fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2665 ]

[ SECRET POST #2665 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2665 ⌋

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Do you go to coffee houses or bookstores or other public spaces to get work/writing done? I'm curious if this is normal and/or helpful. I'm thinking of maybe taking my little laptop and heading out to try and get my writing groove on, since sitting at home is not doing it for me lately. Thoughts? Experiences? Share with me FS!

i do. i think i'd be too paranoid to do it if i lived in an english-speaking country (i'd always be looking over my shoulder to see if someone is reading what i'm writing), but since the probability of someone reading and understanding what i'm writing here is near zero, i'm not worried about it.

ayrt

Oh yes, that would be a nice bit of security! I personally like to choose seats against the wall or in the corner because yeah, people looking over my shoulder would be weird. Not that I'm writing anything odd, but still.

For me, too many people about to relax but maybe helpfull for a bit of formating or some other mindless task.

ayrt

I live in a pretty sparse place so I think the only time there would be a big crowd would be early morning and lunch crowds. And I do like a bit of background buzz to help me concentrate, but yes, too big of a crowd would definitely be a bit much.

Re: Writing in public

(Anonymous) - 2014-04-20 22:15 (UTC) - Expand

I can't. I write mostly porn, and I always think people might read over my shoulder.

ayrt

Ah, yeah, I can see how that would be a bit awkward. I will definitely not be writing porn so that's not quite something I'd be worried about! Though I do usually try and find corner or back-to-the-wall seats just because I'm generally paranoid about people being behind me. Ha.

Re: Writing in public

(Anonymous) - 2014-04-20 21:09 (UTC) - Expand

Not for writing because nooooooooope way too paranoid.

but for other stuff and just chilling in a coffee shop, sure, and I don't think there's anything weird about it, I'm just a weirdo about stuff

Re: Writing in public

(Anonymous) - 2014-04-20 20:15 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Writing in public

(Anonymous) - 2014-04-20 20:20 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Writing in public

(Anonymous) - 2014-04-20 20:21 (UTC) - Expand

I do almost all of my writing at the local Starbucks or the library, and on a borrowed laptop. Since most of my life revolves around my main computer, it's too easy to distract myself with any number of things I could be doing while sitting here. When I'm in a public place with my headphones on, my brain has been trained that all I am allowed to do right now is write and occasionally play solitaire when my brain locks up completely.

Re: Writing in public

(Anonymous) - 2014-04-20 20:29 (UTC) - Expand

I found writing on the bus gets me into a very easy routine. I take it to work, so it's 25min there and 25min back every day. The only downside is that when I do get to work, I'm in super writing mode instead of working mode. Also when the buses are crowded, I can't get a seat, so those rides I can't really do much.

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Re: Writing in public

(Anonymous) - 2014-04-20 20:57 (UTC) - Expand

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Re: Writing in public

(Anonymous) - 2014-04-21 06:20 (UTC) - Expand

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Re: Writing in public

(Anonymous) - 2014-04-21 17:41 (UTC) - Expand

I usually go to a library or park because I need things to be quiet and the less people, the better. I'd recommend it. I always feel productive when I go out to write even if I technically haven't written anymore than I would have at home. It's just refreshing, a nice change of pace. Plus, I find I do less introverted writing when I'm out in public. Like, I'm better at writing scenes and adding little details to make the environment feel more real and making the plot move. Though, at the library, I usually get distracted and start looking through books, but I often leave with new ideas or finally get to researching a thing and in the end it's still a nice day out.

I can't manage it. A lot of the time when I write I go into a full-on zone, and I get paranoid out in public that there's too much stuff around me that I'm not paying attention to. I tend to write the first drafts of stories or chapters in one fell swoop that honestly costs me chunks of time that I genuinely don't feel passing, and imagining doing that in public makes me feel paranoid and twitchy. Either I'll zone and come out of it at, like, closing time or something to find two annoyed staff members standing over me, or I won't be able to write at all because splitting my attention will break the flow. There are times I can't even have music on when I'm writing, or at least not stuff with lyrics, because my brain keeps trying to catch onto it and breaking the focus.

Might be good for editing or second drafts, though. I don't usually zone for that, it's just the first rush of words that comes out that way.

Most of my writing is done at various Starbucks. I have to be away from the internet to write and I usually wear earplugs to block out the noise.

Yes, I do! At the library or a coffee shop is great. Mainly, because it eliminates distractions and gives me more focus on a single task, whereas at home, I'm more likely to find something else to do, or my mind will wander. I like finding secluded, corner tables so no one can see what I'm writing. My netbook has a really great battery life, so I don't necessarily need an outlet either.

Parks, usually, or on long journeys, but the best writing I've done in a while was done at the Victoria and Albert Museum last week. They have loads of benches dotted around and if you find a good spot it can be really inspiring to be able to look around at art and history.

Re: Writing in public

(Anonymous) - 2014-04-20 21:15 (UTC) - Expand

Too many people and having to sit still without being able to move freely (for fear of someone taking my laptop were I to take my eyes off it) make me restless, but sometimes I write while on the train to and from college. It's always deliciously quiet, cool, and moving, so the restlessness part doesn't take over.

I don't do it often because I'm an introvert and don't like being around people unless I have a specific reason to be around people, which writing is... not.

However, once I had nothing to do at a con, and wasn't sure if I wanted to photowhore in cosplay or do some fic writing, and conveniently enough, one of my costumes at that con was MakubeX from Get Backers. MakubeX is basically a child genius/programming prodigy, long story short, and one of the main characters refers to him as "computer boy". So I took my laptop out while dressed as MakubeX, and just settled down against a wall in a main area of the con and fired up the laptop and started writing.

I had SO MANY PEOPLE do a double-take and then ask to take a picture. "You don't have to get up or pose or anything, just keep doing what you're doing!" XD

I go sometimes, usually to Brueggers Bagels. Lots of people work there and it's quieter and feels more private than coffee places. It generally helps me a lot to get a change of scene, but I have to be in the mood to go out and do it.

I've done some writing in coffee shops and cafes before now but I didn't go to them with the intent of writing, I just ended up jotting down thoughts that happened to come to me. But I can imagine that the change of scenery and lack of distractions, like the internet, could help.

Sometimes and yes, a lot of successful authors do it.

I do at home because I don't have anywhere to sit besides my bed. I'd actually do it more often, but there are no coffee shops close by and they're kind of expensive. :\ But they can definitely be productive environments!

I do like going to a coffee house or similar to write on a small laptop. It gives me motivation in the form of "well, I made the trip here, so I should have something to show for it besides getting a drink". I've ended up shopping around for a good atmosphere, though. Even in the most personally uncomfortable places (distractingly busy or loud, cramped), I've managed to stick it out for 40 minutes, but a good environment can make for good focus.

I know a lot of people who need the background noise, as it were, of a public place to write.

Me, I need silence and quiet. Also, my brain picks up stuff all the time, so it's easier to zone out when everything is familiar, rather than having to pause each time the environment changes.

But writing in public isn't weird at all. Go for it, and see what works! :)

If I write (and I use "if" because I don't write often, outside RP), I feel best motivated doing it on the computer, often right into the comment box on the site I'm going to post on (which has the one virtue of having Firefox's spellchecker available).

I wouldn't be able to write out in public because it would be too distracting, and more than likely out of my portable computing options I would have my Tablet with me, which I don't like using for lengthy typing (I like having a proper keyboard, not a tablet's virtual keyboard).

Find what makes you comfortable, and if you find that outside you house, then go for it.

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