Writing at the SpaceBar and Old Chang Kee

Ovidia--every other Tuesday

Happy Chinese/ Lunar New Year Everybody!

This is going to be a quick, short post because of all the Chinese New Year prep (cleaning/ visiting/ coordinating) going on right now, but I really liked the tongue in cheek (I think) slant the Central Library took on this--recommending reading based on your zodiac signs!

I was at the library for the first Space Bar Write In last Sunday.

The library heard that writers were looking for writing spaces so, in a year long experiment that kicked off last Sunday, the Space Bar will be open to writers and wannabe writers from noon till 5pm the last Sunday of every month.

The Space Bar (known the rest of the month as Programme Room 1 in Basement 1 of the Victoria Street Central Library) provides an air conditioned space with tables, power supply, canned drinks (limited, Singapore style, to one each!) and of course access to the drinking fountains and toilets of the library.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I thought, why not try it?

This is my table set up.

Instead of working on an ongoing project (of which there are three at the moment) which would entail notes and coordinating and the risk of losing material, I decided to use the time to brainstorm a new idea for a fantasy middle grade book that's been floating around in my head for a while.

One thing I Really liked about the writing session was the organiser Christabelle (not sure of the spelling but that's what it sounded like) suggested we start by writing down on post-its (which she provided) what we hoped to do in this session; then at the end, write down what we'd actually done.

Usually when I sit down at the computer I'm shuffling notes I need to process, looking at word count targets etc. But that post-it made me think about what I would be happy with--

I decided just to do a brain dump/ vomit draft and targeted 2000 words...
...and ended up getting almost 3000!

Even though I didn't stay the full 5 hours.

What I really liked was getting to share space, for a while, with all these other people who were also trying to write. Some were collaborating in groups, but I had a table to myself--totally my comfort zone of being able to work alone without feeling isolated.

It also felt really good to be located inside the library, because when I got up to walk around and stretch I was walking around bookshelves, and it felt like being surrounded by encouragement.

And it also helps that there's an Old Chang Kee just outside--

Old Chang Kee curry puffs are (I've been told) the sign you've reached a stable relationship. When you're first trying to impress someone, you share fancy meals and fine wines and worry about the impression you're making. But when you're comfortable enough to buy each other an old Chang Kee curry puff, like the one your mum bought your dad after hearing he didn't get that promotion or that your big brother brought home for you the night before your big exam, you know that you're sharing a safe space.

And no, I'm not doing a curry puff promotion here, but I must say it makes a good reward for an afternoon's writing.

Happy Lunar New Year everyone!
May you be blessed with Health, Happiness and Hope in this coming year!