Where are all the cafes for writers?
Writing is a solitary craft. We (writers) don’t perform in front of sold-out audiences at stadium venues and often don’t even collaborate with other writers (not always the case though), like a lot of musicians do. Even many well-known authors can probably walk down the street without getting mobbed by celebrity-hungry fans or even the paparazzi.
This semi-anonymous lifestyle that many writers lived is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, many writers are very introverted and work best while alone. On the other hand, writers still need human interaction (there’s an old saying that no man is an island).
In the United States, we lack a place writers can go to socialize, share their work and maybe find some inspiration. Of course I’m talking about the cafes that have made cities like Paris so famous. Sure, we have places like Starbucks and a host of other coffee shops, but they often don’t have that community feel that the Parisian cafes must have.
For example, when I go to Starbucks, the only people I talk to is the cashier taking my order. After that, I grab my mocha latte, find a seat and read, write, or just enjoy being out of the house. But I never find myself socializing with the other patrons. In fact, most people I see in Starbucks are usually off in their own little world, oblivious to those around them.
This is in stark contrast to what famous writers like Ernest Hemingway had in Paris. I have read many accounts of writers getting most of their writing done during the early part of the day, and then meeting at a cafe in late afternoon or early evening to discuss their work, share ideas, and enjoy a few drinks. I’d love to have a place like that to hang out at on evenings and weekends.
So where do you go when you want to socialize with others? Do you go to a coffee shop like Starbucks? A bar? Or do you prefer to isolate yourself in your basement and haven’t seen the light of day for the past two decades? Don’t be shy and leave a comment on where your literary hangout is!
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