John Soares, author of Writing College Textbook Supplements
I do a lot of my writing away from my home office, typically at my favorite local coffee shops in the Mount Shasta area and in Ashland, Oregon.
Writing is a usually a solitary pursuit, so I like to get out and be around other people and still get my work done. (One caveat: be careful if you live in a small town. I often wind up spending more time visiting with friends who happen by than I do clicking on the keyboard.)
The Odesk blog recently compiled a list of free wifi hotspots where you can sit down, grab a bite or a beverage, and connect to the Net.
My overall favorite is Starbucks. To get free access you have to buy and register a charge card that you use to make Starbucks purchases. They say you can only connect for two hours a day, but I’ve done it for far longer than that and never had any problems. Starbucks coffee shops typically open early and stay open until at least 8 p.m, so they are there when you need them. I also like the music they play, which can range from Alison Kraus to bossa nova to jazz to Hawaiian to Bob Dylan.
Another good thing about Starbucks: you can always drop in when you’re traveling and check e-mail, etc. This is important for me, as I’m frequently on the road. Just visit the Starbucks website to find locations on your route.
