Katie Coen

I’ve noticed every person I meet needs a different environment to write. Some of my friends do their best work in a library full of students or a cafeteria with hundreds of conversations in the air. I will never understand how they can focus with so many people around. For me, I need silence to write. If I try to listen to music or watch something, I end up writing the words I hear instead of what’s in my head. I do my best writing when I’m alone in a comfortable spot, but this is not always obtainable.

As a news producer, I sit in a newsroom full of buzz. There’s always someone talking, occasionally some yelling, and there are constantly people walking by saying hello. At first, I got distracted way too much. It was hard for me to write scripts and think clearly in the loud environment. Overtime, I have learned to shut the noise out and focus on my work. The fact that I have coworkers who thrive in the busy conditions shows that everyone is different. 

This idea was elaborated on in the first chapter of “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser. He discussed how all writers use different methods to get their work done. Some handwrite and others type on a computer. While people like me need silence, some listen to music on the radio. Zinsser said writers should do whatever works for them.

“Any method that helps you to say what you want to say is the best method for you”

Zinsser, page 5

No matter how they get it done, all writers have the same goal: to get their thoughts on a page. They want to share their knowledge and/or opinions with the world, making themselves vulnerable. Zinsser explained that writing may not always be fun, but it is impactful when done well. Whatever conditions work for you as a writer are valid. Honor your needs and share your thoughts with the world.

Source

Zinsser, William. On Writing Well. Harper Perennial, 1976.