Monday, August 26, 2013

Getting Comfy

My daughter, much to my dismay, is going back to school later this week. I'll miss her dreadfully but I know she's eager to return to her friends, her studies and Boston. She's spent the last few weeks reviewing her Arabic so she can jump right back into it. We have a large house, but she couldn't seem to find the right spot to concentrate on the difficult language. So she packed her bags and headed off to a nearby Starbucks. She returned home a few hours later, triumphant with how much she accomplished. All she needed was the right atmosphere, the right chair and she could do her work.

Writing areas are often subjects of blogs. I know some people who can write anywhere. I've done my own share of pounding on the keyboard at baseball games but I get more done sitting in my office at home. I do a lot of my blogging in front of the TV, catching up on favorite shows or watching some on-demand movies, but for actual writing I need my office. Second to that is going to the café at BAM. It was better when it was Borders, including the coffee, but it still works okay. For some reason the chaos of the store helps me concentrate on what is in front of me. Just like going to Starbucks helped my daughter. Finding the right place, your comfy but get to work place, can really get those creative juices going.


My daughter is shaking her head at me right now because I'm watching TV while I write this blog. She tells me I'm ADHD because I can't just sit and watch TV. I always have to be doing something else in addition to whatever is on. Just like I needed some chaos in the bookstore or music or a movie playing in my office when I write.

So are you a 'quiet' writer or do you write amidst the music of the world moving around you? Can you just sit and watch TV or do you have to be busy with something else at the same time? Where's the strangest place you've worked on your writing?

12 comments:

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I need seclusion when I write, as I'm easily distracted. As for just sitting and watching TV - impossible! I always have to be doing two things at once. Drives my husband crazy.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

It depends on what I'm working on, but I prefer my office and quiet.

And I'm one of those people who can't really do more than one thing at a time. I can't watch TV and blog, etc. although I can watch TV and do a few reps with light arm weights. :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I prefer writing at my desk with music playing. The television can be on as well. Those things don't distract me as much as people do.

Patrick Stahl said...

I write at my desk or on my bed for the most part. The t.v. is for doing math homework.

The Happy Whisk said...

I have my writer's desk in the bedroom, facing the wall, no Internet, no TV and sometimes I'll play a little plink, plink music.

Yoga music or classical.

But since it's warmer, I write outside on the back deck. Little cafe table. Just perfect. Sunshine, shade, nature. I love it.

Unknown said...

I guess I'm both. Sometimes I need the noise, and sometimes I need absolute quiet.

S.P. Bowers said...

With small kids I rarely get the chance to write out and about so most of my writing is done at the desk while they sleep. Ideas can come anywhere and often I would like to sit and write them out no matter where I am instead of scribbling down the outline and hoping I don't forget the details. I like quiet when I work. And I never just watch TV, I'm always either sewing or reading at the same time.

Arlee Bird said...

I definitely prefer my office to write in. I get distracted way too easily. I often have the radio on or I listen to music, but rarely do I have TV on.

I used to like to write out in the woods in the mountains, but I'm not convenient to those locales anymore.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Robin said...

I am a quiet writer. I cannot write with the TV on. Maybe the radio, though I don't usually do that either. I haven't tried going to a Starbucks and writing. That sort of chaos might be okay because I am not really interested in it. I don't know. Probably not.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

It seems about half and half for the writing but nearly unanimous on multi tasking in front of the TV.
Patrick, I loved your answer. Yes, math definitely in front of the TV. Always did my calculus there.

Mark Means said...

I'm a quiet writer. Not only do I have my own "space" to write (which, sometimes, doubles as our game room), I have a "backup space" (in our spare bedroom) just in case my wife gets too noisy while PvP'ing in World of Warcraft :)

I always enjoy seeing people's 'writing nooks', so thanks.

Unknown said...

I had to move out of my beloved office. I do like to go to the river or coffee shop to write a couple times a week. Stimulates the creativity.