October is halfway through, and COVID-19 is still throwing off all our plans. The usual NaNoWriMo write-ins that Writer’s Atelier and other venues would normally host are impossible or unsafe to follow through with this year.
Yes, Twitter will start up its writing sprints. Your NaNoWriMo region has likely made its own accommodations, and Writer’s Atelier will still be holding virtual write-ins. (Some of which will be hosted by me! Check our Facebook page to stay up to date!) But if you’re like me, that’s not always enough. I find it hard to be productive when I’m at home—my cute kitty and my cute boyfriend both demand my attention, and I am weak. Weak, I tell you!
So, let’s avoid distractions and temptations by not staying home, but being smart about it. Pack your NaNoWriMo go bag and head out to one of these four locations, which I’ve listed from safest to riskiest.
Location #1: Unexpected At-home Offices
I’ll bet you think you saw this coming, huh? Think I’m about to talk about writing on your patio, in your backyard, or converting your dining room into a home office before and after mealtimes?
Nope. I’m talking about getting weird with it. Invest in or improvise a lapdesk, grab a chair, and sit yourself in your closet. I want you to get in there with all the linens and the clothes and write. Your sweaters and jeans won’t judge you, I promise.
Maybe that’s a little too cramped depending on where you live. Let’s go even weirder then, shall we? Try writing in your bathroom! Climb into your bathtub with a pillow and a blanket, or sit on the commode and get your words in. This has the bonus perk of making your family members or roommates a lot less likely to interrupt you (until they have to use the bathroom, of course).
If you need a little help blocking out the everyday noise, I’ve written a post on soundscapes and how they can help you write. It includes a list of ambient noise players.
Location #2: Your Car
Maybe you can’t help but be interrupted at home. That’s okay. Your car is still safe!
The obvious advantage of this writing “location” is that it’s not a location at all—it’s portable! You can give yourself a new view every hour if you want! I recommend parking in a spot with a view and getting out of the driver seat, where the steering wheel can make you feel cramped. I think most of us have written while riding shotgun, but writing in the backseat could give you a chance to stretch your legs a little.
Another (dis?)advantage: While you could charge your devices by running the engine, you won’t have Wi-Fi! You’ll be forced to write because there won’t be much else to do. If you’re writing on Google Docs or another app or program that saves to the cloud, make sure to download your work before you leave home.
Location #3: Public Parks
For once, an Orlandoan mentioning “the parks” isn’t talking about theme parks! Bet’cha didn’t see that coming!
This is a great place to write if you’re a parent with kids who can’t be left alone for too long. Have a picnic lunch with the kids, then let them run around and play! Despite the universal appeal of screens, there’s still plenty of fun to be had at parks even if the playground isn’t open and the tablet is dead. This blog post lists just a fraction of the ways kids can have fun outside.
The City Beautiful’s parks are where I spent the bulk of my time when I go on my one-day writing retreats on my weekends. You can read about one of my latest outings on my personal blog.
Location #4: Restaurant Patios
Starbucks, Panera, and several other chains and local restaurants have opened patio seating for customers, and a quick Google search can tell you where to find them. Wear your mask, stay socially distanced, and bring wipes to sanitize the table and chair you’ll be using.
Don’t forget to patronize the restaurant—especially if it’s a local restaurant—because they’ve been hit hard by the pandemic.
If you’d rather not have the expense, but long for the semi-companionship that comes with seeing others hovering over their laptops just like you? Then you might enjoy brewing your coffee at home and setting up your phone to play one of our Write With Me videos.
Where do you plan to write this NaNoWriMo? Tell us in the comments!
Megan Fuentes is an historical fiction author and the administrative assistant for Writer’s Atelier. Her favorite things in the world include iced coffee, office supplies, and telling you about those things. And writing, too. And lists!
You can find her books at Amazon.com, and you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads.
