Writer's Atelier lends a creative workspace

This Sunday, local novelists will prepare to write four weeks’ worth of words – 50,000 of them, to be exact.

Tucked away in a neighborhood along U.S. Highway 17-92 in Winter Park, writers gather at the Writer’s Atelier workshop to perfect their craft, filling the room with sounds of clicking keyboards and scratching pens.

Throughout October, Writer’s Atelier has hosted a series of workshops leading up to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), an international challenge to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. The workshop will host “Preparing Your Life for NaNo” on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 336 Grove Ave. as well as “write-ins” for participants from 2 to 5 p.m. every Sunday in November.

“November is a crazy month for writers, but there are several ways to structure your life to get the job done,” said Racquel Henry, founder of Writer’s Atelier and NaNoWriMo veteran. “We’ll be discussing all the little things you can do to make your life easier during this chaotic month.”

In addition to motivating writers, the challenge provides opportunities to connect with the local writing community. NaNoWriMo has several regions nationally and internationally and hosts a Come Write In program that connects neighborhood spaces with local participants. There are two Come Write In locations in Orlando – the Orange County Library System and Writer’s Atelier.

This will be the third time Writer’s Atelier has held workshops and write-ins for the month-long writing marathon. Writer’s Atelier began as a Tampa-based freelance editing company in 2012. It evolved into a workshop after moving to Orlando in 2014.

When not in use, it doubles as a wedding planner’s office. Inside, black-and-white patterned couches line the walls, while plain black folding chairs fill the rest of the room.

Henry says the workshop’s growth has been slow, but steady.

“I wanted to make this place a safe space where writers can write freely and without judgment,” Henry said. “The writers who come here are attracted to that welcoming environment.”

Henry, who will be participating for the sixth time this year, said she finds herself constantly drawn toward the challenge by the spirit of NaNoWriMo.

“Not everyone finishes the challenge, but who cares? Henry said. “Whatever you write during that month is so much better than what you didn’t write.”

Valerie Willis, a local self-published author, said she finds a paradoxical calm amidst the chaos.

“My life can get crazy, but this challenge gives me a chance to push my crazy life to the side and devote a month to my writing,” she said. “For me, that’s a breath of fresh air.”

Willis said she visits the Writer’s Atelier because it provides her with a space to focus on her work.

“I discovered that leaving the house and breaking away from the husband and kids is a great way for me to boost my word count,” Willis said. “It takes me all day to write 2,000 words at home, but it just takes me two hours to write 6,000 words here.”

Outside of NaNoWriMo, writers can host workshops at Writer’s Atelier for a flat rate or a percentage of profits if writers earn money from the event. Prices are flexible. To Henry, affordability is key.

“I don’t want someone to end up like I did – wanting to teach writing classes without knowing where to go,” Henry said. “Here, writers can come without worrying about cost.”

“A lot of writers send me emails saying things like, ‘I finished a whole chapter here,’ or ‘I finished some much-needed revisions here,’” Henry said. “There’s only one other thing that brings me pure joy, and that is writing itself.”