It’s a hard life…

All this week I have been planning the next book in my Girls FC series. Instead of sitting at my desk and drafting ideas, I’ve made it my mission to try something different this time so I’ve broken the habit of my writing lifetime and Gone Out. Brave or what?

Not wanting to go too crazy on the first day, I headed for the town library. There I settled at a long empty desk with a large picture window to my left and the poetry and plays section on my right.  Although the table could have accommodated another person or two I made it plain this was not desirable. Having observed the habits of the lesser-friendly commuter on trains from Edinburgh to London, I threw my coat went over one chair, my bag over another and spread my sheets of scrap paper across the desk as liberally as an MPs receipts. The message was quite clear. Busy Person Sitting here. Back off.  Luckily the library wasn’t too busy - most people were squashed over in the computer suite - so I was left alone.

Do you know what? I got loads done. I had my postcard of the Parrs in front of me and the ideas flowed. This book, the 9th in the series, is Gemma’s story.  Every team has one player who shines above the rest and Gemma is the Parrs’ star. That much anyone who has already read some of the books will know. They won’t know much else - Gemma is shy and quiet and so far hasn’t contributed much apart from scoring dazzling goals.  Nobody knows much about her. I didn’t know much about her until I started plotting.  By that I don’t mean I am starting from scratch - I know in my head what the storyline of all the books is - but I don’t know the nitty-gritty.  That’s where the planning stage comes in. By the time I left the library - about an hour and a half later - I had Gemma’s whole family history worked out. I was pleasantly surprised; turns out its a good ‘un!

Anyway. Working in the library. For or against?

For on a quiet day when I can have a table to myself. Marks out of 10: 8

Day 2:  This was Byron’s Cafe Day, already blogged.

Marks out of 10: 3

Day 3 & 4:  Stray’s Café

Bliss! Cosy, warm and plenty of light. The shop had a recently converted annexe off the main café that was empty. I found a corner table away from the window (I didn’t want to encourage customers) and did my spreading out stuff. Again, I surprised myself by how much work I got done.  At home, I’d have been distracted. Checking my e-mails, doing chores and so on. Here, I just got my head down and scribbled away. I was beginning to wonder what I’d been missing all this time. So this was why Harry Potter became such a success. Café culture!

Marks out of 10 Day 3: 9

(better than the library as I could drink coffee too. I would have given 10 out of 10 but 1 mark dropped for not having Americano and real cream. Cappuccinos are nice but calorific)

So far so good. Except… when I tried Strays again the next day (same table) it wasn’t as productive. The café was slightly busier but also the low level noise was bothersome. The jazz CD that was playing was jarring. There had been music the day before but it hadn’t been as intrusive somehow. Also, the door kept banging as people came in and out. Luckily I was only working out my match fixtures for the season but had I needed to work-work I couldn’t have.  A little cloud began forming on the ‘Doing a JK’ horizon…

Finally to Friday.

I tried a different café this time. A smaller one down a narrow street. The Illy sign looked promising so in I went. Downstairs was tiny - room for three tables only and all taken - so I headed up the narrow staircase to another small room but with more tables and only two customers. Unfortunately the two customers insisted on having a conversation with each other. I know! Fancy going in a café to talk to your friends! The cheek of it.  To be honest I hadn’t been expecting to get as much work done today because it was Friday, therefore busier in town, so I’d only bought my Book of Saints with me to choose a name for Gemma’s school.  Funnily enough it wasn’t the conversation but poor lighting that did for me. Even when I moved to a table by the window it wasn’t strong enough for reading or writing. Pity as they did have Americano with cream!

Marks out of 10 Day 5: 6

Conclusion: JK was definitely on to something here. When it’s fairly quiet and well lit, a café is a great writing environment. I discovered that I don’t need total solitude -  I found I could concentrate when surrounded by other people. However, I was aware of some conversations (and jazz solos) more than others. It depended on the pitch (I’m hard of hearing in one ear).

Getting out of the house was definitely beneficial. I felt part of the world without the need to engage in it. I found myself raring to get to town every morning. What I’m not sure about is whether this would work when I begin the writing proper - when I’ll need to concentrate on structure and dialogue?  I guess there’s only one way to find out. Watch this space.

Tags: Girls FC

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