Yesterday, for the first time, I went outside my house to try and get some writing done.

Up until yesterday I couldn't imagine how a writer could go to a Starbucks, or wherever, and get any writing done. All the noise, chaos, confusion? Understanding of that being a conducive atmosphere to writing just wasn't in my brain cells.

But after months of stalled writing, I finally figured out that my house feels oppressive, not comforting.

Up until now, my house has always been a haven of comfort. But lately, there are too many things that need to be done, to many obligations to be fulfilled, too many emails to answer, etc., and being in my house has become oppressive... to the point that I can't face any of it. I've been sleeping far too much, just to escape my to-do list.

So, with a sense of desperation, I grabbed my laptop yesterday morning and got in my car. As I drove, I pondered where to go. Since it was lunchtime, and I'm broke, and I hate coffee, my first thought was McDonalds, but the one by the mall had been remodeled (torn to the ground and rebuilt) and wasn't open yet. So I went into the mall, figuring I'd settle someplace in the large food-court. But the food court was far too open, and the music too loud and annoying.

Then I saw the Arbys. It has an enclosed eating area, acceptable (cheap) food, and it had a table way back in the corner with no windows around and a light right above it, and decent music, a little loud, but not bad... and free refills on Dr. Pepper. :-) I was set, but not optimistic. How much could I possibly accomplish before my laptop's battery died?

Well, I just checked the word count, and I did more than I thought: 1600 words of the heroine's backstory. Organized, coherent words. Vital knowledge for the continuation of the story. Cool! :-)

If I didn't have so much other stuff to do today, and two kids home sick, I'd go back.

And I'm now a convert!