Writing As An Extrovert

Or, how to silence the FOMO and just write.

Writing as a vocation or avocation, while also living a life worth writing about, is a delicate balance for anyone. For an extrovert with raging FOMO, writing can be an elusive pleasure. It is also a pleasure that must sometimes be fought for. And the fight is with ourselves.

When we write at home, extroverts can focus and create. Unless we know we are missing out on something. Then we get antsy and our minds wander to where the fun must be happening. And off we go.

When we write in public, as I am doing at this moment, we can be easily distracted. I combat this by changing my writing “homes” on a regular basis. I write somewhere until I get known or make friends there, and then I move on to somewhere new. Currently I am writing at OPA cafe, a greek coffee and wine bar offering specialty greek nibbles, on S. Lamar in Austin. No one here knows me yet. Star Trek is playing silently on the T.V. in a corner. Soft, old school jazz plays softly in the background. I have thirty minutes of free WiFi, which encourages focussed writing. And I have an excellent glass of petite syrah for the Happy Hour price of $5.75. Life is good.