If you’re a writer, editor, or reader of books like me, it’s likely that you’ve also written, worked, and read at a variety of places. Writers and editors often work from home and remote working can be a highlight to change the physician and mental landscape. As a writer and book editor myself, I’ve worked at a plethora of cafes, restaurants, libraries, parks and other outdoor spaces, and even in the car!
I thought it might be interesting to write this to show insight into that part of my life and hopefully talk with others who might work or write remotely as well.
When I look back over the last almost fifteen years, which is when I switched from my public relations and marketing job in healthcare to working for myself (and also reignited my love of fiction and poetry writing instead of my only writing being communication, journalistic, or business writing), I’m amazed at how many temporary offices I’ve worked from. And this wasn’t just after COVID hit us and after, when the remote boom for others started, but well before that for me.
There are so many memories I have working various places, and when my kids were young, bringing them along on weekends or school breaks. They were always pretty eager to go because it usually meant a special latte and treat for them. They’d bring their books along and read, work on school papers, or laugh with each other talking about their favorite singers. Often depending if it was spring break or a Sunday, we’d have an outing afterwards at a nature garden or a hike on a local trail. My kids were used to our everyday life including my freelance editing and marketing and PR work intertwined into all we did at home or out.
Mostly early on in my time as a freelancer and writer, I sat at McDonalds, Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Panera, and local cafes like Relax, It’s Just Coffee in Mansfield, Ohio. This cafe was where I also wrote a lot of my poetry and short stories that went on to be published. It’s been years now since I’ve been there (we moved), but they have the best coffee and danishes. Tim Hortons also housed me while I wrote or edited my own stories and many Sundays were spent there doing client editing with a mocha while my kids hung out with me. I still love their coffee, but they close so much earlier now and I work mostly in the evenings and try not to work on weekends much anymore.
Sometimes days would be spent at a local library, in the winter if it was snowing or in the summer if the kids (or me!) wanted books and air conditioning. One seat in the SUV was often taken by a stack of books on the way home. And often if it was nice out, I also would pack my lunch and work on editing at a park. With or without the kids, it would usually contain a walk afterwards. These days, most of my remote work hours are still at libraries, and I usually can’t wait to get there. It’s like a warm hug being surrounded by books.
Of course, this makes it sound like it was always perfect and wholesome, but in reality, we had mishaps. Forgotten items, running of errands between, encounters with strange individuals, or the times I spilled stuff on myself away from home. I remember once ten years ago my girls were on spring break and we went to Panera for me to work half the day and have lunch with them before going out for some fun. I spilled all my coffee down my front soaking my shirt and my contact popped out of my eye! We had to rush to a store for me to buy a new shirt and I spent the day with one contact in (and I have bad eye sight). I think my girls learned the art of improvising then, and rolling with whatever…
When we had to move, more property and a change in circumstances allowed me to work outside among the trees at home when the weather was nice. Currently, I still work on editing books outside, especially in the autumn when the trees are beautiful! I set up a TV tray and have my coffee and it feels perfect. I also might work in the garage on rainy days at a table – this first started when my kids would be working on gardening or other activities such as painting things so we’d all be together.
Speaking of kids and being a busy mom for a majority of my life while owning my own business, I’ve spent hours of time also working from the car on the way to cross country meets, if an hour or two away, or while waiting on one of the kids when they had a meeting or practice! I’ve also worked in the car or in hotels on trips to see two of my kids when they were in college many hours away out of state.
Much of my mom life, I’ve also had to do our piles of laundry at the laundromat so I’ve worked there as well waiting on clothes to dry! I’ve mostly stopped that though and leave while waiting as the cast of characters is challenging.
My kids are older now (26, 22, and 18), and things have evolved, and I’m often alone when working outside now. It’s accompanied with having to do the care we provide to the stray and rescued cats, too, that come to our yard. I can’t say I’ve ever worked outside that at least one cat over the years hasn’t joined me. Matter of fact, it also happens inside when I work at night as well. I’m quite used to my indoor cat bosses!
I am not a creature of habit like many writers. I love to change my space. Though I like quiet for the most part, I find the greatest quiet in focusing and actively tuning out noise. I know that probably doesn’t make sense, but to me, complete silence is more deafening! But I do enjoy the more relaxed areas of libraries and enjoy traveling around to various ones as well as other historic places. Libraries give me the solace I need and crave while also allowing me to see people bustling about me and a chance to stretch my legs and look at books.
Besides libraries, I also really like working at various Panera Bread locations. Their atmospheres are often cozy and peaceful if I go in the evening. Their booths are good to me with the pain in my legs that I suffer through during pain flares. It’s important to have good chairs/booths at the proper height. And they have fireplaces in the winter (as do many libraries) and I can refill my tea or coffee.
I sit at McDonald’s sometimes in a pinch of later night need, those few that are still open later inside, but honestly they’re a bit loud, whether it’s employees yelling or acting crazy or mopping or DoorDash guys shooting the breeze with each other, and there are some very weird people. Although, it does make for funny stories to tell, and honestly, it’s fun to get a kid’s meal.
These days, since the kids are older, I’m heading back into writing and editing at coffeehouses or the Starbucks in certain Barnes & Noble locations. It depends the location I’m in and how busy they are or their seating arrangements.
I’d also say that my environments for working on client work are a bit different than for my fiction or poetry. I like to be outside to write for pleasure or in a quieter or interesting place that inspires me without many distractions. I believe that creative writing taps into a different part of my brain. But I’ve learned in my editing and PR work to focus just about anywhere I need to in order to complete it!
Let me know the places you like to work or write that are outside your house or apartment, if you do that sort of thing?
If you’re a reader, and want to talk about places you like to read, I’d love to hear that also!
You can let me know in the comments below or email me! That’s what I mean by wanting to work on building a community. Sharing our stories, advice, and uniqueness. I want to hear about your processes, too!
I’m going to work really hard on writing more articles like these. They’re in me, I just need to make time to do them.
And while we wait, if you have any editing work for me to do at a coffee shop or library, I’d be really happy for you to send it my way. You can check out about my editing here.
Or, buy me a coffee or tea here!
HOOK of a BOOK!