Coffeeshop Etiquette for Broke Writers

We're coming up fast on July's Camp NaNoWriMo! I'll be participating this month, and a lot of my writing will probably take place in coffeeshops, teahouses, and similar establishments.

There's something about writing with a yummy beverage on the table surrounded by the subtle chaos of public places that really taps into the writer's brain. It calls to mind Fitzgerald, Stein, Hemingway, Kafka, and even Rowling. It's inimitable. Trust me, I've tried to replicate the experience and I can come very, very close, but I prefer the real thing.

If only there weren't some really murky waters to navigate.

We’ve All Been There, Haven't We?

You need to get some work done and your humble abode is not helping get you in the mood. What do you do? You go out.

But you don’t go just anywhere, do you? If you are like countless other creatives, you go to a café, probably one that’s close to you or has decent prices. Or maybe you choose where to hang out based on the aesthetic or the just-right way they make your favorite drink.

And then you see the menu. And then you remember how much is in your bank account. And then you try to do some math.

Nobody Likes This Kind of Math...

So usually, we don't do it. With Starbucks recently proclaiming anyone can occupy space in their stores, no purchase necessary, it's easier and free-er to just go there to write.

But where does that leave that tiny, locally-owned teahouse you'll pass up? Or the hole-in-the-wall eatery? Surely, you'll not never dine there again. You might prefer to go there (I do!) regardless of the prices, or you may decide to treat yourself once a week or once a month.

Recently, I was reminded of the one-drink-per-hour rule. No, not the one for alcohol. I'm talking about the rule that as long as you're sitting in an establishment and taking up space, you ought to order one drink per hour as a courtesy.

If you've heard of this rule, you're nodding sagely. If you haven't, you're baffled. Wouldn't all us writers go broke if we followed what is commonly known as "coffeeshop etiquette?"

Here's What You Can Do, Writer

If you can't afford to go dropping twenty bucks every day you want to be extra productive, here are seven easy ways you can support your local coffeeshop (or teahouse, or restaurant, or bar, or wherever!) without going broke.

• Ignore the rule completely. I, personally, only feel comfortable doing this if I'm at a Starbucks or some other mega-chain, and usually only if I'm going to be there less than four hours. Regardless, order the venti.
• Half-follow the rule. Try getting a drink or snack every two or three hours instead, and drink water to hold you over.
• Order the cheap drink. And I don't mean the courtesy cup of water! Get the drip coffee over the latte. Get an appetizer instead of a huge meal.
• Leave a review. Or check in on social media, like or follow its page, et cetera. Buy your drink, and then sing its praises all over Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram.
• Bring your friends and encourage them to partake. Proceed with caution here. Not every buddy of yours is going to encourage good working habits. Those who will can be invited to split the tab.
• Tip your baristas. Fish all of the quarters out of your piggy bank if necessary!
• Be the favorite customer. Pick up after yourself. Don't spread yourself over a table meant for six people if all you've brought along is your laptop bag. Smile and thank the workers.

It should go without saying that all of this goes double for local places! Dunkin Donuts doesn't need your extra five bucks—who needs it are the holes-in-the-wall, the tiny eateries with mismatched mugs and paintings by local artists.

Do you have a favorite way to show appreciation for your local writing spot? Let us know by commenting below and make sure to subscribe so you can get the latest posts.