Writing in public

I do a lot of my writing while commuting (I have a 90 minute train ride each way). Does anyone else write in public? Do you take precautions to keep people from seeing?

LOL. No trains where I live and a bus to work would take me an hour and a half vs a 20 minute drive. My Corolla is 7 years old, it don't drive itself, so no, never.

I used to write in the coffee shop at work sometimes, and when I worked 4 on, 3 off, I used to go to the coffee shop near where we lived and write in a corner there sometimes. Now I just write in the basement - got my workstation and all the books there, as well as my coffee machine. No distractions and I can put my headphones on and just ignore everything....
 
If I write in public, it's usually because an idea won't quit bugging me and I have to get it out of my head. I usually just do the non-erotic parts of the story, though, or outline stuff. Safer from the curious that way. I use code words and symbols to mark the gaps where I must fill in spicy parts later.
 
If I write in public, it's usually because an idea won't quit bugging me and I have to get it out of my head. I usually just do the non-erotic parts of the story, though, or outline stuff. Safer from the curious that way. I use code words and symbols to mark the gaps where I must fill in spicy parts later.
That's an odd thing to do. Easier to turn the laptop out of their line of sight, surely?

Anyway, if they're that close they can read what you're typing, isn't that a lost opportunity?
 
What kind of mind-fuck would it be if some complete stranger walked up to you and randomly asked, "Hey, I was wondering if you were ever going to write a sequel to...(insert the name of one of your stories)?"
I'm mulling an idea of a short story, vignette, about a trans girl going to therapy, and having the therapist suggest she read some stories on Lit, especially a collection written by the girl, not realizing that the girl is the author she's suggesting..
 
I wrote a story (The Vault) where strangers get locked in a vault. She discovers he writes for the site and she had read some of his stories. They don't want to have sex in the vault but he tells her an erotic story about them that he makes up on the spot. I think the story goes down hill after they get out, but I liked the part in the vault.
 
That's an odd thing to do. Easier to turn the laptop out of their line of sight, surely?

Anyway, if they're that close they can read what you're typing, isn't that a lost opportunity?
Yeah, when I get writing I sometimes get caught up in the process and don’t see people looking over my shoulder right away. And I still have yet to meet any of my Lit readers irl.
 
What kind of mind-fuck would it be if some complete stranger walked up to you and randomly asked, "Hey, I was wondering if you were ever going to write a sequel to...(insert the name of one of your stories)?"
Scary version would be to meet one of those LW commenters…
 
I write in two semi-public places.
1. My nursing home, in bed. A doctor, nurse, or CNA might walk in at any time of day or night, and I have roommates.
2. In the dialysis chair at my clinic. The same type of people who might interrupt.

LVN who saw my laptop screen but couldn't read the text: "What'cha writing?"
Me: "You wouldn't believe my if I told you."

I was writing My Crazy Sisters, a three-way incest romance with First Time elements, at the time.
 
Last edited:
I do a lot of writing at the office. Thank God my co-worker never has cause to look at my crotch, and thank God again for the desk to help me hide self induced boners sometimes.
 
I had an idea of the POV character being the snoop, actually, and texting a friend with a photo of someone they spotted writing erotica in public. `
I write in two semi-public places.
1. My nursing home, in bed. A doctor, nurse, or CNA might walk in at any time of day or night, and I have roommates.
2. In the dialysis chair at my clinic. The same type of people who might interrupt.

LVN who saw my laptop screen but couldn't read the text: "What'cha writing?"
Me: "You wouldn't believe my if I told you."

I was writing My Crazy Sisters, a three-way incest romance with First Time elements, at the time.
At least you're just doing written stuff. I used to have a client where we had to explain to him that while he did have the right to watch porn if he wanted, he needed to use headphones, and at least pause it while receiving care.

Also, I'm really sorry your care team doesn't knock.

Edit: Ok, as a former CNA this one is sticking with me. I'm legitimately angry on your behalf. Thats really shit. Your room is your HOUSE. I was taught to always knock and announce myself even if the person isn't capable of responding. In your case that should go double.
 
Last edited:
Speaking for me: it seems unlikely. It would depend on the details, I guess. I'm not ashamed of my stuff, but it's something that could conceivably affect my career.

--Annie

I'd like to think about it as more "opening up the horizons" or something to that avail.

I write in two semi-public places.
1. My nursing home, in bed. A doctor, nurse, or CNA might walk in at any time of day or night, and I have roommates.
2. In the dialysis chair at my clinic. The same type of people who might interrupt.

LVN who saw my laptop screen but couldn't read the text: "What'cha writing?"
Me: "You wouldn't believe my if I told you."

I was writing My Crazy Sisters, a three-way incest romance with First Time elements, at the time.

This is a completely different situation, but you reminded me on how William Carlos Williams wrote most of his poems inbetween patients while working as a physician.

I do a lot of writing at the office. Thank God my co-worker never has cause to look at my crotch, and thank God again for the desk to help me hide self induced boners sometimes.

Now here's a plot bunny.
 
Yeah, I’ve done a lot of writing over the past year and a half, mostly in the hospital, because that’s where I spent most of my time. Waiting rooms, hospital beds. My tablet and a small keyboard worked just fine.

I just wrote whatever I felt like writing at that moment. Nobody ever really asked what I was working on. And the one nurse who did, I just told her. She thought it was really exciting.

So I think this idea that someone might read over your shoulder while you’re writing in a public space mostly lives in your head. It hardly ever happens in reality. And honestly, even if someone did read along, I wouldn’t really care.
 
I had an idea of the POV character being the snoop, actually, and texting a friend with a photo of someone they spotted writing erotica in public. `

At least you're just doing written stuff. I used to have a client where we had to explain to him that while he did have the right to watch porn if he wanted, he needed to use headphones, and at least pause it while receiving care.

Also, I'm really sorry your care team doesn't knock.

I do watch porn with earbuds and use a VPN to get around porn blocks (which include Literotica) in the nursing home late at night. I always leave an innocuous browser tab open; I can switch to it instantly.

The team (except a couple of assholes) announces their presence verbally about two seconds before coming into view, and can't see my screen until they are beside my bed. Got caught exactly once, by an older female CNA who turned out to be a bigger porn enthusiast than I am. Alas, no sex ensued, but it may write the tale someday as if it did. Like the CNA said, "I'm old, not dead."

Given that I literally never have truly private time, what are my alternatives?

Your POV character seems like a good story idea.
 
Your POV character seems like a good story idea.
Took a stab at writing it today. Opened with my idea about snooping on someone's public writing, and then the plot bunnies ran away with me. Somehow it became a story about a high-end BDSM matchmaking service.
 
Back
Top