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Attention all screenwriters: If you want to get your best work done, you'd better be packing a Starbucks card, not a library card. According to a recent study, a moderate level of noise contributes to an ideal environment for creativity.
The study was done by west coaster Ravi Mehta at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. The Atlantic summarizes the findings:
Compared to a relatively quiet environment (50 decibels), a moderate level of ambient noise (70 dB) enhanced subjects' performance on the creativity tasks, while a high level of noise (85 dB) hurt it. Modest background noise, the scientists explain, creates enough of a distraction to encourage people to think more imaginatively.
The pros' advice: Head to a coffee shop to plug in and churn out your best work.
If you prefer to go indie for your cafe, a while back we looked at a list of the "10 Best Non-Chain Cafés for L.A. Writers." There are surely more new kids on the block worth checking out, but the bottom line is, don't sit at home in silence brewing your Trader Joe's beans for a solitary cup--get out there and get creative!