Kendal: I always find this an interesting question to ask writers. And I am especially curious to know if the place has changed as your career has changed. I am lucky enough to have a great little home office set up, but I never used it. Why? Because I am a t.v whore and ended up on the couch instead with my Great dane on one side and at least one cat as a book end on the other. I love to listen to movies in the background while I write. The movie depends on the story. If I am in full YA mode I like to watch rom-coms like Never been kissed or (gasp) the High School Musicals. If I am writing anything other than YA then I watch whatever is handy. This has ranged from Fear to Die Hard to Mickey Mouse’s Christmas special.
 
But…
 
Recently I have found myself starting to wander into my little office and sitting down with just the radio on. Am I more productive? I’m not sure yet, this is too new of a discovery to know. I do know I get a ton of my emails, blog postings, and website work done better in the office, rather than on my laptop in the family room. I am still searching for that magically place where 1000 words pour from my fingers with little effort and before I can blink. Haven’t found it yet, but still looking.
 
When I am finally home full time and have dedicated days to just produce word count, I think I’ll explore my community and see what works best for me. I have a feeling a few hours at the local library or going for a long lunch at a coffee shop will help appease my muse. Plus, who doesn’t want the chance to people watch?!
 
April, where do you write? Is it the same place every time – your creative spot that let’s your creative side roam? Or do you wander from place to place as the mood hits you?
 
April: Interestingly, I don’t like distractions. My preferred perfect place for sitting is a straight back chair where my feet can touch the floor (or a secretary’s chair) and a desk with all of my materials and references handy. I don’t have a great place right now – the kitchen table or another table by a sliding glass door where I have room to spread out. I like looking out a window but I’ve used a closet before.
 
Honestly, as long as I’m sitting upright, I can deal with just about anything. I’ve gone whole days writing with the kids screaming and chasing each other around, making lunch in the microwave (my kids are 9 and 7 so I think I should be slightly concerned at their extensive knowledge of the microwave –do they really make that much food by themselves?), hubby going in and out of the house, overnights with friends. It doesn’t matter. I can write and type through all of it but the minute people start interrupting me by needing me, it’s over. I can’t get much done.
 
With that said, my absolute favorite kick-off ritual (okay, quasi-ritual because I can’t afford it much) is to go to a favorite restaurant by myself—I’m talking something a bit pricey and decadent for me (Charlestons, Puccini’s, or Bravo). The longer it takes to get my food and get through the meal, the better. I just sit there munching on my salad, pasta, steak, whatever and really begin to think about my new story and the characters. I’ve hatched many plotlines in restaurants like this.
 
If I’m desperate, a Starbucks or Barnes and Nobles Café with a venti hot cocoa (with whip cream please) will do for around $3.
 
I also really love to work during lunch breaks because those are usually great times for thinking and writing and I can get a lot done.
 
Kendal: If I could (but believe me I really can’t – I’ve tried) I wish I could write a story long hand into journals and then input them into my computer later. This would give me so much freedom to write anywhere, anytime. Gosh, that would be perfect!
 
April: You’re absolutely batty!!!! You WANT to write long hand? Oh Goddess, my carpal tunnel would kill me. Plus there’s something about the ability to erase in a moment’s notice on screen that just makes things come to life for me. I can tweak and delete and copy/paste… whatever so quickly on a computer I don’t want to do it any other way. I simply won’t write if I don’t have my laptop. Now, character sketches and plotting… I do that all by hand in a notebook/binder. That’s what I’ll carry with me, sketch thoughts and ideas, places and events… That’s what’s in my notebooks (and I have a ton of them).
 
But … yeah… you’re completely nuts… Sniffing too much phantom energy from that laptop and your TV or something.

Kendal: Wow, you make a very strong argument for computer writing vs long hand. Bummer, that could have been a good Smackdown topic!!

 
Does anyone write that way? What are the pros and cons for you? And do you have any tips for me to help me stick with it?