A lot has been said about personality types and what spaces they like to work in. If you’re introspective like me, you tend to like to work in semi-quiet spaces with little distractions. If you’re extroverted, perhaps you find a coffee shop with some ambient noise more your speed. Or maybe you are an ambivert and you like to change it up. The great thing about being a writer is that you are independent yet always connected to other writers and the writing community. Moments of solitude to craft that perfect turn of phrase, in a quiet room, at the local library, or even among nature, are treasured moments of retreat. Yet, when things feel too quiet there are also opportunities to shake things up and join the larger community around you.
Writing in SolitudeOne option that I’m particularly intrigued by are co-working spaces. These aren’t your local watering holes or coffee houses, but rather designated spaces with open concept floor plans that include a variety of seating options from conference tables to cubicles. Google “co-working” and you’ll come up with a veritable feast of options, especially if you live close to a major urban area. In an average co-working space you might rub shoulders with coders, hackers, makers, entrepreneurs, and other creative types. That can really get those creative juices flowing or at least provide a well-needed break for some water cooler talk.
Another plus about being part of a co-working space is that you have a space away from home where you can interact and mingle with both regulars and new members. Some co-working spaces are even dedicated solely to writers. In NYC for instance, the co-working space Paragraph is open only to writers. The space features a mix of open concept lounge areas and quiet cubicles to get some serious writing done. If you find yourself in Toronto any time soon, you might want to stop by The Writer’s Centre (that’s Canadian English spelling for you, not a typo), where you can claim a space for as little as about four dollars a day. And last, if you find yourself in Chicago, you can check out The Writers Workspace and hang out in the lounge or write in the writing studio.
What if you want to get away from other writers? I can understand the need for that too, from time to time. If the weather is right, you can always try good ol’ mother nature, in a park, by the water, or some other landscape. Or maybe at the beginning or end of the day, you like to work from a quiet space in home. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to the space where you can free your mind and write.
Where do you like to write and why?
NB: Fuse Literary is not endorsing any of the above mentioned writing co-working spaces but merely mentioning them for illustration purposes.
