I started out writing in cafe's and coffee houses ... mainly because I didn't have a space to do it where I lived ... now, though, I find it easier to work in my home office, because I can shut the door and I don't have to worry about my laptop when I use the restroom ...

the place your friend mentions, however, sounds like something I would be able to enjoy, too ... no TV or tempting Xbox ... just writers writing.

I can see that working.

I need privacy to type in say a first draft, BUT I LOVE being out in the public working on scenes on paper OR line ediiting a draft. Starbuck is a fav. hang-out when doing last minute line editing. Why just yesterday we had a work party and I arrived early and was drawing out a scene I'm currently writing TRYING to find flaws in my logic and add things to make it better.

I LOVE talking to people about what I'm writing on. The problem is most people don't have that aptitude to be of much help. So Scott, what's it gonna take to get you up to the Bonney Lake Starbucks?

- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA

I cannot work in public places. I just can't. I end up spending more time looking for the perfect quiet place that will not distract me than actually doing the work.

Right now I have a home office but I also have an 8 month old too. It's definitely been challenging but I feel I get more done when things are quiet and I can just get lost in the writing. He goes to day care so that's my time but sometimes I just need to get out of the house.

For TV - I have to be around people/the team. For my own stuff...love the cafe buzz, but always feel like I have to keep ordering stuff. By my third latte, I'm over it. Otherwise, laptop in bed at midnight, 'not a creature stirring'. The only time I've ever really enjoyed being in my home office space is when my writing partner is closeby, feet up in a big comfy chair saying things that start with..."what if...".

In a perfect world I would write in private in the middle of the night. That can't happen though...because I have a roommate. He makes it almost impossible to write because he's an attention whore. I will be in the middle of a thought process, deeply entrenched in what I am doing, and he will go "Nicholas! Look at this!" and I will have to try to block him with one hand so that I don't get completely distracted, while attempting to continue typing with the other. *sigh*

Nicholas, have you ever seen "Lucas in Love?" It's a charming, funny movie about George Lucas in college, played out along the lines of "Shakespeare in Love." Right at the beginning, he has his own roommate problem. You should watch it. Here's the link.

Scott,

After work I usually hit Borders on my way home and spend an hour writing notes, outlining, daydreaming, etc. On weekends I write at Panera -- free internet for research and free refills on coffee -- I usually get there when they open and stay 4 - 5 hours.

I just can't seem to write at home -- I've done it, but I'm usually not very productive.

As for the 'office space' – I’ve always thought that would be a cool business to start here in Raleigh where there are plenty of writers -- if only I had the money..........

Keep Writing!

Scott,

Thanks for that! Just watched it. Absolutely hilarious. Unfortunately my roommate kind of does that too...though not as severely. *shrugs*

I have a home office that is great to use when I don’t have to keep company with the dogs downstairs. Now that my wife has finished this semester, I should be able to use it more often. Of course, I enjoy being around my family and sequestering myself in the office can be hard at first, especially when my wife says; “I just rented a movie!”

I would love to have a local (not at home) office space to go to after work or on the weekends and have often thought of starting a similar operation in Las Vegas. Of course, it may be like my gym membership – I loose more weight when the monthly fee is withdrawn than I do by actually going to the gym regularly.

I've tried writing at work on lunches and breaks, but there is just enough activity that is not conducive to writing (people arriving for meetings, etc) that it can be hard. Also, the time is not really long enough to get into a groove.

Bottom line, I can be an expert at procrastinating.

This writing space issue is one I used to wrestle with constantly, much to the detriment of my work.

I have three young kids with twins on the way. We live in a one story ranch with no basement. There is no such thing as a "personal bubble" in our home, to say the least.

So I retrained myself. I can now write anywhere, with any noise, with any activity in the background, foreground, whatever. TV blasting Yo Gabba Gabba? No problem. Daughter #1 is piledriving daughter #2? What else is new. Daughter #3 is bouncing on my head while the cat plays with my shoelaces? As long as they don't get anywhere near the "delete" key, it's all good.

Oddly enough, this wall of sound and activity has possibly brought about a new clarity and succinctness to my work. I don't have time to write all the "fat," just get in, get out. Certainly the feedback from my scripts these past two years has been more favorable than ever so....

Bring on the chaos!

is The Office where they film The Dialogue series of screenwriter interviews? I prefer a quiet area at home