A Creative Reset
Ali Sutherland, a writer based in Toronto, reflects on how her time at Studio Luce offered both creative momentum and much-needed renewal.
“Creatively, I made significant revisions to my short stories and was also inspired to map out subsequent projects. And personally, the time in El Paredón was a total reset. I arrived to Studio Luce recovering from being quite sick and generally teetering around burnout. It was really good timing to be there to replenish physically, mentally and creatively.”
This spring, we welcomed Toronto-based writer Ali Sutherland to Studio Luce. With a suitcase of stories and a need for rest, Ali came seeking space—not only for her fiction, but for herself. Over her residency, she found both.
Ali Sutherland is a fiction and non-fiction writer, currently focused on short stories. Her process is energetic and intuitive: “I tend to write in short bursts, getting drafts out and on paper before stepping back to reshape the stories and revise them,” she explained. “My creative practice is driven by an interest in exploring the emotional undercurrents of everyday life and the worlds we inhabit. For me, writing is an opportunity to reflect, empathise, build and play.”
She arrived at Studio Luce not just with a literary focus, but with curiosity about the story behind the space itself. “In addition to the writing opportunity, I am endlessly curious about sustainable tourism,” she shared. “I found the story and objectives behind Studio Luce’s creation to be a compelling way to participate in that. Taking part in the residency was also a way to come to a new place that has good intentions and connections with the local community in which it exists.”
Ali’s daily rhythm in El Paredón became one of gentle structure and creative flow. “Most days I woke up early and went for a walk, then came back to the villa for breakfast and coffee, starting the day with a few pages of reading and then jumping into the writing,” she said. “I’d take a break for a swim, or a few more pages in the hammock upstairs, and then get back to writing—especially through the heat of the day. In the late afternoons, we had a routine of making it to the beach before sunset and then having dinner somewhere in El Paredón each evening. That was the general rhythm, but I also spent an afternoon surfing, and we went out on the boat to the mangroves to see the turtles. So we did mix it up occasionally too.”
Beyond the page, the residency was a reset of a different kind. “I really enjoyed getting to know the other writers staying at the villa and how we found our own rhythms and dynamics as a group,” Ali reflected. “The experience of sharing space with two strangers in a thoughtful way that balanced connection and solitude was unique and encouraging.”
El Paredón itself quickly became a quiet source of nourishment. “I felt very at ease in El Paredón. Everyone I met was very welcoming and friendly. I was surprised by how many food options there were—I actually returned to very few places because there were so many inviting spots to try. The bakery and the pupusa place around the corner were both so close and delicious that I had time to squeeze in repeat visits.” Her favourite place? “The beach—I enjoyed each sunset we shared and how different each one (and the ocean) was from the day before.”
Ali left with more than revised pages—she left with clarity. “My time at Studio Luce has reiterated the importance of carving out dedicated creative time—which I always know to appreciate, but it was a lovely and timely reminder,” she said. “It also reminded me not to underestimate the power of a change in place and the momentum that even a somewhat short shakeup can bring. Even before arriving, just having Studio Luce on my calendar was already motivating me to move closer to my writing goals. And it continues to encourage me to protect and seek out more space and time in my daily life at home for this purpose.”
To future residents, her advice is simple: “Go with an open mind and let the pace of the place guide you. Studio Luce offered time and space in a beautiful and relaxing setting—and the rest is what you make it.”
Ali Sutherland is an environmental educator and a writer of fiction and non-fiction. Raised in Thailand, she is now based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in The Rhetoric and The Future of Good and she is a former blog writer for Plan. Her writing explores the relationships between people and the worlds we shape and inhabit.