Th' zone.

Date: 18 March 2009 14:48:33

Recently I've been taking the classes I teach out to the college cafeteria. This is not because I'm a shameless exhibitionist or egotist but because I want the guys and gals to be aware of the zone. Sometimes there's a place we find ourselves in where the creativity and joy springs forth easiest and that feeling is something I wanted them to find. For some being in a crowded, noisy cafe was unhelpful for the creative process, for others it was liberating.

It got me thinking about where my zones are. Predominantly my zone is the bus to and from work which I have sat on, off and on, for 15 years or so now. I'm such a regular that I can anticipate the bumps and corners and write, draw and edit in a pretty smooth fashion. Better still I appreciate the difference in pace and the lack of people talking to me. My other zone is rapidly becoming the local Wetherspoons pub which I've taken to going to in a morning, grabbing a coffee or two and sitting in a space that has excellent natural light and visibility. It's an up and down thing: to see grown men sitting and drinking heavily at 10 am or so and talking with the volume that drink unlocks is a sad thing, the architectural feat that the pub has achieved is a good one. It's been a pleasant place to me more than not though.

Lastly the other place is moderately less accessible but possibly my favourite place: the East Beach Cafe in Littlehampton who's size belies the fascination I have for it. I wish it were closer because I've been there only on family holidays and not felt able to spend a concerted amount of time sitting in it and writing but one day I'd love to have a clear sweep of a day or so to sit and write with no other calls on my time. One project that I would LOVE to get onto came specifically from an hour long coffee break there and if I pursued the project more it would feel fitting to do so in the cafe for an amount of time.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="The East Beach Cafe from the outside"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450" caption="... and from the inside."][/caption]

What I had forgotten was that music also inspires a zone for me, with editing and drawing more than writing. There are various rules I have to follow for it to be successful though: nothing new that I haven't listened to at least a dozen times, nothing on shuffle, nothing which would bring up another project, not too loud, not too quiet and so on. Todays zone soundtracks were Duke Special's lovely "I never thought this time would come", Five Iron Frenzies "Quality is job no 1" and a couple of random House of Heroes tracks (RELEASE THE NEW CD IN THIS COUNTRY YOU SLUGS). In the Valley of the Dying Sun is, I think, my favourite song of the moment and can be found on their myspace if you fancy a listen. Lovely stuff.

Anyhow, apart from that having possibly too much of a lazy day after yesterdays shennanigans (also been asked to cover way loads more sick leave at college which is a good thing, financially, and a mixed thing in terms of time and energy levels). Did edit a few chapters of Sylver 3, more news on that later, although I'm enjoying it, and still on track for May I think... :) and since then had a coffee and a pair of pears. Now to tidy up a little bit afore everyone gets home and makes a mess :) (Weds is my day off in the week) and then onwards to the next thing all over again.

Movement on the sock top 10 as well... Will get onto that laters :)