I've always found writing in public difficult but tonight completed nearly 30 pages of editing in an hour and a half in a public bar. I haven't been able to work for a month. Various work and home commitments have got in the way and when I've finally found the time I've been too tired. But tonight I was that keen my being trapped on the other side of town waiting for my children wasn't even an obstacle. Strangely, when I got home I'd lost my enthusiasm again.
Are there places you can't or won't write? Does a change of location help you when you are finding work hard? Do you always write in the same location?
I find that I write long hand when out. I always have a copy with me so I am usually stuck waiting for people who are running late so I will either read or write. But for the "proper" stuff I need my laptop which is always at home.
As a commuter for years I could write quite happily on a bus - it takes practise to get used to writing while moving. Also I have spent many many hours stuck in airports and that is something to do rather than getting angry at the stupid boards announcing yet another delay.
I was reading something recently where an author (I can't remember who) said that he always amazed people when they discovered him in one of those souless food courts without any windows and there he sits tapping away. That I couldn't do as I need daylight!
But I would think if you suddenly discovered that you were able to write away while stuck somewhere it would imply that the urge was strong enough to ignore the venue. You could possibly shake it up for a month or so and see if this place works for you until the urge to write in your normal location returns.
I like the fact that British people run a mile normally David - the Irish are annoying in the fact that if you did ask someone you would be guartaneed to find the one who is killing time and says Yep I would love to! Could be funny though.
M.O' Toole
Am I always contrary? It seems like it...
partly because I have spent so much time in hospitals for one reason or another (not just me falling apart) I not only can write just about anywhere but deliberately take a thick pad of paper with me: especially to A&E. I find that the fastest way to get seen is to really get into writing a passage with the ideas buzzing - then I am bound to be called.
The nature of much of my employment has also meant that I have needed to keep myself alert while waiting for activity to be required. I am fortunate that I rarely get bored: there is too much going on in my head. I just wish that the OT people would get a move on and develop a system that transfers thoughts direct from brain to PC without the tiresome bother of employing fingers and keyboards.
Various colleagues have come to ask why I'm not writing rather than the opposite. I have even had managers get to like it when they realise that I have my ears on and, while I am involved in my own plotting, I can also be attending to whatever else needs background attention for long periods. I don't think that anyone can do quite the same thing when reading a book and certainly not when watching a DVD. I am very fortunate.
All that said I have found tha there are places that I cannot write a word even when my brain is bursting with ideas. There are also others at which I can pile through material at speed. I have no explanation for this.
I have always thought that, unless my writing became my primary source of income, children and partners always come before my writing. It can be a bit frustrating but - well - I just put them first. (No criticism of anyone meant here).
As for other aspects of "writing in public"... I'm short sighted so taking my specs off shuts out the rest of the world. "They" are busy doing ther own thing anyway so my scribbling away usually goes pretty much un-noticed. I have been asked if I work for the DHSS a couple of times. The funny thing about that (once) was that the person along from me did work for them and was conducting an investigation.
I find that if anyone is too curious the quickest way to get them to leave me in peace is to pull out a thick wad of paper (which can be anything) and ask them if they would like to review my work for me. British people run a mile usually - sometimes barely managing to refrain from making a sign of the cross to fend of evil. The trick doesn't work on Americans and Antipodeans though - they will usually be delighted to be asked.
Then again being asked and getting into a conversation can be incredibly fruitful. On one occasion the chap that started asking turned out to be a shotgun specialist - he saved me from both making mistakes and a whole lot of research effort.
Overall I would encourage people to get into the habit of at least scribbling notes any time and any place... Perhaps not the fast lane while driving...
David
I like a library as find there are too many distractions at home! Mind you, as a working mother of twins I just need to try and grab any opportunity I get (which aren't many) so my writing seems to be a bit sporadic and I need to learn to adapt more.