You’re not fooling anyone . . .
John Scalzi says that you’re not fooling anyone when you take your laptop to a coffee shop. But yesterday, I did just that–tucked myself into a corner with a hot chocolate and a scone the size of my head–and banged out three chapters. Solid chapters, good chapters, too.
Today, on a cold rainy day spent mostly at home? Not a word. Nada. None.
Maybe sometimes the person you need to fool is not any single person watching, the cute barista or the radical who tries to invite you to a protest or the college student gossiping in the corner. You don’t need to convince them that you’re a Real and Serious Writer. You only really need to fool yourself.
Phoebe
Phoebe is a 20-something writer who lives in New York State with her husband and cat. She is a dork, not a geek or a nerd.
Her debut novel, Starglass, will be released from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers in Summer 2013.
10 comments
Ha, I've fooled my way through entire novels!
Perhaps, John Scalzi, it is you who is fooled!
I'm pretty sure even John's done a bit of fooling now and again.
At the café, there's no dirty dishes with your name on them, no toddler who wants a snack, no TV…I think it's great to get up, get dressed and "go to work" at a café!
Exactly! ^_^
I find that I work quite well in coffee shops so long as I turn off the wireless before I go out. Between the lack of internet and the lack of all my stuff, I'm not generally left with much to do *but* write.
I wish I had the self-control to shut off the internets, but alas, I'm weak.
what? am at coffee shop right now. swapping my afterpants for real pants and making the trek is usually just enough extra motivation to get me writing. (not that I still check blogs or anything. O.O)
Real pants is half the battle!!!
I'm most productive when I go to coffee shops – leaving my apartment is more than enough to get me in the whole "going to work" mindset!