A Change of Venue
Do you ever feel like you need to get out of the house and/or office to write? Though it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I love writing in cafés. I try to squeeze in as much writing as I can, but I almost always spend my one dedicated writing hour a week at my favorite neighborhood café.
Maybe you enjoy these types of venues for writing already, or you might be asking, What’s the appeal? I have a quiet room with a desk and a view at home; I think I’m good. Perhaps you have the perfect set-up already, but to me, there’s something so delicious about writing in public. I enjoy a little hustle and bustle around me. I love a well-made cup of chai. I delight in the feeling that no one, not even the guy sitting two feet away from me, has any idea what I’m writing about.
I’m not saying that writing at a café lacks for challenges, of course. It can take a little planning to have an enjoyable café writing session. Here are some tips for getting the most out of an hour (or an afternoon!) writing at a coffee shop.
Order something
Okay, this seems somewhat obvious, but it’s a must. A writer friend of mine often refers to this as the “table rental fee.” If you’re not really there for the refreshments or you don’t want to shell out too much money, a modest cup of tea should do the trick.
You could do what I usually do, and order a fancy drink. Chai, as you may have guessed, is my jam. You may also want to add on a light snack, but I have found that I get too distracted (and messy) if I order much more. I was feeling bold and ordered a Thai steak salad the other day. It went okay, but I probably could have squeezed in a little more writing if I wasn’t so busy trying to spear cherry tomatoes.
Find a good spot
You can’t always control this, but if you have a choice, go with what makes you comfortable (e.g. If you don’t like for your feet to dangle, and the place isn’t too packed, find a small, low-level table off to the side). At my favorite writing place, I sit at the long computer bar they have set up for people who come there to work and eat, but I’ve noticed recently that people (okay, let’s be honest: men…) sometimes pound on the shared table when speaking emphatically and this can be a little startling and irritating. Still, I’m a creature of habit, so I tend to stay put and offer the occasional stink eye.
Bring headphones
I am a huge proponent of writing to music, even if I’m at home. I love listening to classical, film scores, and anything without words (otherwise I will get too distracted) while I write. If the dull buzz of people talking and dinnerware clanking works for white noise, more power to you! But even if I didn’t prefer my own music in the background, I would probably still bring a pair of headphones (and maybe even a back-up pair!), just in case it turned out to be particularly noisy that day. I’ve also found that people tend to leave me alone if I’m wearing headphones.
Plan for Murphy’s Law
In general, I like to write on my laptop, though there are days where I just can’t bear to look at the screen anymore and will pull out a notebook. I always try to bring a paper backup, even if I have every intention of using my computer. Maybe the only seat open catches too much glare from the sun, or maybe I think I charged my computer, but when I flip it open, I find that I’m at 8% battery (I feel like this happens at least every other week…), but whatever the case, I am prepared with an alternative plan, so I don’t just sit there going now what?
What about you? Do you enjoy writing in coffee shops? Or is there another home away from creative writing home that you prefer? Let us know in the comments and/or on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. We’d love to get your perspective!