Saturday, January 17, 2015

Writing in coffeeshops; or, sometimes clichés come true.

Advantages to writing in coffeeshops:
  • Coffee. Duh. Or, more often, tea and something dunkable. Some sort of treat that makes you look forward to work time a little bit more.
  • Going somewhere. This means that if it's cold, you still get some sun on the way, and if you work on revisions for most of the day, you don't sit on your couch for most of the day. If you're a short-burst writer like me, you can do a short burst at home, and then a short burst while you're out, and maybe even another short burst when you're home again.
  • Listening to podcasts on the way. If they happen to be potentially inspiring author interviews, even better.
  • Creating a space that's just for writing (and dunking). You made the effort to come here; you have a certain amount of battery time left; you're going to focus. Bonus if the wifi isn't good.
  • Now that you're a cliché, you can get past wondering if the other coffee drinkers are curious about what you're writing and just write. None of the other laptop-bearers clamoring for seats have ever asked me if I think I'm the next J. K. Rowling or if print is dead, and I'm fine with that.
  • Actually, my experience is that strangers sharing space in coffeeshops are nice and considerate.
Disadvantages to writing in coffeeshops:
  • Strangers' conversations can be interesting, darn it.
  • Sometimes when you're writing, you want to act out the characters' physical motions to make sure you're describing them realistically. And when you're surrounded by other people, you may have to reign yourself in. Especially when one of your characters is kissing her food.
It makes sense in context. I swear.





1 comment:

  1. In love, love, loves writing in coffee shops. But then when I'm travelling, what else can I do?

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