Writers spend hours alone in their worlds of words. I think writers, and other creatives, often go to coffee shops to work because they want to continue working in their bubbles—connected and distant to people at the same time. And the coffee too. I’m not big on writing in coffee shops. I don’t enjoy hauling my desk stuff to another location, and I read my writing aloud.
My current schedule involves much mobility. I write and edit in rented rooms, on planes (I don’t read aloud here.), homes of family/friends, in my car when I’m dictating, and most of the time at home. I don’t get lonely, but there are times when I feel disconnected from people.
Last year, I began to hear faint piano music at mid-morning. After several days of the impromptu music sessions, I went exploring for the source. I followed chords and notes and discovered a pianist had moved into my building complex.
The music was lovely and I wanted to stay and listen to my private concert. But I didn’t want to be a creeper. It may have been after the fourth or fifth song when I left. When I’m writing and feel disconnected, I think of that musician, writers, computer coders, and all the other creatives I can’t see but know we are busy creating and it makes me feel better.
