i'm a writer -- I wrote one book from home (in an office with a door that closes).

when I was a reporter I often wrote articles from Big Bear Cafe or Tryst.

There is something about being in a cafe this is motivating -- they bring you food, there is just enough distraction to actively tune out -- sometimes the quiet of the house lends itself to too much ruminating, but when I'm at a cafe, the hum of the crowd somehow makes me focus on my writing more intensely.

For books, my home office is useful, because the books i'm referencing/my structure are all laid out in front of me. Agree with a PP that it's useful to have a quota. I would set a work count goal per week (like 3,000 words per week) and then track how much I accomplished per day.

If you get there when they open, you can write in the cafe of Politics & Prose on Connecticut Ave. during the week there is free wifi but not on w'ends.

Anonymous wrote:Pre-Covid I would occasionally write at Whole Foods in Tenley. It is not crowded at all before lunch, so you could buy a muffin and sit from 8-12.

Now I've gotten adjusted to writing at home. I write in a Google Doc. I use headings, so I can see each chapter on the left panel. I was tempted to try Scrivener because everyone seems to love it, but this is working for me. I'm afraid of too many bells and whistles. I have another doc for research (with multiple level headings), so I toggle between the two.

Use whatever works!

I have adhd, and would often end up with so many docs with info related to my book. And it would span app. I’d have stuff in google docs, iCloud, in Notes on my phone, saved URLs, pictures, emails to myself. It was madness for me.

Scrivener was really just a place for me to put it all without having a million places. Made it easier for me.

I think whatever system that gets your words down is the right system. Hope to read your book!

Pre-Covid I would occasionally write at Whole Foods in Tenley. It is not crowded at all before lunch, so you could buy a muffin and sit from 8-12.

Now I've gotten adjusted to writing at home. I write in a Google Doc. I use headings, so I can see each chapter on the left panel. I was tempted to try Scrivener because everyone seems to love it, but this is working for me. I'm afraid of too many bells and whistles. I have another doc for research (with multiple level headings), so I toggle between the two.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the Strict Pomodoro tip!

I think it might be called Strict Workflow now. I have an old version, but there are several Pomodoro tools out there. Glad to see some other Scrivener fans!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I usually write in my home office with headphones on to block out everything but my partner has been WFH since covid times. They colonized my office and won't leave. So now, when I can't get anything done at the kitchen table, I go to the library and find the quietest spot. I'm way too easily distracted to survive in a coffee shop.

The WFH is down to 2 days a week now so I'm finally returning to my normal routine.

A random tip: I like a browser plugin/app called Strict Pomodoro. I set it to 25-minute intervals with 5-minute breaks; it locks me out of anything but Scrivener (my current favorite writing app) and that keeps me on task. Not exaggerating when I say that pomodoro-style work was a life changer for me.

I honestly don’t know how I wrote before scrivener. It’s amazing.

Another writer here and I also wrote a book entirely from home. I love Scrivener too, it’s the only way I can manage to bounce around 300 pages of draft without losing my mind, plus you can store notes, links, and even pictures from your research all in one place on Scrivener. Thanks for the Strict Pomodoro tip!

Anonymous wrote:I usually write in my home office with headphones on to block out everything but my partner has been WFH since covid times. They colonized my office and won't leave. So now, when I can't get anything done at the kitchen table, I go to the library and find the quietest spot. I'm way too easily distracted to survive in a coffee shop.

The WFH is down to 2 days a week now so I'm finally returning to my normal routine.

A random tip: I like a browser plugin/app called Strict Pomodoro. I set it to 25-minute intervals with 5-minute breaks; it locks me out of anything but Scrivener (my current favorite writing app) and that keeps me on task. Not exaggerating when I say that pomodoro-style work was a life changer for me.

I honestly don’t know how I wrote before scrivener. It’s amazing.

I usually write in my home office with headphones on to block out everything but my partner has been WFH since covid times. They colonized my office and won't leave. So now, when I can't get anything done at the kitchen table, I go to the library and find the quietest spot. I'm way too easily distracted to survive in a coffee shop.

The WFH is down to 2 days a week now so I'm finally returning to my normal routine.

A random tip: I like a browser plugin/app called Strict Pomodoro. I set it to 25-minute intervals with 5-minute breaks; it locks me out of anything but Scrivener (my current favorite writing app) and that keeps me on task. Not exaggerating when I say that pomodoro-style work was a life changer for me.

I don't write in public places. I need quiet and solitude, everything else is too distracting. Same for when I am editing my work - focus, quiet etc.

I love reading tips/tricks/comments from writers, so thanks to those who are commenting here! Please keep this going.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t need a writing group to keep me accountable — that’s what my agent and editor do.

I write from home, or the library, or when I want to treat myself I write at Tatte in Bethesda.

I know plenty of published author friends who have longterm writers groups they depend on. Deadlines keep me accountable, but I love my small, trusted circle of writer friends who are willing to discuss plot, industry or whatever. But OP might not be published; she might not have an agent, editor or deadline for accountability.

I think he/she would be better off reading the other thread on motivational books to put together a plan to make progress--whether she is under contract or not.

I don’t need a writing group to keep me accountable — that’s what my agent and editor do.

I write from home, or the library, or when I want to treat myself I write at Tatte in Bethesda.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wrote a book and did it all from home. I cannot work in places like Starbucks--too many distractions. Plus I needed my references nearby.

Thanks. I'm getting nowhere at home. I thought sitting somewhere else would be helpful.

Author pp here again. You need a writing group to make you accountable. So many pages due in a particular time frame and then you all critique and discuss. Check out The Writer's Center in Bethesda.

Another author here. I developed the habit of seat in the chair. First fiction writing professor started class with that. Professional writers write. So I gave myself a quota of pages to achieve per day (five days a week) while writing a first draft. I then keep track of the pages on the calendar. Goal: 6 pages Completed 6 pages. Some days it was more. I had to get those pages done, even if the first draft was cr*p. Momentum creates momentum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wrote a book and did it all from home. I cannot work in places like Starbucks--too many distractions. Plus I needed my references nearby.

Thanks. I'm getting nowhere at home. I thought sitting somewhere else would be helpful.

Author pp here again. You need a writing group to make you accountable. So many pages due in a particular time frame and then you all critique and discuss. Check out The Writer's Center in Bethesda.

Go for a walk and come back to your work, it's much more productive and less time wasting.