#writeahouse

[carlosjoseperez]

I'm thankful with the Write a House team for the chance of sharing some poetry while working to renew a house for a writer. Such a great project. #reading #poetry #writeahouse #detroit #michigan #house #poem #art (en Detroit, Michigan)

[brooklyndrinksandgoeshome]

Salt is good for you.

I’ve been telling this joke a bit too much these last couple of months, not because it’s particularly funny or that it’s only relatable to the perpetually (but ever increasing) unsatisfied types, but it does hit a little too close to home for me: Detroiter hate it here, Brooklyners hate it there, neither can see themselves living anywhere else and everyone’s always drunk. I also joke that maybe my friends really don’t want me around? Maybe it’s the well-meaning friends with different opinions who are unintentionally pushing their own neurosis’ on me when I ask for advice. Let me count the ways:

A. wants me to get the fuck out of this country right now because we as a nation, have economically, militarily and spiritually peaked and that we’re on the brink of a complete meltdown and the Russians are about to invade any minute now, starting right in my backyard apparently. Can’t get a damn word in when where on the phone with her, but anyway…

There’s M. and her angry, tipsy, self-destructive habits that are usually tolerated at the local VFW halls where all the regulars hear of her “getting the fuck out of Detroit,” but her “over qualifications” get in the way and the only thing available for her PhD filled resume are low paying adjunct positions in the Carolinas and how her own tenure track at the local Jesuit university barely keeps her above poverty, etc.

E. flat out called me a stupid ass for even thinking about leaving my house for an overpriced flat in a sketchier part of Queens with, god forbid, roommates.

Z. is miserable no matter where he is and doesn’t care where I end up, but why would I want to go back to New York of all places?

K. feels the same way and it seems like he’s been content with never leaving his $2000 something apartment way out in Brownsville since he moved there several years ago and has been planning his escape back to New England ever since he got his very worthless MFA in sculpture from Pratt even before I met him.

I’ve touched on all this before, but clearly this has been on my mind a lot lately.

The grass is never greener; it all depends on how you water and take care of your lawn. I hate these dad like clichés as they make me sound like a total cheese ball, but it’s kind of true. A city doesn’t revolve around your own needs; you have to make it the best for yourself. But what if a city can’t provide you a living wage job? There’s always someone willing to work a lot cheaper and the next thing you know, a trucking job to move auto parts around town is only going to pay you $9 an hour if you’re lucky –I’m still annoyed about that interview when I asked to start at $17/hr when in fact, it topped off at $15. Fuck that noise. Unfortunately, someone else out there is more than happy to take that because they need to feed their family.

What if you move her from an expensive costal city on the lure of cheap housing so you can focus on your studio work or novel, only to find out that there’s a lack of social infrastructure to support the arts around here? A recent date found this out the hard way after she won a house last year –like literally won a goddamn house from an essay contest, one of those rare, only unique to Detroit non-profit organizations that I have a ton of respect for. Her release party is next week and not a single local media outlet reached out to her to promote it. Plenty of interviews with NYC and LA papers, sometime with a Chicago NPR affiliate, but not even a peep from anywhere around here. I’d talk more about this person, but it was only a 45 minute long Tinder date and at the risk of being a creep who doesn’t know his boundaries, I’ll keep the rest of this anonymous.

I don’t know, I’m feeling a bit salty towards Detroit right now and I need to stop updating this whenever I’m in a bad mood. It is nice to know that I’m not the only person who feels this way, but not knowing where you belong, constantly feeling out of place no matter how many geographical solutions you seek out, is never a good feeling. Maybe I just need to get out of the house for the first time today will help; going to see these dudes later tonight at the wonderful El Club in Southwest. Now see, there’s a step in the less gloomy direction

[mostlysignssomeportents]

#5yrsago Free houses for writers

Writeahouse is a Detroit-based charity that trains people in carpentry and related trades by having them renovate houses, then gives the houses to writers (novelists, journalists, poets), encouraging them to relocate to Detroit. Applications open in spring 2014. Writers are given a house that is 80 percent renovated, and are responsible for finishing the work and paying insurance and taxes. After two years, they are given the deed to the house, with the stipulation that if they sell the house within five years, Writeahouse gets the right to buy it back at an independently appraised value.

WRITEAHOUSE.ORG

https://boingboing.net/2013/12/18/free-houses-for-writers.html

[detroitbuiltco-blog]

Had the pleasure of dinner in a SECRET Detroit location last night with @writeahouse and @placeinvaders. Here with the Mr. And a "seal" chair after starting the day with the surprise of Easter brunch with a live mobile petting zoo little billies and bunnies along with some fancy chickens and a gigantic tortoise. (at Corktown, Detroit)

[michelevarian]

Had a wonderful SECRET location dinner sponsored by @placeinvaders and @writeahouse in #Detroit last night. Coincidentally it was held in the loft that was featured on @marnaud 's just released book, for which we held the NYC launch party a fee weeks ago! (at Corktown, Detroit)

[thick-thigh-nightmare]

WAH seeks to (1) educate the under-employed on carpentry and building skills (2) use those skills to renovate Detroit city homes and (3) award those homes to writers. Like any literary community, writers will be awarded based on their writing and their desire to be here. WAH seeks to support low-income writers by awarding at least three homes each year. We will also publish a journal of arts and creative non-fiction to document the process, work to determine a sustainable and green approach to home renovation, and connect writers to support a more vibrant literary community in Detroit. Our long, long term goal involves building a literary colony in Detroit, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

This sounds really amazing!

[discreetsheep]

free home to a good writer

[msdynamik]

Live in Detroit - FREE Homes for Writers/Poets

Live in Detroit – FREE Homes for Writers/Poets

What a wonderful gesture towards creatives. It would be nice to see initiatives like these in other areas parts of the world too.

http://www.writeahouse.org/

[kevindrakewriter]

Write? Want to own a House? Live in a community of other writers and artists? writeahouse in Detroit has an offer for you!!!

[carlosjoseperez]

Tomorrow I will be reading poetry @writeahouse #Detroit #Michigan #poetry #art #poems #reading (en Detroit, Michigan)

[lisapietsch]

Free Homes for Writers!

Free Homes for Writers!

I received an email today from the folks at Write A House.  While my writing has taken a back seat to social media recently, I still love the Write A House program and would love to see more writers take advantage of this.  If you’re a writer and interested in a free house just for being a good neighbor, check this out!

[Tweet “Write A House is a twist on the “Writer’s Residency.” In this case,…

[detroitbuiltco-blog]

Unfiltered conversation with @marnaud @xoxoCox Jay Norris last night for #detroitbuilt #grouplove #Detroit #detroitmade @writeahouse @makersfinders at @michelevarian shop in SoHo NYC. @NYCXDESIGN #nycxdesign (at Michele Varian)

[chrisgerard-blog-blog]

Picked up a pretty awesome shirt last night. #writeahouse #detroit #vscocam (at Corktown)

[chrisgerard-blog-blog]

#writeahouse #clandestine #detroit #corktown #vscocam