Last week we looked into the Cons of Writing Your Screenplay In a Cafe, so this week I’d like to explore the pros of writing in a cafe — something I personally prefer over all else.

Please jump in and add your own comments regarding the pros of writing in a cafe — unless you’d rather add to the list of cons.

Coffee

I’m not sure about most writers out there, but I’m definitely a latte drinker. For me personally, it’s the smell of the coffee brewing and the sound of the milk foaming that helps me focus on my projects. I usually go for a regular vanilla latte of some sort, but during the day when it’s hot I go for the iced caramel macchiato … such a nice mix of super bitter-super sweet.

What’s nice about drinking a latte while writing is it enables you to take small micro-breaks from the work, just a step back, that enables you to think about where you’re heading, what you just wrote, or where ever you came from. That said, it’s crucial to avoid losing focus on the task at hand, whether it be a scene, sequence, or brainstorm session.

Take a sip, then put the cup down.

Casual Setting

One thing the larger chains managed to do was recreate the casual setting most independent cafes provide their customers. Grab the couch and relax. Sink into that chair with the newspaper. Or, my favorite, enjoy the external setting of the cafe by sitting outside.

Some writers find that the setting is more influential than anything else while writing, so it’s important to find the write one. What’s nice about the major chains of cafes for picky drinkers is that you can explore different locations, cities, states, and so on with the understanding that you’ll enjoy the coffee no matter where you are — not as fun as trying a new cafe in my opinion, but there you have it.

Community

It goes without saying, a cafe is one of the main hubs of community for writers — it’s where we go, not only to write but also to meet others passionate about storytelling. That said, you’ll always find those out for attention — you can tell because they’re usually not making use of their keyboard or pen.

It’s the history of the relationship writers (and people in general) who lived before us had with their local cafes that creates a sense of community — we feel a part of what they were a part of.

With that same inspiration and sense of community comes …

Inspiration

How can you not be inspired when sitting next to a musician frantically writing lyrics, an artist sketching someone at the bar, and the rest of the coffee drinking cast?

Connecting with the locals and cafe crew will create an avenue of communication in which you can talk about your work, which is important for all artists. Talking about your work, but more importantly listening about others’, is the single most powerful fuel that makes the fire burn.

Connect with people. Share. Learn. Talk.

Distraction

This is one of those points that can be both negative and positive depending on how you utilize it, but for the most part, distraction can be a really good thing when thinking about the world and the people in it. Allow yourself to watch others and observe — it’s one of the best ways you’ll improve your skills of creating realistic characters.

So there you have it — my personal take on why cafes are a good place to write.

What do you think — what are some of the pros of writing in a cafe from your own point of view?