While most of my drafting work gets done at my desk in my home office, sometimes I spice up my writer’s routine by treating myself to a coffee shop writing date, and when I do, I love to pack a bag that sets me up for success.

My writer friend Sheridan and I usually meet at a coffee shop to work on our manuscripts once a week, but I’m actually writing this from one of our regular writing retreat destinations on our fourth writing date of the week!

We are both excited about our current writing projects if you can’t tell.

Writing is usually a lonely journey, so we are lucky to have each other and write alone but together.

Here are the 5 essentials I brought with me today to ensure I have a productive, peaceful coffee shop writing session:

1. My Laptop

A no-brainer, my laptop * is a necessary writing vessel, whether I’m going to work at a coffee shop or at home.

My laptop has reliable charge so as long as it is above about 75% I won’t bring my charger, but sometimes I bring it just in case.

2. A Sweater

Even if it’s 80 degrees outside, I’ll never go to a coffee shop without bringing a warm jacket.

I’m the type of person who is always cold, so when I’m inside where the A.C. cools the air to a crisp, I inevitably find myself too uncomfortable to focus and have to leave early if I don’t come prepared with thermal reinforcements.

3. My Journal and A Pen

I use one journal for everything: morning pages, to-do lists, brainstorming, doodling, and anything else my heart desires.

It’s what works for me.

I love to have my journal on hand when I write at coffee shops, even if my main intention for the day is to actually write words and get my book closer to being done.

I am also intentional about the pens I bring.

I need at least 3 in case the ink runs out, and it has to be a pen that writes smoothly and easily, like the BIC Gelocity Quick Dry Black Gel Pens.*

4. Blue Light Blocking Glasses

Even though I’m lucky enough to not need prescription lenses yet, my blue light glasses are a cute accessory that reduces eye strain, so I never regret throwing them in my writing bag.

I work using a laptop and iPad, write by looking at a computer screen, and of course, phones are a thing, so I’ve found that blue light-blocking glasses have also helped prevent and reduce headaches.

As a former optometric technician (dropping some lore from one of my past lives here), I am a full supporter of people wearing blue light glasses if they spend a lot of time looking at screens.

And who doesn’t look at screens all the time, nowadays?

5. Noise-Cancelling Headphones

I’m easily distracted, so if I’m serious about getting writing done while at a coffee shop, I need to drown out the overhead music and surrounding chatter by using noise-blocking headphones.

I use the Apple Airpods Pro *, and they’ve been good to me.

I usually listen to some form of white noise or an instrumental that overpowers the external noise and lulls me into the world of my manuscript.

Bonus Suggestions

Aside from the five essentials I always bring with me to a coffee shop, here are some other items I like to pack:

Writing craft books, like Save The Cat Writes A Novel by Blake Snyder *
A water bottle
Highlighters
Post-it Super Sticky Recycled Notes *, in cute pastel colors, of course!
Loose leaf paper
Vaseline (my preferred form of chapstick)
A nail file

Of course, all you really need is your laptop and your brain, so don’t feel pressured to bring anything you don’t need.

Happy writing, friends!

Let me know if you have a similar writer’s essentials gear list or if you have any suggestions about tools that I should bring along to my coffee shop drafting dates.

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5 Essentials I Pack For A Successful Coffee Shop Writing Session