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I seem to be getting way behind on reading manuscript these days, and I know I need to find a place where I can read without distractions for several hours.
Where do you go when you need to be comfortable and without distractions so you can focus on a project?
At my desk, there is email, Internet, phone, coworkers, and clutter.
At home, I have comfortable recliners and a working coffeepot, but the distractions of my personal "to do" list is there also -- and puppies tend to get in your face when ignored for too long. LOL
I welcome your suggestions, and I hope your days have been going well.
Oh, and if I stay at this reading place for more than say four hours, I'll likely need power to recharge my Kindle -- and food and facilities. (smiles)
17 comments:
Becky, Does your Church have a building that contains Sunday School classrooms? Maybe you could sit in one of those for a while (on a weekday) to get lots of reading done. Of course, the chairs might not be super comfortable and there may not be a coffeepot handy, but at least it would be quiet! LOL - Just a thought! ~ Blessings,
Patti Jo Moore :)
I know what you mean about pets. My two cats think they are much more important than any reading material I may have in front of me. I've tried closing them off in another room, but then they stand at the french doors and cry...and cry...and cry...until I give up and let them back in. Have you tried the local library or a bookstore? There is usually comfortable seating, noise control, and maybe even a plug for electronic gadgets.
I face the same distractions--furry, 2-legged, and technology. :) But our town has a nice park. A spot at a picnic table under a tree would be ideal. I'd just have to pack a snack, some water, and maybe a camp chair in case the picnic table seat gets too hard. :) Right now it's too hot here to think about that though. Maybe this fall!
I hate the effort of packing up what I need and leaving the house, so if I just have to get away from the computer, I take my reading materials to a guest bedroom where I have a comfy chair and reading lamp. I shut the door, turn on the sound machine, and hope the dogs and hubby will be respectful.
The main place for me to read is when I first wake up in the morning. Snugggled in bed, I take about 1-1 1/2 hrs to read my Bible and then a current novel (or if need be, my ms for corrections). And sometimes I'll head back in there at a different part of the day, on my bed with the fan going and continue to read, esp if a ms is due.
>^.^< Know the feeling–ADD, cluttered house, pushy cat–not a good combination. I turn off the phones and internet connection and take my laptop to our courtyard filled with plants & a noisy splashing fountain. When it's to hot (I live in Florida) I go to the library. One time I borrowed a friend's place and worked there during the day for several weeks. Tried the bookstore one time, but books are a major weakness & distraction :-)
With four children and homeschooling, there are times I HAVE to get away to get things done or get back on track.
I have Thursday writing nights with a good friend, and we meet at Panera for 3-4 hours. After a quick meal, we write. But when I'm on deadline, sometimes, I'll head there alone or go to the library. Packing up is a pain, but it seriously cuts down the distractions. Oh, and our library has a cafe in it, so there's coffee, snacks, etc. Perfect!
A cafe in the library? How cool is that? Wonder how that would work... It would be quieter than a place like Panera or Starbucks.
I read in my recliner. If it's not quiet, I just have to tune everyone out. It would be really nice to have a chair in my bedroom, but alas, there's not enough room.
Becky, I usually read in my recliner. I have a great knack for tuning out the world. :)
But I've had lovely, peaceful reading times in libraries, too. Terrific quiet book center of the universe. Maybe they'd even let you plug in your kindle. :)
How about at your church. Those often have quiet sitting areas.
Caribou Coffee, my writing destination of choice.
Earl Grey Tea.
Lots of power outlets.
Bathroom. :)
More Earl Grey Tea.
WiFi so I can check Biblegateway. (okay, and email and blogs, but not tooooo much.)
If I have a whole day to write, I love the quiet room at the library. It has everything except the Earl Grey.
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Oh my goodness, I relate with this one! Here lately, even the library is too loud. Still, my favorite spot is the recliner in my bedroom. Since my children haven't gone back to school, they are really loud...well, even after they've started school they're still loud! Anyhow, I bought a fan at Walmart. It's great for white noise and even better, it was on sale! It's wonderful - it blocks out all the commotion and I can concentrate.
I'm home alone a lot of the time (no pets and hubby is out running errands), but even then distractions can get in the way. Our church library is a great place and the public library is walking distance, so I choose one of those if I really want to get away. Amazing what can be done in two hours with peace and quiet. Turn the cell off, too.
I love Panera or Barnes & Noble. I often go to the library, too, i either hide in the children's section at one -- they have these comfortable, funky chairs on the floor And at the community college library I grab one of the study rooms. All these places have wireless, so it doesn't work so well when writing if I pull up the email, but they're great places to be away from the distractions of work or home, but there's still something going on.
Hey Becky,
Whether it's to write or to read, I've always gone to the library. Most have quiet rooms with comfortable chairs and good lighting separate from the main population. And every one I've been in allow coffee or in my case, Cokes.
Patty Hall
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