Deanne's Writing World
  • Home
  • My World - blog
    • The Daily Brat
    • My writings
    • Where I've Been
  • Untangling the Knot - Field Goal Vlog
    • Training Log
    • Sneak Peak at Untangling the Knot
    • Kicking and Patriot Photos
  • The World of my Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Molto Mayhem - Favorite Italian Recipes
    • Betting Jessica's Character World
  • Author's World
  • Contact Info
  • Home
  • My World - blog
    • The Daily Brat
    • My writings
    • Where I've Been
  • Untangling the Knot - Field Goal Vlog
    • Training Log
    • Sneak Peak at Untangling the Knot
    • Kicking and Patriot Photos
  • The World of my Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Molto Mayhem - Favorite Italian Recipes
    • Betting Jessica's Character World
  • Author's World
  • Contact Info

Overheard at . . . Zoka

9/18/2014

0 Comments

 

"About how many cups do you go through a day?"

I returned to Zoka and was intent on writing a quick post about my coffee spot hunt. The fact that I was back at Zoka obviously meant they are at the top of my list. My coffee, while not as good as last time, was adequate. And the parking was easy(ish). So what threw me?

Well, for one thing I only had a bit of time and the internet kept kicking me off. I must have started this blog post about three times before I gave up and did something else.

.... And that something else turned out to be listening in on a conversation happening near me. Because, from all appearances, it looked like this group of three men, one pacing as if he had just had one too many shots of their extra strong espresso, were working on their plans to open a coffee place.

As you know, I have overheard many interesting conversations... but this was the first time ever I had heard business men talking about opening a competing coffee place, in a coffee place. The nerve! Right? I tried desperately to log back in so I could post an overhear, but it was no use.

And, it turned out to be a good thing.... because after a few more minutes of paying closer attention I realized they actually were working on something related to Zoka (the big star logo on their computer screens finally gave it away.)

And... while I was relieved, it has also made me a bit nervous. These guys looked a lot like consultants- and were asking suspiciously consultanty questions of the barista; thus the reason I thought they were opening a store of their own. So what do I do now? I don't want to invest myself in a new writing spot only to have it go all scale on me. "Oh, sorry, now we charge by the teaspoon used." "WHat are we doing? Oh, nothing. Just removing half the chairs so we have some merchandising space. Want a Zoka mug?" or finally,  "Wifi is extra." (Well, I'd probably pay for this if it actually worked, so that might not be a bad thing.)

So, I am still on the hunt. Not ready to commit. Not ready to begin chatting up baristas and making friends, only to lose them when move someplace new. Or perhaps... I am not ready to write and am simply avoiding it by scoping out coffee places . . .

Nah!

Here's to your next big commitment. And also, I want to give a shout out to a new Barista at Starbucks back in my home town . . .  although it is a bit scary to think I watched him riding around in a Barbie jeep not that long ago (If he denies it, I'm pretty sure I have photos:>) Good luck Zachary and don't forget to say interesting overhears for other writers who may need a prompt. It may not have been in the training manual, but I guarantee it is part of the job description.


0 Comments

Overheard at . . .   Starbucks

9/9/2014

0 Comments

 
“We actually don’t have wi-fi.”

Ding, ding ding…. Look no further. We have a winner. Well, not yet- but eventually. When I am ready to move into creative, rather than research mode this Starbucks, less than 2 miles from my home, is where I will come.

In fact, I came out today to write a blog post about a couple of the different coffee places I have visited, and found this jewel. I mean, really! When was the last time you went to a Starbucks without wi-fi? Even when I was travelling in Europe my laptop kept wanting to log me in.

This store is about as far away from my last attempt to write at Starbucks as I could get. Last week I had errands to run at a snobby bea-u-ti-ful shopping mall near me called University Village. There they have not one, or even two, but five Starbucks (if you include their separate Teavana shop.) The biggest one is supersized it is like drinking coffee in a food court, albeit a very comfy one. The scene is- preppy university kids meets home decorators meets tech start-up entrepreneur… all with too much time on their hands. Ouch! Am I being harsh? Yes… but I can say that since I was hanging out there I must fit into one of those categories somehow. I’ll let you guess how.

Anyway, so while the coffee was my lovely standard, I don’t really see my creative juices, or even my research juices, flowing in any direction except into their cash till.

My prior attempt had led me to a different Starbucks altogether. There is just something about their brew that is very reassuring to me. So when I found myself in Southlake Union waiting to have lynch with my husband, I stopped into the main Starbucks there. Does this have anything to do with the fact that Amazon is headquartered in this area? Okay, perhaps I thought some of the publishing vibe would rub off on me in a good way. And certainly the atmosphere was waaaaay preferable to the store in University Village. Busy, but in a good way. Hip, but in a comfortable rather than trendy way. Friendly, in the way I expect the best Starbucks to be. Sadly, I had to pay parking. And anyway, that store is a bit too far away for daily visits.
So, for now I am still on the lookout for my coffee writing spot; waiting for inspiration, or my credit card bill to hit. I will, of course, let you know when I find it.

Cheers and here’s to our journeys inspired by caffeine!
Deanne


0 Comments
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

    Subscribe to my blog:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    About Me...

    Picture

    Deanne Wilsted

    Link here to Betting Jessica on Amazon.com

    Background - Overheard While Writing
    It's hard to explain, but 12 years ago, when I started to write seriously, the only place where I could get my work done was at Starbucks. 

    Since then, 4 manuscripts and 4 favored Starbucks later, I sill find myself drawn to a cozy corner and a half-decaf Americano.... not to mention the many friendly faces that greet me when I arrive.

    And, while I try to stay focused, there are some times when the conversations or interactions that surround me draw my attention away from my own characters, and into the world of life's own characters. 

    This BLOG captures some of those funny, sincere, inspiring moments. Maybe they will give you a reason to write as well.

    Archives

    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All
    4th Of July
    Agatha Christie
    Age
    Animals
    Anxiety
    Art
    Bath
    Betting Jessica
    Blogging
    Book Covers
    Books
    Boston
    Bullying
    Business
    Camp
    Change
    Charity
    Chocolate
    Christmas
    Covid
    Dessert
    Dogs
    Earthquake
    Egypt
    Emotions
    England
    E Pub
    E-pub
    Exercize
    Family
    Fiction
    Food
    Genre Fiction
    Goals
    God
    Government
    Gratitude
    Great Books
    Happy Hour
    Harry Potter
    Hotels
    Humor
    Inspiration
    Italy
    Jane Austen
    Kids
    Lake Tahoe
    Language
    Literary Agents
    Literary Ficiton
    Lost Dogs
    Memorial Day
    Milestones
    Military
    Molto Mayhem
    Mommyhood
    Music
    Nolables
    Obama
    Observation
    Obstacles
    Online Saftey
    Oxfam
    Parental Controls
    Parenting
    Paris
    Pets
    Poetry
    Politics
    Portland
    Promo
    Publishing
    Reviews
    Romance
    Rules
    School
    Science
    Seasons
    Senses
    Silliness
    Small Business
    Soulmate
    Sports
    Starbucks
    Stress
    Summer
    Summer Jobs
    Talents
    Tears
    Tennis
    Travel
    Untangling The Knot
    Vikingsholm
    Weather
    Weddings
    Writing

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Matthew Juzenas, cumi&ciki