S.F. Grotto writers toast new successes
The sleepily lit hallways of a South Park office floor on a recent weeknight belied the commotion within. A collection of 40 or so writers within the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto gathered in the dim light to toast the releases of six new books from authors within the community.
“The name ‘Grotto’ I always found very confusing,” writer Laurie Ann Doyle said to fellow Grotto members and authors Constance Hale and Bridget Quinn. “Like, what is it — a cave?”
Doyle, whose book of short stories, “World Gone Missing,” was among the books in celebration, traded definitions of
the Writers’ Grotto early in the evening with Hale and Quinn. It’s not a commune, nor a collective, nor a co-working space — though those labels might all be close. “Community,” it seemed, might be the best word.
For nearly 25 years, the Grotto has been home to the forefront of Bay Area writers. Award-winning journalists and seasoned authors apply for membership, and upon acceptance can rent space within their floor of offices to work. Now totaling 125 members from a variety of backgrounds and writing forms, Grotto writers freely trade advice and champion each other’s work. Members also teach various writing courses open to the public at the Grotto.
At the entrance of the office floor, framed portraits of books written by Grotto members decorate the walls. Small desk carrels, available for cheaper rent for Grotto writers, are scattered to the side. A chair sits inside a small broom closet — a makeshift “phone booth” for freelance journalists to conduct interviews. In the main room where writers were enjoying a potluck of libations and snacks, a wall bears signatures of writers who have visited, from Gay Talese to Dave Eggers.
The 32 writing offices, most of them shared between two Grotto writers, line the circular hallways. Inside, work spaces are cozily furnished according to their writers’ design. Desks hold stacks of papers, pockmarked with edits and scribbles.
“They’re all messy, but that means we’re geniuses, right?” said Susan Ito, author of “The Mouse Room.”
As the six authors took turns presenting their books atop a small table, they each credited the Grotto’s presence in their works, such as the usefulness of the publicity group, where members garner insider wisdom on promotion.
“Manhattan has its own writing culture. It feels a little bit more isolated. There’s community, but it’s not as cohesive,” said Lee Daniel Kravetz, who recently published his second book, “Social Contagion,” a nonfiction work inspired by Kravetz’s interest in a string of teenage suicides in Palo Alto. Kravetz became a writer at the Grotto after working in marketing in New York for Penguin Books. “Here, for some reason, there’s this spirit of sharing that’s just different.”
There are, of course, the typical issues of a cohabited work area. Earlier that morning, Hale says, a “kitchen shaming” email was sent around about dirty dishes left in the communal kitchen.
The night even briefly turned into a good-natured roast, as the event’s emcee, Todd Oppenheimer, a longtime Grotto author and National Magazine Award winner, threw some digs at acclaimed poet Matthew Zapruder before introducing him and his new book “Why Poetry.”
“Our next writer is unusual for the Grotto,” Oppenheimer said with a smirk. “He’s a poet.”
The Grotto crowd lightheartedly protested Oppenheimer, who remarked that Zapruder was rare simply as a poet who had found success.
“You’re digging a hole,” said writer Vanessa Hua, a Chronicle columnist.
“In eighth grade, I was a poet,” Oppenheimer again jabbed cheekily to further uproar and laughter.
Zapruder, for his part, acknowledged himself as “the pet” of the Grotto, being one of the only poets in the community. “I would really have semi-nervous breakdowns and come into their offices. I’m not exaggerating,” Zapruder said, referencing the help of certain Grotto members in writing his latest book, a challenging and new turn toward prose. “They’d calm me down and tell me, ‘Oh, you got to do it this way, got to do it that way.’ And I’d, of course, ignore it and do it my way.”
Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of a new memoir, “Real American,” reserved special credit to Natalie Baszile, a Grotto member and author of the novel (and now television show) “Queen Sugar.” Baszile was the first to support Lythcott-Haims’ first book, the best-seller “How to Raise an Adult.”
After the six authors finished speaking, members scattered throughout the office floor, mingling and laughing in groups.
“Writers support writers,” said Kaitlin Solimine, whose new novel, “Empire of Glass,” was shortlisted for the Center for Fiction’s 2017 First Novel Prize.
“You should get a sticker,” author Louise Nayer (“Poised for Retirement”) told Solimine, referencing the honor. Nayer, whose 2010 memoir, “Burned,” was named an Oprah Magazine Great Read, began advising Solimine on sticker logistics.
Solimine turned from Nayer and apologized for the Grotto shoptalk.
“Nuts and bolts,” said Nayer.