The Starbucks Artist

Could this espresso-sipper be the next Mankiewicz?

I’m not talking about your local barista that can paint flowers into the foam of your latte or charm the change out of the even the most tightly bound pockets for a little extra “college tuition.” No, I’m talking about a different kind of artist: a wordsmith, a master of the phrasal arts. A writer.

Over the years, writer’s have occupied a number of workspaces. Often, the place where an author writes can be incredibly meaningful and telling in regards to his or her work and personality. Whether it’s a bar, a cafe, a den, whether it’s secluded or public, whether it’s dark or light; could make all the difference to the writer and to his writing.

The city I grew up in was not exactly a big city, but it wasn’t small either. When I started getting serious about writing, I would often drive around forever, searching for a place that I could settle into. In order to get my best writing done, I usually need to be in a place that’s quiet and devoid of distractions. However, I also need the place to have some background noise. Too much silence makes me nervous and too much noise will distract me. It’s a very delicate balance. Oh yeah, and they also needed to have free wi-fi.

There were a few places that fit the bill. Often they were not-too-popular franchise cafes. They’re usually recently opened or soon to close, providing me free wi-fi, an aim to please attitude from the staff, and a quiet atmosphere with nothing more than some Kenny G muzak filling the background noise. When I would enter these places, I was usually the only writer. While I was writing my first script, I have to say that I never saw a single other writer in any of my haunts.

But I’m not home any more. This is LA. Everyone has a script. Everyone is a writer. Insert Tyler Durden: I am not a beautiful and unique snowflake. I search and search and every time I enter what looks to be a cool, casual indie cafe, I’m greeted with the glowing white screens of would-be poets typing away on Final Draft or their customly formatted Word documents.

And now I can’t concentrate any more. I’m haunted by the idea that I’m not working fast enough, that these writers are better than me, more experienced, more likely to make it in the dog-eat-dog world of Hollywood writing. And even if I do finish a script, there’s no guarantee I can get it sold, or that I’ll be compensated in any significant way for my work. Because, again, I’m not special. In Hollywood, they can always get someone faster, cheaper. But that’s the way it is. That’s why we work so hard. That’s why you have to show everyone that even if you can’t be the fastest or the cheapest, that you’re the better. That’s why you have to show them that you don’t just write to pay the bills or to pass the time. You write because you have to write. You write because you have no other choice. You write because there is an inherent thirst within you to do so. You can write any time, anywhere. When you feel that, that’s when you will realize…

You don’t need the cafe.

~ by ranjit13 on September 24, 2008.