This guest post comes to you via Nick Baron!
Coffee Shop
Writing: The Tools You’ll Need
Writing at a
cafe is an opportunity to get some work done outside of the home. If
you want to go beyond a standard cup of joe, you will need a few
bucks. Add a pastry, and you will spend at least a fiver. Most
cappuccino cravers consider this a small price to pay for a
caffeinated boost and a sweet treat. For my job at Grammarly, I
interact with a lot of writers. They have given me the inside scoop
on how to write at cafes and what tools they need. Here are just a
few of the steps I have learned from the pros.
1. Ask before
you order.
You can’t
assume that every cafe has wireless internet, or that internet access
is free. If you are visiting a new location, take the time to ask. If
they do not have it, you can always go somewhere else. Otherwise, you
will have to suffer without the Internet or go to another location
after you drink your beverage.
Note: The
Internet password is usually printed on your receipt or posted on the
wall.
2. Invest in
portable tools.
Most coffee shop writers use laptop computers. Tablets, even with a
keyboard, are a little cramped. Charge your laptop fully at home.
Even if you bring your power cord, there may be fierce competition
for an outlet.
Some writers like the dull hum of background noise or piped music. If
you prefer, bring a pair of headphones and listen to the music of
your choice. Online radio stations, like
Pandora,
learn your preferences and play lots of songs that you like.
Rather than weighing down your bag with style guides and books,
research using downloadable or online versions of these texts.
Online
proofreading programs make it easy to edit on the go.
Google
Docs provides access to your documents on multiple
computers. An app called
Pocket
allows you to save pages that you want to read
offline.
3. Be comfy.
4. Take
advantage of the perks.
Does your
local cafe offer a frequent customer card? You may be able to earn a
discount or a free item from time to time. Some locations provide a
regular discount for seniors. Around Christmastime, you may see
promotions that offer a free bonus gift card of $5-10 when you buy
one of a larger denomination like $25. You are not a Scrooge if you
use them both for yourself! View the extra card as a discount.
You may think that it’s cool to invite a friend to meet you. You
assume that you will both work on your individual projects, with just
the occasional smile over the top of the monitor. Unless you have the
willpower of a Zen master, however, you and your buddy may spend more
time talking than working. If you are under a deadline, it is
probably best to focus on your writing without the distraction of a
friendly face. Meet with your buddy as a celebration for completing
your project.
Cafes provide a
great environment for writing. You can people-watch during your
breaks from writing and avoid distractions that might crop up at
home. You can sip on your tea and relax. If you will write there
often, keep a “cafe” bag packed with your sweater, extra charger,
and discount cards. I would ask to come along, but I already know
what you should say!
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Bio:
Nikolas discovered his love for the written word in Elementary
School, where he started spending his afternoons sprawled across the
living room floor devouring one Marc Brown children’s novel after
the other and writing short stories about daring pirate adventures.
After acquiring some experience in various marketing, business
development, and hiring roles at internet startups in a few different
countries, he decided to re-unite his professional life with his
childhood passions by joining Grammarly’s marketing team in San
Francisco. He has the pleasure of being tasked with talking to
writers, bloggers, teachers, and others about how they use
Grammarly’s online proofreading application to improve their
writing. His free time is spent biking, travelling, and reading.
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