Comments on The Space Between: Lit Bit: Writing in Public

I've written a great many of my recent blog po...

2012-01-25T14:58:35.892-05:00

I've written a great many of my recent blog posts on the laptop from the San Francisco Coffee Company nearby; it's in a mall called the Regensburg Arcaden. I initially had to write there out of necessity- no Internet at home for the first few weeks of my residence here- but I've found it to be a pleasurable place to sit and write and people-watch.

The noise and the human activity. Hands down, tha...

2012-01-15T17:34:50.788-05:00

The noise and the human activity. Hands down, that's what makes public places work. It shuts down that part of my brain always asking for another task, and shuts it down in a way that's still aware of goings-on, still feeding me inspiration. I don't think there is another place that is free of the interaction downsides.

I've been considering pantomiming I have no voice and dismissing folk. I'll have to try that out.

The only time I ever had a guy get into my persona...

2012-01-15T16:01:17.629-05:00

The only time I ever had a guy get into my personal space in a bar, I just addressed him in a firm, no-nonsense tone. He was too drunk to notice, but the bartender materialized instantly, and I got the attention of the more distant bouncer. Your results have probably varied, but I would never return to a place where a clear-if-subtle alarm signal wasn't recognized and responded to appropriately. Of course, either way your writing would be interrupted.

Bars are social places, and by going there you send a message that you are available for social interaction. Have you tried to send a contrary message by your appearance? Maybe by finding a guy to sit near you and write, or pretend to write, or dress so as to be seen as an employee.

What is it about bars and cafès that makes writing there better, and is there a location that has those features without the same downsides?