This is my entry for this week’s Trifecta Writing Challenge. Our prompt word this week was club, and I thought it was a great opportunity to dust off an idea that came straight out of a conversation my friends and I had back in college.
“The Rough Draught”
The bar was Noel’s idea in the first place. Everyone comes to see him.
They first met in college, students finding their place in the real world. They would chat about music, movies, video games, life. Most of the time, though, it was books. Books, authors, the publishing industry. It was their shared passion, whether they were heaping praise upon those that earned their approval or tearing down those that drew their ire.
Noel was majoring in business, Jackson in creative writing, Camille in professional editing, and Mike in art and philosophy. They quickly became close friends, and soon Mike and Camille were engaged. They met anywhere they were tolerated. Usually the volume and intensity of their conversations would scare other customers away in bookstores, and the relatively soundproof study rooms in the local library could only do so much once they really got started.
However, all good things must come to an end, and so it was with the club’s regular meetings. Graduation came, and their next reunion was not to be until Camille and Mike’s wedding a year later. It was at the wedding dinner that Noel proposed his idea.
“Imagine a place,” he said, “where people would be free to have the kind of conversations we used to have, but be able to find the support for their endeavors.”
“You obviously have something in mind,” Camille grinned, wiping a bit of cake from her mouth. “What is it?”
“I call it ‘The Rough Draught.’ A bar for book people, but not just a bar. A bookstore, a bar, a literary agency. Hell, we could even get a print-on-demand station if we wanted to. But I’d love your help. I’ve got a business plan and a couple of potential investors, but I would love your help. We could have editors and artists on hand every day. What do you guys think?”
“I love it, and the name’s perfect,” Jackson laughed. “When do we start?”
“As soon as we can,” Noel said.
The Swords of the Ancients 
10 Comments
Okay, I SO wish this was a real place. :)) Very engaging story!
There’s still a dream of making it a real place someday. 😀 I’m glad you liked the story!
Sounds like a great place. Over here I’m setting up a retirement commune for artist types. Whenever you’re done… lol
Hey, retirement places need bars too, at least if I’m going to even consider living there. 😀
I don’t drink yet this place still sounds fun to me (:
Thanks, Draug! I just love the idea of that kind of an atmosphere being provided for book people.
I wish such a bar existed, I would totally hang out there. Love the start you’ve made on this, would love to read more.
It might happen some day… This is also potentially part of a bigger set of stories, so we’ll see where those go.
I love this idea! When does it open? My liberal arts college friends and I used to talk about opening a private school together. Really we just wanted a chance to live and work together, and be as close as we had been for those four years. I totally know where you are coming from with this. Great piece – a wonderful entry. Thanks for linking up! ~Christine (Trifecta Guest Judge)
Thank you, Christine! I think anyone who could find it would love to have a place like this, tailored to their needs. I’m glad that you liked it. 🙂