Virginia Woolf’s “room of one’s own.”
Virginia Woolf had a point: It helps for a woman who wants to write fiction to have money and a room of her own. But in 2014, with so many coffee shops offering free Wi-Fi, a room of one’s own may not be entirely necessary.
my desk
I do have a room of my own—several rooms in fact. So why do I and my fellow coffee-shop writers abandon a perfectly serviceable home office to work in a coffee shop? For some of us, I suppose, the house is too noisy or a host of duties cries out for attention. In my case, my house is too quiet. I enjoy getting out a couple times each week.
My favorite away-from-home writing places.
Starbucks
I live just a few miles outside of Seattle, so you won’t be surprised to learn that my town is well supplied with coffee shops. There’s a Starbucks attached to the supermarket I frequent, another across the street from it, and two more I can think of, one in the exact center of town. I write there occasionally, across from the fountain. Sipping my tall decaf Americano with its splash of cold soy, I soak up the low-key ambiance of downtown Edmonds, and then I settle down to write.
This roomy café and coffee shop has an artistic atmosphere—walls covered with original art, a cheery gas fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on Fifth Avenue. When I’m writing, the conversations going on around me are seldom distracting. Maybe they keep a part of my brain busy so it won’t run off in another direction. Or maybe it’s just comforting to have other people around.
with Paddy Eger and Emily Hill
Twice a month my writing group meets here. We arrive at 10:30 a.m. and stay until 2 or 3:00 in the afternoon, drinking coffee, eating lunch, sharing our news and gossip, and critiquing each other’s work. We’ve developed a real fondness for the owners and staff. I recommend the “Corner House salad.”
I enjoy a good cup of coffee, but my favorite away-from-home writing spot these days is the Baicha Tearoom. I order a pot of tea and maybe a couple of cookies and for the next two or three hours settle down to write. A tea candle under the pot keeps the tea warm, and when the tea runs low, the super friendly owners add more hot water.
I usually order green tea or oolong, choosing from among the sixteen different varieties they offer. One of my favorites is Genmaicha with Matcha. Today I’m drinking a delicious white tea: Yin Zhen Bai Hao, also known as Silver Needle.
They also have black tea from China, India and Sri Lanka, classic and wellness blends, blooming tea and flavored and scented teas, lattes and smoothies—96 choices in all.
Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907) tea drinking has been an everyday occurrence and at the same time, an art form for all social classes in China. For centuries, people have met in tea shops to visit and to taste different varieties of tea. Tea tasting, or yum cha as they say in Cantonese, used to be nothing more than a tea break since eating and drinking tea at the same time, they believed, would make you fat. Later it was decided that tea would aid digestion, so why not add some snacks? And the dim sum cuisine was born.
Dim sum, by the way, means “touch heart.”
I need to get out to coffee shops more. I used to, but haven’t lately. I think the change of scene, and perhaps the energy waves of other creative thinkers there fuel the imagination.
I do like the change of scene. Working out of the house always feels like a little treat.
I’ve never been to Seattle but I’d love to have the chance to sample all their local roasters. I’m thinking I might get a lot of writing done that way … or at least, having to “go to work” at a coffeehouse would make for a good excuse to get an extra jolt of caffeine. 🙂
Linda, you know way more about coffee than I do, but if you ever do come to Seattle, I’m sure you’ll find lots of good coffee to sample. I enjoyed your article, “Confessions of a Coffee Snob” and loved that photo of you in Ecuador. You must have enjoyed living in Bali. I was there for a few day many years ago and absolutely adored it.
That’s one of the things I miss about living in Taipei are the coffee shops around me. I used to write while drinking a cup of coffee. The city is becoming more known for it’s coffee and for a very good reason.
Starbucks in Seattle (granted that’s where they’re originated in) tastes so much better than the Starbucks anywhere else. Huge difference. :O
Many years ago I traveled with my husband through China for three weeks. The food was so good, I didn’t miss anything I was used to eating, but after the second week, I missed coffee. Then, looking out the window of the Peace Hotel in Shanghai, I saw a little coffee shop. Tea is nice, but once in a while I like the good strong taste of coffee.
Lots of cool coffee places near your home! If I’m away from home, this is at the library that I love to write and do my best work. There is a quiet room where phones and music are forbidden as well as conversations. It’s a beautiful section of the public library near my son’s school and in between meetings I go there.
But the Cafe Louvre sounds good to me!
It’s funny. Sometimes for me conversations and music can be distracting, but sometimes a bit of background noise is good. Maybe it engages a too busy part of my brain.
Your comment, Evelyne, about going to a beautiful section of the public library near your son’s school reminded me of when my youngest daughter was in kindergarten. I’d drive her to school and then go to the swimming pool. (This was in the Philippines.) After swimming a few laps, I’d sit beside the pool and write. Hardly anyone was there at that time of day, so it was peaceful. Very pleasant!
I am not a big fan of coffee shops thus far because the coffee is usually never to my liking. As I am from the county which is leading in the world wide coffee consumption I just brew several pots of coffee every day.
However I would love to have a nice tea house somewhere nearby. The only one I know in my area (or actually country) has probably only around 20 different tea’s but the ones I have tried were all a wonderful experience.
When I write I need peace. Even with my wife in the same apartment I have trouble to write and have some kind of immersion towards it. So any public place is out of question for me =/
I can’t write when my family is around either. I feel obliged to pay attention every time they talk to me, and then I lose my concentration.
For me, I personally love writing in my favorite room of the house – the sunroom! I love how the sun pours through the windows casting shadows on the furniture and plants and décor. I usually sit there with a notebook and pen and let the writing flow while sipping on a coffee.
A sunroom! The way you describe it, it must be a fantastic place to write.
Interesting – how does it work to be there for two to three hours on a pot of tea – how does the café’/tea house owner afford that? I’ve always been curious about that.
Sheila, I think there are unwritten rules of etiquette about working in a coffee or tea shop. I’ve heard it said that you should buy one cup of coffee for every hour you’re there (or a pastry or cookie). I think it also depends on how busy the place is. If all the tables are full, maybe it’s time to finish the coffee and go. Most coffee shops also have lots of take-out customers. Maybe that’s how they make their money. Another point: If you stay a long time, a big tip is in order.
My problem with writing at home is the cats want to sit on my lap. One right now.
That can be a big problem. I know how persistent your cats are.
Glad you have so many choices near you, Nicki. Thanks for the photos. I never write when out and about, other than jotting down a note or two.
There is something about being surrounded by the sounds and fragrant aroma of coffee shops that inspire the creative spirit in me!! 🙂 Either that or its the caffeine. Either way, I love these moments!
I do the same; I have my writing office and I have 3 or 4 favorite coffee shops where I escape and write. Nice to know I’m not alone that way. Keep writing.