When Thea Temple created the Writer’s Garret several years ago, she sought to bring together a vast, yet invisible, Dallas literary community, a group made up of writers and non-writers alike.
Temple describes the last three years as a roller coaster ride, with the project experiencing the typical ups and downs of a start-up organization. But just when the Garret’s prospects for success seemed grim, the pieces magically began to fall into place.
During the past few months, the Writer’s Garret has received a healthy boost from a variety of sources.
The biggest charge may have come from the Texas Endowment for the Arts, which recently recognized the Writer’s Garret as the number one literary project in Texas and awarded it a $6,250 grant.
“One reason we received top marks is because of the diversity of our programs,” says Temple, who worked for the NEA a number of years ago. Writing classes, critique groups and a reading series featuring local, regional and national writers are among the services provided by the Garret.
“If we become a multi-million dollar organization, we want to still have something for everybody.”
In addition to the grant, the Writer’s Garret was asked to help create Tex, a new literary magazine. Tex is scheduled to debut in February with statewide distribution. The magazine will be edited and produced by members of the Writer’s Garret and published by the Today Foundation, which publishes specialty magazines.
Between the grant and the magazine, Temple says her outlook for the Garret has never been more positive.
“I think we’ve just come out of some growing pains,” Temple says. “It’s all coming together.”
“I didn’t expect us to receive such good state and City recognition by this time – it feels good.”
Temple says she can’t take all the credit for the turnaround, citing tremendous contributions and support from Garret and other community members as the main reason the organization has made great strides.
“I’m just excited that literature is finally starting to come together in Dallas,” Temple says.
“And if we played a part in that, then fine.”
The Writer’s Garret is located on the second floor of Paperback Plus, 6121 LaVista. Membership is open to anyone interested in literature. For more information, call 214-828-1715.
