Wordcrafters offers you a room of your own. Or a desk of your own. Or at least an inspiring writing space to help you get some real writing done alongside a creative community cheering you on to reach your writing goals.
Subscription required. All members are required to agree and adhere to our membership agreement and the workshop rules. Open Studio will operate on the Parallel Play model of focused writing time/socializing time.
OPEN STUDIO WILL RE-OPEN MID SEPTEMBER 2019. Email us at info@wordcraftersineugene.org for more info.
OPEN STUDIO
Monthly Access.
Mostly Monday-Thursday, 10 am to 5 pm. Varied hours during some weeks, holidays, and seasonally. Please see the Open Studio Calendar for dates and times we are open.
First come, first served at workshop tables. Also includes WiFi Internet, hot tea and chocolate, and a community of writers and creatives.
PRICING
25 hours Open Studio/month: $55
Unlimited Open Studio/month: $135
75 hours Open Studio/quarterly: $150
Unlimited Open Studio/quarterly: $415
One Week trial for members: $15
One day trial for nonmembers: $10 *pay at the door
One day drop-in for members $5 * pay at the door
HOW OPEN STUDIO WORK
We’re working to create a warm, collaborative, but most importantly, PRODUCTIVE space for writers to focus on their work. This is also our work space, and we have SO MUCH TO DO, so we will be working alongside you.
We practice the Parallel Play Model (which we get from Eric Witchey) on the following schedule each hour:
XX:10-XX:55 FOCUSED WRITING AND WORK
XX:55-YY:10 Social time and body break
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
XX:10-XX:55 FOCUSED WRITING AND WORK
Everyone writes quietly at their work space. Loud sobbing and screaming at characters or plot holes must wait until Social Time.
The goal is an environment the facilitates focused, individual work.
- Quiet in the workshop and writing rooms.
- You may enter or leave during focused time, but please be quiet and respectful of others. We’ll say hi when the bell rings.
- Please use headphones and listen to music or media on a low volume. You’ll protect your hearing and not disrupt creation of the next Harry Potter.
- No cell phones, even on vibrate. Daryll Lynne can hear the heartbeat of a butterfly next door. Like seriously. If you’re expecting an important call or text, prop the phone where you can see it, but turn off the volume.
- (Neuroscience and productivity research says putting your cell phone on airplane mode will help you be so much more productive!)
- If you must take a call, walk it out into the hall.
- Please no loud, stinky food, or rustling things. (Okay to have a quiet nibble while you write.)
- Sometimes we will break into a Be Writing write-in and have a writing tip/prompt you’re welcome to try. We also may also break up the focused time into a few writing sprints when the group is amenable. It’s amazing how much you can write in 10 minute sprints.
XX:55-YY:10 Social time and body break
This is the opportunity to give your brain a break, refresh the body, and connect with others. There are neurosciencey reasons to take a short break to refresh the body and brain so you’re ready to be productive in your next writing session.
- Sure, you can still keep working on your stuff. Just know that folks may chat. We’ll have signs to say “Don’t bother me, I’m writing” and we won’t be offended at all if you curmudgeon out.
- If anyone is focused on their work, please don’t poke the bear.
- Take care of your body! Get up, stretch, get a snack/chocolate/hot tea.
- This is a good time to eat complicated food.
- Chat with your neighbor (if they’re amenable). This is an awesome time to troubleshoot a plot hole or an uncooperative character.
- Don’t want to share about your work? We get it. Talk about a book you’ve read recently.
- Try to stay off social media and distracting things.
- Get back to your seat ready to write when the bell goes off.
- If you can time your arrival and/or exit for the break time, we’ll adore you forever. If you must come in/leave in the middle of Focused Writing Time, gifts of chocolate left quietly on the altar of our esteem will be an adequate mollifier.
SOME OPEN STUDIO FAQs
Internet: This is first and foremost a writing and creative space intended for creative production. We’ve got decent WIFI internet that will do a just fine for basic research and procrastination via cat videos. Because this was a tech space, we can do a limited amount of hard-wired internet for dedicated writing desks. We draw the line at binge-watching season 3 of Game of Thrones for the eleventh time. You’re here to write.
Why do I have to join Wordcrafters if I just want to write at the space? We want to know who’s hanging out with us. This is a community of writers and artists first and foremost, and we want to keep it creative, collaborative, and focused on our art. Your membership helps support the work we do in the community, including offering the workshop space to you, plus, your membership is tax deductible. Bonus!
What if I’m not a writer/artist? We won’t judge, and we’re not looking over your shoulder as you work. But understand that the focus of our workshop is that—a writing workshop.
Why can’t I meet clients/do skype calls or some such in my office space? See above—this is a creative workshop dedicated to production (of writing) and collaboration. We have short windows during each hour for socialising and such, but the focus is on work and writing.
What if I want to meet with clients or have sales calls? For those with Dedicated Writing Desk or a Writing Room, you get a few hours to use the conference room each month for collaborative projects. This is not meant to be large meetings or sales space.
Writing Rooms and dedicated desks are meant for focused production and give you access during hours when we’re not staffed. They are not meant to be offices from which you work or meet clients. That said, you do get access to use the conference room during staffed hours (based on availability) to do collaborative work with other writers, editors, or creative partners.
Are you a creative coach, editor, or writing teacher who occasionally meets with clients? Let’s talk about the best way a space here might work for you and for our community.
Can I hang out in the common area or sit in on classes if I have a Dedicated Desk or Writing Room? The intention is for you to have a writing space to do your own focused work. Our classes and workshops help writers grow their craft as well as give meaningful financial support to both the writers who teach them and for the other community and school work we do. Please do not interact with, eavesdrop on, or join in classes. If you’d like to join in on a class, the good news is you get to enjoy the member discount when you register.
I’d love to bring my dog/cat/tarantula/Komodo dragon. Alas, no pets are allowed (but we might make exceptions for dragons!) Official service animals are, of course, welcome.
Other fine print details:
- Room and desk fees are due by the first of the month.
- Allergies and sensitivities are a thing. No heavy perfumes or scents so everyone can enjoy the space.
A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN
Provides you a full-time desk space (desk included) with access from 6 am to 10 pm.
Also includes free use of the conference room (by reservation), WiFi Internet, hot tea and chocolate, and a community of writers and creatives. First payment includes first and last months’ room fee. (Because you get a key, an application and interview are required)
(Single person use only. Contact us is you’re thinking of bringing in a collaborator. This will require an additional room fee and key/cleaning deposit)
Monthly Rate: $475 (First month = first and last month’s room fee, plus membership and a $150 key and cleaning deposit. After that it’s month-to-month.)
Interested in learning more? Email us at info@wordcraftersineugene.org.
DEDICATED WRITING DESK
Provides you a full-time desk space (desk included) with access from 6 am to 10 pm. Also includes free use of the conference room (by reservation), WiFi Internet, hot tea and chocolate, and a community of writers and creatives. First payment includes first and last months’ desk fee. (Because you get a key, an application and interview are required.)
Monthly Rate: $215 (First month = first and last month’s desk fee, plus membership and a $75 key and cleaning deposit. After that it’s month-to-month.)
Interested in a dedicated desk? Email us to get started.