Writing can be lonely. Sometimes, especially when you’ve got a big deadline looming, it’s just you and your keyboard for hours on end. In that case, sitting and writing at home can be an utter drag. Enough of the ticking of the clock already! You want to see people! You want to hear laughter! You want to at least feel like you’re somehow part of society, even if for those days it might not actually be true.
Don’t fret. There are alternatives if you’re willing to be creative. And I’m not just talking about the local coffee bar. We’re all well aware of that one! No, there are other places to go which can be quite refreshing.
The park
It’s such an obvious choice. On a beautiful day grab your sunnies, put on some shorts, throw a big pillow over your shoulder and make your way to the park for a while. That way, if you can’t stare at your screen anymore, then you can watch the world roll by, the birds dart overhead or the group on the blanket over guzzle their wine.
The library
For those of us who get distracted by a pin drop, the library can be the answer. And as a bonus, there are so many reference books for you to take a look at either to come to grips with your subject or just because you want to get distracted. Of course, you don’t have to. It’s up to you. Sometimes the smell of books is enough.
The city center
More and more city centers are now equipped with wifi at their hearts. That means that really you can set up wherever you like. So get a little fold out table and a little chair, go to your favorite square and set up. You could even put out a hat and say ‘support a novelist’ and see if you can’t make a few pennies that way.
By the pool
If you’ve got access to a private pool then you’re in seventh heaven as far as writing is concerned. There’s just nothing quite as good as reclining in one of those pool chairs and watching the water ripple. Just make certain that you keep your distance if there are kids around.
Even if you don’t have access to a private pool, public pools can be good as well – though in this case you might want to go with a friend so that when one of you can go for a dip, the other can watch the gear.
A university
Most universities are accessible to the public and filled with industrious youngsters, slaving away. That might be just what you need to get your groove on. And if the libraries are accessible to the public as well, then you’ll have access to some absolutely fantastic resources, even if you can’t take the books out.
What’s more, quite a few have cheap food to boot, so that you don’t actually end up spending a fortune if you make a day of it.
The Botanical Gardens
Live somewhere cold? Then go warm up among the cacti and the jungle flowers in the botanical gardens ! You can even make a habit of it by getting a year-long membership and avoid the cold at least a few hours a day.
On the road
And finally, who says you need a house to be a writer? Nowadays, with laptops being cheap and the internet being everywhere, you can work from the road just as easily as from the comfort of your own home. So why not rent out your place and work from the road for a while?
Grab a bus, or a plane, and type away. By the time you need new inspiration you’ll have arrived in the next place on your itinerary. Now if that isn’t the way to work as a writer, I really don’t know what is anymore.
This article is written by Nicole Boyer freelancer and contributing writer for http://getgoodgrade.com/. She is health-savvy and believes in making this world a better place.