’ll remember the work they did—and how they did it. A typewritten page is a physical artifact of their progress, ready to hang on a wall or tuck into a journal.
🌲 Perfect For:
Writing retreats & residencies
MFA programs and low-residency intensives
Creative writing summer camps
Memoir and poetry workshops
High school and college writing programs
Journaling or therapeutic writing circles
🔧 How Typewriter Rentals Work
Most rental programs offer:
A curated selection of vintage or modern manual typewriters
Maintenance and tuning before delivery
Optional ribbons and paper bundles
Weekly or monthly rental packages
Shipping directly to your venue or classroom
You can even rent a full “Typewriter Bar” with multiple machines for group settings.
💡 Pro Tip:
Add a Type-In to your schedule—a time when everyone writes together on typewriters. It creates an atmosphere of focus, connection, and literary magic. Bonus points for candlelight and jazz.
Ready to Bring Typewriters to Your Program?
Renting typewriters isn't just about vintage charm. It’s a strategic, soulful decision that sets your writing program apart. Whether you're nurturing young talent, guiding MFA students, or hosting deep creative work in nature, the typewriter delivers.
Curious where to start?
Search for typewriter rentals for writing retreats, or contact a provider who specializes in screenless writing tools for educators and artists.
Because sometimes, the best way forward… is to go analog.