Every six Sundays, I host a guest at the Berkley Prime Crime cooking blog, Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen. Today, I’m pleased to announce that my mystery writing friend Patricia Stoltey has prepared a delicious recipe at the Kitchen. She also shares some wonderful tips for down home French cooking, Colorado style. Hope y’all will pop over and check it out.
I did a little writing outside yesterday and was surprised by how much more productive I was. Over the summer I got used to writing at lots of different places (wherever I was with my children.) Since school started back, I’ve written at home or the library. I’m thinking now that a little location writing at parks or outdoor cafes might be fun. The weather has changed for the cooler here and with temps in the 70s, it couldn’t feel better. Hope you’ll have a great day writing, wherever you do it.
I have a few favorite places to write. I really enjoy writing at home, of course, but I also like to write at our local coffee shop. The atmosphere is great there for inventing characters. Besides, I did my first reading there : ).
Writing outside for me is one of the great pleasures of being a writer and being able to do my “job” anywhere. After spending most of my life in office jobs, it still feels like such a luxury, even after several years, to be able to do my work anywhere.
Elizabeth, if you write at an outdoor cafe, make sure you wear your beret. Otherwise people may not take you seriously as a writer.
Yeah I write in different locations sometimes – it can oftentimes stimulate different parts of the brain I think. I like wifi coffee shops a lot. Our new library has a great java/yummies bar in it – I can sit in there for hours.
The Old Silly
I always write at home. I can never get the settings on my laptop to be good enough to work comfortably outside. I haven’t tried it with the new laptop, though. Hmm… Now just to wait for the rain to stop.
Do you write longhand when you’re out on “location” or do you take a laptop with you?
Helen
Straight From Hel
I think it’s good to remind yourself that there’s a whole world going on outside! It’s something I often forget – it’s so easy just to stay at home! I’ve taken my laptop a few places, and have always found my writing comes easier with a change of scene. Perhaps it’s because I need to concentrate more outside…
But it all comes down to whatever works!
Elspeth
Marvin–I love wifi coffee houses, but I get a LOT more done when they don’t have wifi.:)
Margot–That’s so cool! Did you enjoy reading? I think a coffee house makes sense for readings..
Ingrid–I was the world’s worst employee when I was in an office (which I haven’t been for 13 years now.) I absolutely love writing outdoors (weather permitting.)
Alan–Berets have been ruined for me by Monica Lewinsky!
Helen–Laptop everywhere but the swimming pool. I tried it at the pool once, but the combination of me in a large hat (not supposed to get sun on my face), huge sunglasses, bathing suit, and laptop made me look a little too weird. :)
Jemi–My new laptop works pretty well outside. The old one had a screen that was difficult to see in sunlight. I’m not sure what the manufacturers have changed, but I sure like it!
Love the reminder that we can shake things up and get them done just by moving. Then again I fear retribution if I go naked outside… Still love the bath best (long hand–I write scientifically on a computer and can’t seem to have any style at all that way)
Elspeth–And different things work different times, don’t they?
Hart–I used to only be creative on notepads, but I’ve had to adapt to the computer. Takes too long to transcribe my chicken-scratch to Word!