Where I Write
Being a writer in the digital age means answering a lot of questions via email. Whereas in the past it was relatively difficult to reach out to your favorite author or writer, today it can happen with the tapping of a few keys and the click of a send button. I like this. Not only as someone who receives a great deal of emails from readers (Yes. I’m using the term “readers” instead of “fans” as, believe me, not everyone who sends me an email is a fan of me or my work.) but as someone who often tracks down and writes to the writers whose work I enjoy. Although most of what I receive via email is actually praise, most of what I get are questions. “What’s your favorite country to hunt?” South Africa. “How did you get interested in writing?” Long story. “What’s your favorite cigar” Atabey or Croatia Mafia. “Are you really as cool as your public persona?” Moreso. “Where do you write?” Let me tell you…
Where writers write is a question I’m very interested in as it varies wildly, usually involves some pretty cool insight into how that person thinks, and, more so than not, segues into a long stream of consciousness that involves a lot of other factors. A good example of the latter is Ernest Hemingway. He wrote almost everywhere and everywhere he wrote is another story in upon itself. Papa used to write on his fishing boat, the Pilar, during downtime, at cafes when in Paris, and, of course, in bars. He famously wrote (and drank – a lot in) the El Floridita and La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, Sloppy Joe’s in Key West, and at the Bar at the Hôtel Ritz in Paris. I used to write a lot in bars when I traveled, but none of them were as upscale or notable as these unless you think the Chili’s at the DFW Airport is cool. How about the TGI Friday’s in the Atlanta Airport?
At the other end of the spectrum is John Bloom aka Joe Bob Briggs. He told me, “People ask, ‘Where do you go to write?’ They give me that, ‘Do you write in Starbucks? Do you write in this place? That place?’ And my answer is always, ‘Whatever is the most boring place I can find with a blank wall.’ So that I'm forced to confront the blank page. Not a popular answer, but it's sort of the most truthful answer I can come up with.”
I like Hemingway’s ideas on where to write better.
These days, I mostly write at home. The problem with that, was that when I moved into my new home a year ago, I had no real place to write. Thus, I reached out to Randy Simmons, owner / operator of RL Simmons Builder. He and I sat down for cigars at Tabak Haus here in Fred, and I told him that I was looking for an outdoor office. Randy then met with my wife who said she was looking for an outdoor oasis. Somehow Randy brought these ideas together to create my new writing space. The area encompasses just under 300 square feet, is constructed of weatherproof materials for durability and longevity, and features outdoor lighting, cooling, and a television with surround sound. Add in all the plants my wife can fit under the roof and some outdoor furniture from Costco and I’ve got a place where I can sit, enjoy a cigar (preferably an Atabey or Croatia Mafia), and transfer thoughts to paper then to a computer. It’s also a great place to watch football.
Truth be told I can, and have, written just about everywhere. I’ve written in small rooms, bars and restaurants, on planes and boats, in an office, and on the beach. It’s just nice to finally have a dedicated place where I can do such.
This piece first appeared in the Fredericksburg Standard.
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