The headline’s a little premature, because it’s not yet possible to be in the writers’ colony, at least not in Wellington – but it will be if Doug Wilkins has his way. Doug contacted me a few months back and explained that he was planning to set up a writers’ colony in Wellington, modelled on the very successful Sanchez Grotto Annex that he founded in San Francisco four years ago. I took a bit of convincing, but I’ve come round to the view that this is an excellent idea for those writers who need some dedicated writing space and would appreciate the combination of private working space, and social contact with other writers, that a writers’ colony provides. Plus, Doug is a likeable chap who knows what he’s doing and has the track record to show it.
Here’s what Doug has in mind. If you’re a Wellington writer and it sounds like this would suit you, I recommend getting in touch with him.
Doug Wilkins, a writer who recently moved to Wellington from San Francisco, is planning to start a writing community, The Pohutukawa Garret, which would offer over a dozen offices for rent, Internet access, cleaning services, sufficient heat, and a sense of belonging. His current intent is to locate this writers’ community along Cuba Street somewhere. The only thing holding him back, momentarily, is having a quorum of writers; he reckons that it will take six dedicated writers expressing more than passing interest in joining the Garret to convince him to purchase a flat and start building offices.
Rent, since you ask, would be $95 a week, and no lease required. Doug would just as soon that anyone who isn’t delighted with the arrangement should be free to leave after only a month.
Doug can be contacted at dbwilkins@gmail.com or 021-138-5050.
