#writing: couch drafting
This weekend I finally got disciplined and cleared some time to finish a final draft for a looming submission deadline.
Drafting for me seems to require an intense investment of time. A solid draft of about 2000 words will probably take about 4 to 6 hours – and that’s if I don’t lose patience and start a complete re-write.
I don’t know what that says about me as a writer or whether it’s a very effective writing process. The word ‘pedantic’ comes to mind as as each successive draft unfolds.
Anyway, as many writers can probably relate to, the productive writing time didn’t come from where I expected it to. Luckily for the draft, this weekend coincided with a trip to my hairdresser. The one I go to, aptly named The Mens Room, is one of those old fashioned barbers where you just rock up and sit down to wait your turn.
The proprietor of this fine establishment is also the sole hairdresser, hence waiting for a ‘turn’ at The Mens Room can take anywhere between twenty minutes and two hours. No one seems bothered though. The place seems a convenient and pleasurable escape for most of the patrons, with plenty of distractions to keep things interesting while you wait, including Jules’ comprehensive collection of Top Gear episodes and British gangster flicks.
But this time, rather than give in to the lure of the original 1942 arcade game sitting in the corner, I got down to some serious drafting on the waiting couch.
I also took along the camera, and Jules was happy for me to play ‘fly on the wall’ for a little bit. Hope you enjoy the shots. The final draft is now with my supervisor for one last round of feedback.
What’s the most unexpected place you’ve finished a draft?
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8 Comments
Sorry Mark, but the very first thing I thought when I saw this post was ‘HOLY FUCKING SHIT THEY HAVE A 1942 ARCADE BOX’.
Unfortunately I don’t have any strange or wonderful places of draft completion. I usually finish mine in the hours before coming home and going to bed. Boring old me :/
I walk during my lunch breaks and usually bring a piece of writing with me. I’ve finished a few things on these walks, crossing out and rearranging as I go, stopping to scratch words in the margins.
Goddamn does that barbershop look, and sound, cool. And I have written a few short pieces inspired by my barber, as it does get busy and the waits can be long. Unfortunately he doesn’t have any of the perks yours does, of which I am completely envious, but he is an Iraqi and when I get in the seat he does tell stories about the old country, like the time he cut Saddam’s hair.
Yeah, it is a pretty cool barber shop. “The time I cut Saddam’s hair” sounds like a great short story.
Mark tell Jules that this girl from Bangladesh would love to visit his shop. It’s awesome!!!!
The place looks great. The pictures are so Beautiful MASHALLAH could you please tell me what kind of camera you use? I love taking pictures too but the definition on these pics are awesome really. I loved the snaps you got as well – beautiful, thoughtful and creative.
Now, ummm I haven’t really finished writing anywhere aside from my Desktop and Laptop at home or assignments at Uni. As for handwriting stuff I am a stationary freak who loves using different coloured pens for writings (I can’t for Uni works all the time as Blue and Black are the norm but for my own notes there is a collection ^_^)
OH WAIT THANK ALLAH – NOW I REMEMBER – There was a place I wrote aside home.
It was the train at night. From Dhaka To Chittagong. My Cousin had a fever so no lights were turned off. The train was sleeping. It was in the wee hours. I couldn’t see clearly outside but I could see vague dark images and blurry electric.
I used the light on my cell and my new diary given as a gift (which both fell in sea water later on
unfortunately though not lost were kinda ruined) and wrote some poems.
Whenever the light went out I pressed random keys to get the phoenix touch. It was an awesome experience despite the hard cold of the vented AC – I was on the top bunk getting up there was a hassle worth the hassle – I wrote as sleep would not come.
So the pen pumped life ^_^
I wish I had hair so I could go there. Would Jules mind if a bald dude just stood around playing 1942 for 5 hours a day?
Duane, if you loitered too long, Jules would probably glass you.
Yeah I guess ’cause that’s bad for business and Jules looks like an elegant entrepreneur to allow such diversions. After all he performs the main attraction ^_^
Hey, Mark. Never thought of a barber shop, but random public areas can sometimes make you insanely productive, at least in short bursts (I don’t know about every day). I think it must be something about being anonymous–even, in a way, to yourself. I used to drop into a certain McDonald’s that had a nice sunny porch. Comfortable chairs, clean surfaces, natural light, free refills of bad coffee. What could be better? Then they started jacking up the background music. I was kind of OK with that until they installed the Big Brother monitors–all CNN all the time. I was out of there. I get enough of that in airports. But the great thing about working that way–there’s no end to your choices.
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