Working Remotely: Scriptwriting and Blogging on the Run

Writing a script can be a daunting task, and it's often difficult to find the motivation to sit down and get started. But what if I told you that you could be productive and inspired while sipping on a latte at your local coffee shop? Yes, that's right – scriptwriting and blogging can be done on-the-go! In this blog post, we'll discuss how to optimize your mobile writing experience at a coffee shop.

First and foremost, let's talk about the importance of finding the right coffee shop. It's essential to choose a location that provides a comfortable and inspiring environment. While it might be tempting to go to the most popular coffee shop in town, it might not be the best option for your writing needs. Consider finding a coffee shop that has comfortable seating, ample lighting, and a calm atmosphere. Additionally, make sure the coffee shop has reliable Wi-Fi and power outlets available. After all, you don't want your laptop to run out of battery while you're in the middle of writing an important scene.

Once you've found the perfect coffee shop, it's time to get to work. Before you start writing, take a few minutes to get into the right mindset. Find a comfortable seat, put on some noise-cancelling headphones if necessary, and take a deep breath. Think about your goals for the writing session, and visualize what you want to accomplish. This will help you focus and avoid distractions.

One of the most important things to consider when writing on-the-go is organization. Since you won't have access to all of your writing materials, it's important to have a system in place for keeping everything organized. Consider using cloud-based software such as Google Drive or Dropbox to store your files. This way, you can easily access your scripts and notes from any device, whether it's your laptop or your smartphone.

Another great tool for mobile writers is the use of apps. There are many apps available that can help you stay organized, focused, and productive while writing on-the-go. For example, apps like Scrivener, Final Draft, and Celtx are popular among scriptwriters for their advanced features and formatting options. Additionally, productivity apps like Trello, Evernote, and Focus@Will can help you stay on track and avoid distractions.

When writing at a coffee shop, it's important to minimize distractions as much as possible. While it might be tempting to people-watch or eavesdrop on nearby conversations, this can quickly lead to a loss of focus. Instead, try to stay in the zone by putting on noise-cancelling headphones and listening to instrumental music or white noise. You can also try using a writing tool that blocks out distractions by filling the entire screen with your text, such as WriteRoom or FocusWriter.

Of course, one of the best parts of writing at a coffee shop is the opportunity to take a break and recharge. Writing can be mentally exhausting, and taking a few minutes to relax and enjoy your surroundings can do wonders for your creativity. Take a sip of your coffee, stretch your legs, and take a quick walk around the block. You might be surprised at how much this break can help you refocus and come up with fresh ideas.

In addition to the practical tips above, there are a few other things to keep in mind when writing at a coffee shop. Firstly, be respectful of those around you. While it might be tempting to talk loudly or make phone calls, it's important to remember that you're in a public space. Keep your voice down and try to be mindful of those around you who might be studying or working on their own projects.

Another important thing to consider is your posture. Sitting at a coffee shop for an extended period of time can be taxing on your body, so it's important to maintain good posture! Enjoy!

Working Remotely

I am used to working remotely. Moving my entire computer around in a crate isn’t something new to me. I've been doing it since 2000/2001. Around that time, I had just moved to California. My place of employment was a Tile place in Florida and I was the brochure, Pricebook, and website guy. My claim to fame was my scanning and color correction ability. I used to put the tiles directly on the scanner and color correct using the tiles themselves. It helped the company immensely because the image color was a lot closer to the actual tile color. I would painstakingly work in Photoshop to get the image color correct. My Boss appreciated me so much, that when I told him I was moving to California to go to USC, he kept me on and said I could work remotely. It was awesome and nearly drove me insane. This was way before the high-speed Internet that we have now.

Working from home.

My meetings were conducted via Netmeeting on a 320p Webcam! It was so slow and clumsy. Setting up a meetng took damn near 10 minutes. One of the hardest things to get used to was the time difference of 3 hours. I had to be up and running at 5 am for an hour of prep work between 8am-9am. What made me excited to get up everyday was the fact that I could earn a paycheck in Florida while in California. I was actively trying to get better at remote working. The process of it all pushed me into mastering it. I wanted to get my workflow down pat. Ultimately, what did me in back then was upload and download times. There was no way around moving the amount of data I needed to move. I was working with large photo files, trying to capture all of the details contained in the tiles themselves.

My office on-location. I even took my monitors with me!

These days I’m working off of a FIOS connection and have amazing capability to transmit any of my projects whether they be large format photographs or even 4k Video. With Zoom getting so popular, it has reinvigorated my meeting game. So much so, I’ve skipped over using my computers built-in webcam. I’m using lights with diffusion, a usb mic, and my mirrorless camera to make the image and sound come across impeccably on the other end. It’s been a trip. A legit trip. Does that make me sound internet ancient? I remember dial-up! If you don’t know what that is, look it up. It’s mind boggling to think how far we’ve come in being able to transmit large amounts of data. Additionally, if you have an internet/satellite USB dongle, the extraordinary capabilities of being able to work remotely almost anywhere in the world. I’m glad I had those early experiences early in my career because they gave me the confidence and expertise in being able to coordinate projects. We literally can overcome the obstacles of Space & Time.

- Digital Ninja®