Women's History Month, Day 1: Making Room for Women Writers
Thanks to The Daily Northwestern's Lily Carey for her column on the recent reopening of my cooperative workspace for women writers, Writers' Haven Evanston.
On February 4, 2020, I launched my cooperative workspace for women writers called Writers’ Haven Evanston. Two weeks later, the pandemic hit, and I was forced to close its doors.
Two years later, on February 28, 2022, I reopened the space to masked and vaxxed writers, just in time for Women’s History Month.
In that two-year “downtime”, I tried to keep myself busy. I wrote my heart out, developed and delivered presentations on branding, and served as a panelist for corporations trying to acknowledge and address employees’ emotional struggles & well-being. I also worked, for a short time, as a U.S. Census Bureau Enumerator. Then, for half a year, I trained for and worked as a COVID-19 Case Investigator and Contact Tracer for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
And all the while, I kept hearing from people looking to share their stories:
“Can I bug you?”
“Can you read this real quick?”
“Do I have what it takes?”
“How do I write a memoir?”
“What’s a writing coach?”
“Is my story worth sharing?”
“What’s a typical memoir length?”
“How long does it take to write a memoir?”
“Do I have to be famous to write a book about my life?”
“Am I too young to write a memoir?”
“Is it worth it to hire a memoir coach?”
I tried to respond to every inquiry with as much honesty and integrity as possible, amazed by the increasing volume of inquiries I received each week, finally unable to keep up. I had no idea when the pandemic would end or if I’d ever reopen my writing workspace. All I knew was that writers of all levels of experience were raising their hands and asking for guidance. Was I the person to help? I didn’t know, but I was willing to try.
The pandemic has had a profound impact on our collective need to share stories, and it’s been my honor to help writers discover, strengthen, and/or share their voices. On a daily basis, I work with clients in various stages of their manuscripts. Some clients are currently outlining, others are in the process of finishing their first drafts, and still others are now actually selling their books. Each client, each story, each path to publication is unique — and I’ve had the distinct pleasure of knowing, reading, and encouraging so many passionate writers.
When I’m not coaching memoir clients, I welcome women writers in the workspace I’ve created in my home, called Writers’ Haven Evanston. We’re located one mile from Lake Michigan, just north of Chicago, in a 125-year-old Victorian rowhouse.
Writers can work in the space between 9a-4p Monday through Friday, curled up near the fire or in a cozy window seat, spending time with their works-in-progress. Before they arrive, I make sure there’s coffee and tea and chocolate within everyone’s reach, then I tuck into my own home office and dive into my coaching clients’ literary worlds.
Writers’ Haven Evanston is a place I dreamed up, but that dream was informed by the many cooperative workspaces I’ve used and loved, most notably The Writers’ Workspace in Chicago, founded by Amy Davis, and Creative Coworking in Evanston & Chicago, founded by Angela Valavanis. Without the visions and efforts of these two women, I might not be a business owner today. Their models broke the mold for writers and let me see that anything was possible if I was passionate enough to try. They made history, and I’m following in their footsteps.
As a small business owner, I’m constantly in motion, scanning my surroundings for problems to solve, systems to refine, opportunities to explore, and — most importantly — clients to help. The amazing thing is, I’ve never once solicited clients. Not for my coaching businesses, and not for my writing workspace. I haven’t had to “sell” my services, because my clients seem to find me through my website.
By sheer coincidence, Writers’ Haven’s grand re-opening coincides with 2022’s Women’s History Month, and this year’s theme could not be more fitting:
“Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.”
How fitting, since healing and hope are the very two things I tried to share as a contact tracer, and they’re the very things I strive to share with my writing clients — be it online or in person.
Here’s a lovely write-up about Writers’ Haven by Northwestern University’s Lily Carey, a freshman reporter whose future looks very bright.
I’m deeply grateful for my clients and their willingness to share their unique journeys with me. Each writer, it seems, has lived through some unspeakable times. It’s my honor to offer them the space and support they need, knowing they’re reflecting and shaping invaluable wisdom into words and phrases that will find its way to readers everywhere.
Where do you do your best writing? How would you describe your own writers’ haven?
Ah! how wonderful! I am so glad you have opened up Writers' Haven again! And in your home, no less. How I wish I was in the area to join you. Sounds incredibly cozy and warm. The hearth fire that provides focus for all creative endeavors!
Wherever I am, I do my best writing looking out windows. Being outside can be distracting but at a table or desk in a room with good natural lighting and windows in front of me (there always must be windows!) - that's pretty much all that I need.
btw, I worked as an Enumerator too. Liked it so much that I still work for the Census, now as a Field Rep on the American Community Survey. Very low stress, stable, and an interesting backdrop for my writing about home. :)