I had a house to myself for a long weekend in the city. I brought a book I’m halfway through reading and a nice thick one for when I finished that. I brought my novel manuscript to continue proofreading. I planned on adding thousands of words to my WIP and drafting several posts for my blog. I had free time. I had a luscious shady patio. I had umpteen atmospheric cafes nearby.
How much writing would you guess I got done?
If you guessed that I spent the weekend going for long walks with the dog, shopping, working (should have left that at home), and scrolling TikTok without so much as cracking open my manuscript, you are correct. Was it enjoyable? Absolutely. Much-needed and much-appreciated relaxation. But I wanted to write.
I wrote this on that Saturday evening, late: I go home tomorrow at no set time. Being the last-minute creature I am, I’ll probably tote my laptop along to one of the aforementioned cafes before I leave the city and try to churn out a thousand words or so. But so much more could have been accomplished, and I am (not literally) tearing my hair out in frustration at the lack of words flowing to my fingertips.
Just to get some sort of words on some sort of page, I’m going to compile a list of my 10 favourite places to write. Let this inspire you to be more prolific a writer than I currently am.
1. An Atmospheric Café
The smell of coffee. People to watch. Pastries. Quiet corner tables. Wi-Fi. Maybe another person feverishly tapping away at a keyboard. Top-tier creative environment.
2. Near the Water
I will never say no to sitting near a body of water, writing with a view. Whether it’s the wide, tranquil river of my hometown or the ever-changing shore of Lake Huron or a small, pine-bordered northern lake, I’ll take it.
3. Outside Anywhere
Literally anywhere outside on a nice day. Fresh air. Preferably minimal bugs. Not too much sun. Perfection.
4. At My Desk
Well, of course I do a good majority of my writing at my desk. That’s why I have a desk, right? Beverage mandatory.
5. In My Recliner
This one specifically late at night. Writing hits different after 11:00 p.m. when everything is dark and quiet, I’ve got my feet up, and I know I should be sleeping.
6. At Work
Those scribbled notes on scraps of paper from random ideas that pop into my head at work have turned into some of my best writing.
7. In the Car
(Not while driving). Voice notes on the run. Ideas hastily noted in Google Keep. Lines written while the emotion is fresh in mind. These are gems.
8. In the City
I’m a country girl. I am not cut out for city life. But a couple days in the city . . . well, normally it’s quite inspiring. Maybe not this time, but. . .
9. At a Hotel
If you’ve never tried doing writing sprints on a public computer in the “business centre” of a hotel far from home, you don’t know what you’re missing. By this point, you’re probably figuring out that I will accept literally any change of scenery.
10. In Cyberspace
Not a physical location, but hear me out. Writing sprints on Discord with people from all over the world a la the Global Write-In Crawl. Very motivating.
And there you have it. Ten places to write, and I’ve written some words. Maybe tomorrow I’ll actually add something to my WIP. Or I’ll eat an almond croissant and stare at a blank screen and then head home. Could go either way.
Aly Writes 