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As a new writer, I am curious about the environment everyone finds most comfortable or inspiring.
So far I have found that I CANNOT write at home - too many distractions, even if no one is around. I take my laptop to Starbucks, sit in the corner and write away. Oh.... and I seem to be most relaxed and in the best writing mood in the early evening.
Location: Splitting time between Dayton, NJ and Needmore, PA
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For me, it depends upon what I am writing. Right now I'm sitting in my favorite easy chair watching Sports Center (no ESPN, it is two words, not one) and typing this out. Usually this is the same location if I'm writing a blog or just doing stream-of-consciousness writing. When I'm writing business proposals and most grant applications, I am at my desk in my home office.
Depending on which Starbucks you go to, I would assume that most of them would be far too crowded of atmosphere, especially with how trendy they have become. I would actually sya the same thing for more or less, any coffee house.
I feel the best spots are as far from civilisation as you're comfortable. I am personally a city girl, and I get freaked out being in the middle of the woods at night. However, if you can find a good quiet area close to nature; it clears your head, and stimulates brainstorming.
My first professional writing job consisted of 10 writers crammed in a room that we barely fit into. It sounds terrible to some people, especially those easily distracted. It worked perfectly for me. I have ADD, and there was just enough of a din in the room that it occupied that part of my brain that wants to wander nonstop and let me focus on my work. I could definitely work in Starbucks.
The same holds true at home. I write best in front on the TV or with the radio on. Most of the time I am neither watching nor listening...it's just enough. I know, it's odd. :-)
Depending on which Starbucks you go to, I would assume that most of them would be far too crowded of atmosphere, especially with how trendy they have become. I would actually sya the same thing for more or less, any coffee house.
I feel the best spots are as far from civilisation as you're comfortable. I am personally a city girl, and I get freaked out being in the middle of the woods at night. However, if you can find a good quiet area close to nature; it clears your head, and stimulates brainstorming.
I was living with roommates last year, one of whom is the most annoying drunk on the planet. One day last summer I couldn't take listening to her repeat the same questions over and over (she's so brain damaged now she even does this when she's not drinking) so I picked up my laptop and went to a nearby nature preserve. I sat at a picnic table and wrote for about two hours. It was heavenly, and I don't know why I didn't think of it before. In addition, I needed some description of an area very similar to where I lived, and so I looked closely at the trees and plants, listened to the sounds I heard, smelled the scents of the woods, and was able to stretch my words to convey the senses onto the page. I should be grateful to the alkie for driving me out of the house!
Most of the time I write at home. Roommate-free these days. I am thinking of taking my laptop to the local Borders today or tomorrow, though, to sit in the coffee-shop area.
My first professional writing job consisted of 10 writers crammed in a room that we barely fit into. It sounds terrible to some people, especially those easily distracted. It worked perfectly for me. I have ADD, and there was just enough of a din in the room that it occupied that part of my brain that wants to wander nonstop and let me focus on my work. I could definitely work in Starbucks.
The same holds true at home. I write best in front on the TV or with the radio on. Most of the time I am neither watching nor listening...it's just enough. I know, it's odd. :-)
Maybe it is, but then I must be odd, too, because I do the same thing!
Don't laugh...I get most of my inspiration in the early morning hours well before arising. I keep a small tape recorder handy to make 'notes'. My thinking and connections to story lines seems to be strongest at this time...no distractions, quiet, and peaceful. While my body rests, my mind is going a mile a minute (is that fast?). I have written 10 books this way and solved many problems when I was an IBM engineer in the same way. Books by Ray Mathews (one T) are at Amazon.com
I've got a dedicated home writing office and that's where I get the job done...I like to do some research at the library and doodle ideas at a coffee shop but find myself too distracted by people watching--or ease-dropping--to get any serious writing done in public places...
I sure see lots of folks whaling away on their lap-tops and note-book 'puters in public places but just doesn't work for me.
I write at home at my kitchen table. I stick to a schedule though as I would with an out of the home job. I make it a routine to work from 6am - 11am Monday - Saturday. Then anything I do outside of that is extra. My SO works out of the home so I do not have to worry about distractions since I have a nanny to watch my kids while I work.
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