Hemingway's Ghost
I found myself at Borders again yesterday, I love to go there and write especially when I get my favorite spot; which is a seat facing out to the store-with a perfect view of not only the store and all those books, but of the people coming and going.I am uninterrupted and it gives me the opportunity not only to type but to sit and think about things like plot.Sure I could write at home, just as well as I can at Borders-and yes, I did move my two boys into our master-bedroom so that the smaller of the bedrooms could be converted into my writing room-but a change of scenery never hurt anyone-certainly not me!While at Borders a man walked in and I swear he could have been Hemingway himself-back from the dead! Not only did he resemble Hemingway, he wore a caramel colored blazer-the kind with the pads at the elbows, he carried a leather satchel, was reading a book about war (I looked it up, post traumatic stress syndrome), was sitting using a laptop typing rather profusely-when he wasn't texting-something Hemingway certainly never did-but couldn't you imagine him doing so?My husband said he "could've been a perv" (he doesn't have much of an imagination).I couldn't help but tweet about it...here's what I said:"Getting creative @Borders in my own little made up world. #amwriting Lots of people here w/ laptops.Where will the coffee buying people sit? [That was my initial tweet, I hadn't expected to tweet anymore while at Borders.]Hemingway's ghost-or his modern day twin just sat down in the cafe.I'm dying to see what he's reading.I may stand up and pace-I mean think.This is why I love coming to @Borders-there's always someone interesting to look at here....Yes I'll admit.I love to people watch. It's good fodder-for character development and all-well that's my excuse anyway. #amwriting @BordersHemingway has pulled out his laptop now. By golly it's a #MacBook (wish I had one.) I think I may go up and hug him now. #amwriting @Borders"
Borders, Blue Grass, and My iPod
I went to Borders this evening with the intention of getting through this one scene I've been working on for the past couple of days. For some strange reason, I find that I get a lot more done in a
short period of time at Borders than I normally would at home.My husband asked if he could join me with our two munchkins if he promised to keep them out of my hair. I happily obliged. (Between you and me, I think he just wanted to see me in action!)When we arrived, we found a small blue grass band was playing. My husband was like "Uh Oh, Nicky. How are you going to write, there are three guys up there with guitars and banjos?"I simply said, "Watch me." I grabbed my laptop bag and sauntered over to the cafe and sat down at the first table I saw. Luckily it was at the back and as out of the way of the other patrons who were enjoying the music as possible.I powered on my laptop and pulled out my iPod. I contemplated for a moment on what the musicians would think of me with my own music blasting in my ears, and decided that little ole me wouldn't bother them at all. I plugged in and began to type. I got a few stares, and raised eyebrows, and for a moment I actually felt like I was being rude - but a Blue October song came on and as my muse tapped me on my shoulder I quickly forgot those roving eyes and got down to business. I got through that scene by the way, and actually ended up with something completely unexpected.