Getting out of the house is one of the best things you can do as a writer. At home, there can be too many domestic distractions - and food! - on hand to take you away from the work. Oh, I'll just put a load in the washing machine. Oh, now the washing needs hanging out. Wasn't there a packet of jammie dodgers at the back of the cupboard? It can be disastrous for your productivity and your waist line.
But finding a good place to go and work is the holy grail of the author community. You want somewhere warm, with desk space, toilet facilities and food on hand. You don't want it to be too noisy or to feel obliged to leave after an hour or so. Hmmmm. Know anywhere like that? Libraries can be good, so are some cafes. (If you have any top tips for writer-friendly cafes do post a comment!) Myself? I paid the £45 for membership at the Royal Festival Hall to access their private members bar with my netbook and a variety of supplies. Ah, yes. Supplies... What does the writer-in-the-street need close to hand to enable Factor Ten Productivity? Here are my tips.
Drink of choice
Very important, this one. I stop at Starbucks on the way in to get my extra hot wet grande skinny latte. I get very grumpy in the mornings if I can't find one of these. This drink will take me through until lunch time at least.
Food supplies
I tend to stock up ahead of time, rather than rely on the vastly over-priced food options available on the South Bank. I pick up a sarnie at M&S and some fruit. I try not to buy much more than that, because otherwise I will mindlessly graze in front of the netbook until I discover I've eaten my own body weight in chocolate covered raisins.
Wrap ups and peel offs
You can never tell how warm or cold you're going to feel, so I always take a wrap to put around my shoulders if needs me. I also sometimes take a pair of sandals to slip my feet into if my feet become too hot! (Or is that one just me?)
A dongle
If your venue of choice doesn't have access to free WiFi (the RFH does) you'll need a dongle for Internet research and guilty visits to social networking sites. I have a 3G dongle on a monthly direct debit of £8 and it's been a godsend. It's allowed me to be productive on trains, in train stations, in bars, hotels and beachside cafes. (Though I did once have to go and sit on a bench by the crazy golf in Mablethorpe once, because that's the only place my dongle could pick up a connection.)
White noise
Sometimes there will be a sudden, unwelcome spurt of noise from a group of schoolchildren, or a gathering of nannies or people just being obnoxious. It's a really good idea to have some White Noise or Sounds of Nature on your music device so that you can plug your (noise reduction) ear plugs in and blank out the outside world. There's a 'WhiteNoise' app you can download from your app store.
Notebook and pen
Sounds obvious, but sometimes easy to forget as you're packing up your bag.
A solid bag
Ah yes, your bag. Get a really decent one for lugging all this stuff about in! I bought a leather satchel from The Cambridge Satchel Company. The good news is that this is tax deductible.
Netbook
I've found a netbook much easier to lug about than a heavy laptop. Two years ago I received an Eee PC 1008HA for Christmas and it has been used every day of my life since. Literally.
Wireless mouse
Just so that you're not clicking away on an annoying little box on your keyboard when moving about a document.
Extension lead
Sounds crazy, but I am thinking of tracking down a compact extension lead when I'm travelling. Too often, I've found that hotel rooms have few plugs in inaccessible places and I've ended up stretched across the corner of a bed, just in order to be able to type. If you have any recommendations, let me know.
That's it from me! All you or I need to do now is allow our words of gold to pour forth. Do you have any venues you can recommend for writing, or would you add anything else to the list of essential equipment for a writing foray?
