Complete with chalkboard walls and plenty of chairs, a creative production studio is opening in Del Ray on Friday with a focus on writing.
Owner Ashley Wood worked for 14 years as an analyst for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, but after giving birth to her daughter Lily in 2022, she became burned out from the rigor of the job. Earlier this year, she left the security of working for the federal government to pursue her passion — creating a community of creative writers.
On Friday, Wood will cut the ribbon at Soulo Studios, her new 1,300-square-foot space at 2417 Mount Vernon Avenue. It’s next door to Crooked Beat Records, Cheesetique and Piece Out Del Ray.
“I’ve created the perfect writer’s studio,” Wood said. “This is a flexible space where we can redecorate the vibe of the room to create different scenarios. I’ve got chalkboard walls and glass walls for flushing out ideas and plots.”
In 2020, Wood went soul-searching and discovered through therapy that she’s a writer. Creating essays, poems and books most effectively healed her inner child, she says. That year, Wood launched The Soulo Journey and self-published two books, as well as videos, essays, stories and poems about her childhood and relationships.
“This has been a labor of love,” Wood said. “I’m just here to spread love and build community, and I just want to romance us back to a space to where we feel whole.”
Soulo Studios rents space for co-working, focus groups, meetings, private events, podcasts, and general writing and multimedia production work. Dropping in will cost customers $49 per day, and Wood is offering monthly, quarterly and yearly memberships.
Offerings will include:
- Writing workshops and contests
- Movie screenings
- Art classes
- Meetups
The ribbon cutting will be held at 6 p.m.
