Whats it like to work at the Grotto?
Everyone at the Grotto has their own office, with a few exceptions. For instance, two of us alternate the use of an office, since both are mothers of young children and unable to make a full-time commitment to regular work hours. One of us has an office and a half: a space overlooking Bryant Street and a tiny, windowless utility room (a closet, really) that he retreats to when he needs to block out all distractions. But the bottom line is that everyone gets to choose their level of interaction, which usually varies from day to day. We respect isolation and focus, but we also offer each other a degree of sociability when it’s time to emerge. Lunches are usually a communal occasion, and we often invite visiting writers, editors, filmmakers or other luminaries to join us. We have a small but growing library. Some Grottoites use the conference room to hold writing seminars and classes. Our walls are an exhibition space for local artists. Every couple of months or so, we find an excuse to t
