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Paragraph Workspace for Writers

Just a few stories above the bustle of Manhattan’s streets, Paragraph offers the city’s writers a quiet place to work. This membership-based organization is a co-working space for writers of all genres from fiction and poetry to journalism and freelancing. Created by Lila Cecil and Joy Parisi, two MFA’s from the New School, Paragraph seeks to offer writers both a quiet productive space as well as a supportive community.

The space itself reflects this balance. Paragraph is divided into a writing room and a social café. The writing room feels quite like a large living room, with windows looking out over 14th Street, comfy couches, and soft rugs. However, there are also dozens of cubicles that offer much more privacy as well as standing desks and white noise machines. Whatever one’s writing style, they can find a place in this room to help foster their productivity and, ultimately, meet their deadlines. Paragraph’s other space - the café - is all about community. There, in the kitchenette, writers can feed their bodies and caffeine addictions, all while engaging in conversation with fellow members. Office manager Amy - a poet herself - shared with us how these spontaneous relationships can often lead to partnerships, collaborations, and (in the case of founder Joy Parisi and one lucky author) marriage.

Paragraph offers its writers resources far beyond the space itself. The staff often hosts roundtables, inviting agents of all genres and specialties to meet writers in an informal setting, answering questions, and making connections. Sometimes, Paragraph hosts readings at nearby bars, giving writers the opportunity to share their work with the public. All in all, this organization is an accessible escape from tiny apartments, impersonal library carrels, and loud Starbucks cafés - a place of peace, productivity, and personality.

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