You know our city is famous for horses, bourbon, and the Wildcats. You might even know that US Poet Laureate Ada Limon + Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House call Lexington home. But did you know the Horse Capital of the World plays host to an impressive + expanding writing scene?
At the center is the Lexington Writer’s Room, a collaborative High Street work space designed to welcome newcomers to the literary world, while offering opportunities for growth to everyone who enters. There’s just one problem — after five years of fostering creativity + originality, the Lexington Writer’s Room (LWR) may be looking for a new home, or even saying goodbye.
LWR is a nonprofit + co-working space where people actively engaged in a writing project can come to socialize, network, and write. Nearly 100 writers in the 859 and beyond call the space home. Fun fact: City Editor Sam credits his time at the LWR with jump starting his writing career.
Thanks to virtual memberships, writers around the globe are able to connect to online networking, as well as open mic + workshop opportunities throughout the year.
The open desk, in-person membership includes all of that, plus 24/7 access to the space, a well-stocked snack counter, and all the Diet Coke an aspiring author can drink. Plus professional headshots every two years (like one for a book jacket) , all for $50 per month.
The centerpiece of the LWR’s mission of inclusion is the need-based membership. Members of historically marginalized communities or individuals with significant financial need are able to join LWR through subsidized subscriptions.
Bookish bonafides
More than just a calm space for local creatives, LWR creates opportunities to learn from other writers + rub shoulders with popular authors, poets, and literary luminaries.
- Co-founder and board chair Gwenda Bond is the New York Times bestselling author of “Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds”, “The Frame Up”, and City Editor Sam’s personal favorite of Bond’s, “Not Your Average Hot Guy.”
- Award-winning poet Katerina Stoykova is a prolific creator of writing groups, as well as the founder of Accents Publishing, a local independent press.
- David Arnold is another notable member whose novels, including “The Electric Kingdom” and “Mosquitoland”, have appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
How you can support
According to an open letter released earlier this month, the LWR needs to raise $75,000 by March 1st to stay in their current location and continue to serve the Lexington creative community.
Here’s how you can help:
- Schedule a tour — Becoming a member is the most straightforward way to support a worthwhile community while enjoying all of its benefits.
- Make a donation — No amount is too small, or too large. Corporate and individual donors interested in supporting a unique charitable organization are encouraged to contact the board of directors
- Become a partner — Any group with shared values seeking strategic partnerships for workshops or events can contact the Executive Director.
