Writing In Public

by Victoria Whithear
27th February 2013

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?

Replies

I've never been able to write in a public place, I occasionally whip out the notebook every now and again out of fear of forgetting something vital but other than that its always at home at my desk.

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Jennifer
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Jennifer Short
27/02/2013

I usually need solitude in order to write something. I find the proximity of others distracting, even in a quiet place, like a library. Nevertheless, I do like walking a lot and I have the habit of 'writing' entire passages in my head while I do that. After all, it is said that Schubert composed some of his best music while walking. The simple act of moving one foot in front of the other seems to trigger the start of an inner engine; it eliminates any mental clogs and the words start flowing.

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Constantin
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Constantin Tureac
27/02/2013

I aways write in the same location. I need solitude and no distractions.

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Adrian
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Adrian Sroka
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