Virtual Writers Colony

A handful of us on Twitter (@NateCrowder, @BeritEllingsen, @SolangeNoir, @GrumpyMartian, @ChrisGNguyen, @MelissaDominic ) have banded together… um, decided to consider ourselves part of eachother’s Virtual Writer’s Colony (#ViWriCo). Since we’re spread around the world and across the country, we’re probably all going to have to travel, so location is wide open. Nate tweeted out his own ideal of what this would look like, and asked us what ours would be.

So herewith, my personal take on the ideal setting for a real world writer’s colony, should any of us somehow find ourselves in possession of millions and millions of dollars not earmarked for anything else.

I would set it in Mendocino, California (I thought about going someplace more exotic like Greece, but then nobody would want to stay indoors and write). I’ve always wanted to go there, and for those who remember “Murder, She Wrote” that’s where it was filmed. I have a thing for rugged coastlines. It’s similar to the Oregon coast which I love, but the weather is better! I like Nate’s idea of separate cottages for each of us, so I’d put a row of cottages overlooking the ocean, and there would be redwoods nearby for hiking. The town is bikable, or walkable, plenty to see and do if we get bored or need to get a massage. The beach would be right there for those mandatory long walks while we work out plot details.

The cottages would have a bedroom, sitting/work area with desk and chair, kitchenette if you want to closet yourself away. They would all lead to a ‘clubhouse’ building, where we could gather to talk, get critiques, take meals together indoors or out. I’d have each cottage decorated in a different theme –

1920s art deco,

Victorian hunting lodge,

French country,

Spanish mission,

contemporary,

American colonial,

1950s,

Southwestern (for Nate)

I think we’ve got a spare there but no doubt the colony will increase by one or two.

I’d also have a fabulous library built on the property. If you’re gonna dream, dream big!