Writing in Public Spaces

While I really miss having a workshop, an alternative which really spurs the creative juices is writing in a public place, ie a coffee shop. Once a month a writing buddy and I meet and for a couple of hours forget about 2nd drafts that have put me in the doldrums or why-am-I-doing-it-in-the-first-place-blues. You decide on a prompt, time for ten minutes (more, not less) and let your imagination have free reign.

I recommend it to all writers, no matter what their level, or even if you are an absolute beginner. You start writing, keep your pen to the paper (for this I don't use a computer)and don't look up until your time is done. Natalie Goldberg first introduced me to this for a public place, during a writers' week in Taos, but Judy Reeves, The Artist's Way, my former mentor Janet Fitch, all have versions of the same thing. It's the going wild, no holds barred to your mind which makes it all so exciting. Ideas and riffs will jump out that you had no way of knowing lurked in your brain.

Try it, you'll like it.
P.S. All the writers I mentioned have books or blogs which suggest prompts if you need some help.