I took the tots to the library with the high hopes of writing a full scene on my Dana AlphaSmart. The moment we walked in the door I knew my plans had been foiled. The cacophony in the children's corner ricocheted off the walls, and to my surprise--and let's face it, dismay--not one librarian put a clamp on it.
One child sat on the bench spewing all kinds of disturbing words at his mom.
One child kept trying to maul people (including me, and then my kids) with a dinosaur puppet.
One child poked at my AlphaSmart and kept asking if it was mine.
One child spent his library time barking. Yes, barking.
Their parents said nothing. The librarians said nothing. I wanted to say something, but knew it would come out oh-so-wrong. After all, it wasn't the fault of the children, but their doofy parents. Sadly, I'd promised my kids we'd stay there for a while so I was trapped.
Anyhoo, I'll bet you're wondering if I have a point. But yes! I realized that I work best with minimal noise--preferably background TV, dishwashers, etc. I can't work in the quiet, and I don't work well with music because I like to sing along.
Evidently I don't work well with dinosaur puppets either.
Ideally I'd have my own office with a television and a tiny window with a lousy view. And I'd love a big desk with lots of drawers for all my beloved office supplies. What are your ideal writing conditions? Loud, quiet, in between? And more importantly, would you have asked the librarians to provide a little crowd control?
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9 comments:
Being a non-confrontationalist, I'd have kept mum about the out-of-control kids. But also not having a poker face at ALL, I'd have let people know of my displeasure simply because I couldn't help it.
Ideal writing space...it used to be right here at my desk with no noise, a coconut-lime-verbena candle and some diet coke, but lately it's been at the library (upstairs where the grown-ups are or in the quiet room where you can't even have a cell-phone) or at the coffee shop sipping Earl Grey and tapping away, feeling very bohemian and artsy. :)
Sorry you had such a bad time at the library. I'm thinking you should get a St. George puppet and go after that dragon puppet with your lance!
ROFLOL!!!! Yes, that's what I'll do. I wonder if the parents would pay attention then???
Someday I'll be able to go into the grownup room like you =)
Sorry to hear your writing was spoiled. I'd have kept quiet too, but boiled inside. I guess there is just no safe place to write all the time.
Even home offices meet with endless interuptions from time to time.
I hope today provides a better writing scenario for you!
I am blessed to have my own office at home, with a decent view of the woods, and a desk and file cabinet full of supplies! But I rarely write there because my at home writing opps are LIMITED!! But its still a nice place to sit and check email while bouncing Audrey on my lap. lol
I wouldn't have said anything either but probably grunted and shot stinkeye around the room. lol How frustrating! Parents are nuts sometimes
LOL!!!! We're a total silently boiling stink eye group!
My ideal writing conditions--me, home alone, from 8:30 to 3:30.
You know, libraries aren't all about quiet like they used to be. I guess you'll have to check the library's schedule before you go. Doesn't that stink?
Is there a silently boiling stinkeye support group? Cause I'd love to join! Things like that bug me to no end... As to ideal working conditions, I need instrumental music. Quiet is just, well, too quiet. Anything else and I find myself singing at the top of my lungs into anything close by that is remotely microphone-shaped. (And please pardon the fact that my comment is rambly and way too long. We are in the middle of moving to another state and I believe my sanity is taped shut into the box with my toiletries.)
Sanity is HIGHLY overrated ;)
How annoying! I probably would have ended up working on an article about parenting instead of a novel. :-) Since I have so much parenting experience...
I have a paranoia about people reading over my shoulder, so I haven't done much writing in public. My ideal atmosphere is home alone, sprawled out on my couch, blasting music, with a bottle of Sobe close by. :-)
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