Where Do You Write?
Download as PPTX, PDF1 like292 views
The document explores how different locations influence the creative writing process, detailing the advantages and disadvantages of coffee shops, public libraries, and home environments. It notes that coffee shops offer a high-energy atmosphere but can lead to distractions and self-consciousness, while libraries provide resources but may lack the necessary energy. Ultimately, the writer emphasizes the value of personal choice in creating a conducive writing environment.
Where Do You Write?
- 1. Does location help the creative process?
- 2. One of the more subjective questions to ask a writer. Many writers have rituals. Some include where they do or do not write. Learning the habits of other writers can be useful, even comforting, particularly if you're just getting started.
- 3. The Coffee Shop Probably 85% of the time this is a particular well- known chain. I do skip around, however. The bulk of writing for The Shield of Horatius was done at coffee shops near my home, three to be precise. First draft finished in the same chain shop, but at a Florida location (I live in the Indianapolis area).
- 4. The Coffee Shop Advantages Drone of customers produces a white noise. Simulates (somewhat) an office setting. A degree of accountability. Somewhat related to the previous bullet: there are people working around you. Time for you to put something on a page. Higher energy environment: everyone's caffeinated and doing business. Fewer distractions than home. If you want to be distracted, you will be, but your personal library is nowhere to be found and snacking is expensive.
- 5. The Coffee Shop Disadvantages Did I mention snacking is expensive? You're out in the public view...and suddenly feel self- conscious. No one knows what you're working on and somehow it doesn't matter. Social servers/patrons. It's not a bad thing to strike up a friendly relationship with the local coffee brewmasters, but it slows you down.
- 6. Public Library Advantages Few distractions...other than 1,000's of books. But the wealth of options is too much of a good thing; you can’t begin to decide, so you don’t fall into the trap. Research resources readily available. (A big plus for me, though the internet is my primary tool.) Relative isolation and many have private rooms you can reserve.
- 7. Public Library Disadvantages • No food (most of the time). • The library has many interesting books and movies. (Okay, so you might get sucked in.) • Low-energy environment. A place that frowns on the sound accompanying your pound-the-keyboard typing style may not be the best. • You're still in public...still self-conscious.
- 8. Home Advantages Ahhh, comfort…zzzzzz. Low(er) cost. Five dollars a day at the coffee shop adds up (though you can write it off). Privacy...no longer self-conscious. Get to spread your research out on the desk and floor, tape it to the walls, hang it from the ceiling…whatever! Organize as you wish.
- 9. Home Disadvantages Ahhh, comfort…zzzzzz. Distraction central: Fridge, family, phone, fridge, books, fridge. You can stare into that refrigerator for a while. I'll mention family here again because I love my wife and kids and when I hear them having fun, I want to join them! For me, home is a less-ordered environment. Most of our house is tidy. Not my office. I'm working on it.
- 10. Other Places Thanks to mobile devices and laptops anyplace is an office. Here are a few locations I tried: Friend's front patio. My wife and I were out of town visiting her college friends, but I didn't have the laptop. Pen, paper, and a rocking chair did just fine. (Pen and paper?!?!) Book store. This one can be dicey. The latest magazines add to your distraction possibilities and there are always, always screaming kids. Of course, that is why they make headphones. Parents' House. They want to see the grandkids? Great, I'll get some work done! Forget it. It'll never happen...unless you still live there.
- 11. Other Places In the car (not driving). Yes, have done, but only notes and outlining while bouncing the writing ideas off of my editor/illustrator/wife. It's great, actually. In the car (driving). I voice-recorded some notes one time, just once. It was on an interstate with sparse traffic. Really, you can't think in traffic, but I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. I might get sued. The voice notes were the first effort to flesh out the concept of Molly and the Magic Suitcase.
- 12. It's not like school. You set your own deadlines...unless an editor does. Because you are pretty much on your own the environment you choose to work in can make a difference. Wherever you choose to write, I wish you the best!
- 13. My original blog post on this subject: http://chrisoler.com/?p=132