A Little Refuge?

       I am sitting in the members’ area of the British Library, in my favourite corner of a room with modern armchairs with high backs that curl around providing a place where I could comfortably sleep and no-one would notice. It’s warm and quiet. But I’m here to write, having only completed 8000 words or so of the NaNoWriMo target I set myself of 40000 words, which combined with those I’ve already written will complete my first draft. But more urgently the More than Writers blog needs to be written. 

There are distractions in the library, of course. I can see a large television screen, with the sound off, but if I’m not careful I end up reading the text to the news. Across the room, people are talking quietly, but the low buzz of speech is not intrusive. At home I would have other things to do, cleaning, cooking lunch, taking the dog out, meetings, enquiries, visits. In other words, I would be constantly distracted. I’m sure I’m not the only writer who feels guilty when leaving things undone in their own home to find a refuge where they can write. It’s a guilt I have decided to live with for the greater good of continuing to write.

I haven’t had a quiet writing retreat yet with this manuscript. Quiet retreats involve going away for a few days to somewhere with food provided and a desk or table and chair in the bedroom.  This can be risky because sometimes chairs can be exceedingly uncomfortable resulting in backache or all-over ache. The table can be too small, too wobbly, too far from the power socket or in a dark corner. The room can be too cold or too hot - too stuffy or too draughty. So I take cushions, throws, an extension lead, table lamp - they stay in the car if not needed.

On one of these retreats, there must be no programme going on, no teaching or even buddying for me to make good progress. This was all marvellous when I retreated to the Pleasuance near Cromer, several years ago, apart from the fact that the other residents were retired Methodist ministers who insisted on teaching me Rummikub which I won, completely upsetting a minister’s wife. I don’t believe in beginners’ luck but it’s not a game I’ve been very good at since.

If everything is fairly comfortable (and there aren’t too many retired ministers around) being on a retreat on my own works splendidly, especially when shaping and editing an early draft. It’s so much easier to have time to go through everything and pull the manuscript together. But this may not be necessary for you. I have friends who can write and edit anywhere - even crowded cafes or standing up in noisy, crowded trains. I’ve tried and now can write if I’m on a train with a table in front of me and it’s fairly quiet, which is rare but does sometimes happen.

However, people notice what I’m doing in a public place and ask me what I’m writing, who I am, will they have heard of me, and so on. Or tell me they’d write a book if they had the time! 

So for now I can recommend the British Library - but if you see me there, please don’t teach me any games!

Afterword: What do you say when people ask if they will have heard of me? I’ve tried ‘Well, you’ve heard of me now,’ and ‘Only if you move in the right circles.’ Even a well-delivered ‘Perhaps?’. However, these replies feel almost as rude as the original question. Any ideas?

Annie Try writes novels for adults and young adults. Her latest book, The Dangerous Dance of Emma JJ, is published by Kevin Mayhew. She is now working on the sequel but is badly in need of a quiet retreat and a deadline.