I haven't posted in a while and the following post is part of the reason why. Momentum is a strong force in writing. When you have it everything is great, when you don't...it can be debilitating.
Anyway, on with the post. Enjoy!
Anyway, on with the post. Enjoy!
As I was sitting in the coffee shop the other day hammering out word after word of award-winning prose – ok, maybe not – I said to myself ‘I would never have gotten this much done at home’. This is a particularly discouraging realization because other than my work office, home is where I (and most of us, I suspect) can usually be found. So, why the lack of production at home?
A little reasoning tells me that it’s because of all the distractions. Whether it’s the kids, cats, neighbors or chores, there always seems to be something keeping me from writing. Some will say that the distractions are just an excuse for a deep-rooted fear of finishing a piece and having it flop. Perhaps, but personally I think it’s more of a deep-rooted fear of my wife and the wrath I’ll feel if I don’t do the dishes.
All kidding aside, I believe there is another reason for the lack of productive writing at home. Familiarity stifles creativity. You look around and see the same things every day. There is nothing new, nothing to stimulate the senses or fertilize the imagination. It is very difficult to generate new ideas when looking at the same things day in and day out.
I suspect some will say: Going to the same coffee shop or park bench over and over is familiarity too. True, but they are in a constant state of flux. There are always new people, new sights, new sounds. There is always something unique about it. And if all else fails, there are other coffee shops and park benches. In truth, it doesn’t really matter where you go, just getting out and away from your normal routine can rejuvenate and kick start the creative process.
Home is where the heart is, and for many writers being productive there is essential, but if it just isn’t working, take your laptop, pen and paper or stone and chisel (whichever you prefer) to the park or the bistro on the corner and see what happens.
What are some of the places you like to write? Where are you most productive? How do you find ways to be productive at home?
I find also the coffee shop to be a great benefit. Sitting at home, I have the constant to do list running through my head of chores that are not done and take the few minutes to do said chore. These precious minutes add up fast. At a coffee shop, you are sitting with less home distractions while enjoying a beverage. The atmosphere just screams productivity to me.
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