Oh, how I love Meetup.com! Doing a search last week I discovered the Northeast Ann Arbor Write Together meetup group, and was able to catch their next event, Write Together, happening today.
Gathering at the Songbird Cafe in Ann Arbor, the purpose of the meetup is to come together, get acquainted, write for two hours, then take some time to socialize afterward.
When I arrived, I was happy to see a cardboard sign that read “Write Together” on a table where a lady was sitting. I met Annette, then Ann, Steven and Jeff arrived shortly after. After introductions and brief conversation, my new friends and I nestled in the back corner sipping coffee and began typing away to our hearts content.
It was just what I needed! Much like blocking out time at home, this was even better – being in the physical company of like-minded people, all of us tapping away at our keyboards.
The Songbird Cafe is a great venue – open, airy, good wifi, and although rather popular, not extremely noisy. I found I was able to easily focus on the immediate quietness of our table, and concentrate on my work.
Today I learned why so many people take up residency in coffee shops, and how doing so may possibly help me. Getting out of my house to write or to read eliminates all possibility of the tendency to get up from my laptop or put down my book and go do something productive – taking me away from the very things I want/need to spend time on. I’m away from the temptation to empty the dishwasher or put in a load of laundry. This may be just what I need to TRULY carve out the time and I think I’ve found what works!
I’ll leave here today having made new friends and the wonderful feeling of accomplishment, looking forward to our next Sunday morning.
Bloggers, do you congregate? What have you found that helps you focus?
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